SEATTLE — Plant-based meat startup Rebellyous Foods has secured $6 million in Series A funding.

The latest round allows the startup to continue building out its novel production technology, which is used to craft plant-based nuggets, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebellyous also will focus on hiring equipment and mechanical engineers at its research facility in Seattle.

Christie Lagally, founder and chief executive officer at Rebellyous Foods, launched the company in 2017 with the goal of producing plant-based chicken at a cost and quantity that rivals traditional poultry.

“Bird flu, swine flu and now COVID-19 demonstrate that keeping large numbers of animals in close contact with one another presents a tremendous risk for global health,” Lagally said. “However, to transition away from our heavy dependence on meat, it’s critical that we make plant-based meat affordable and widely available through innovative production technology. At Rebellyous, our mission is to make plant-based meat that is better than animal meat in every way, from price and convenience to taste and nutrition.”

Ela Madej, founding partner at Fifty Years, joined the startup’s board as part of the investment round.

“We need a pandemic-proof food system that can meet the nutritional needs of our growing human family,” Madej said. “We’re also happy to support job creation in a time when many other businesses are having to lay off workers.”