CHICAGO — Cultivated meat biotech startup company Clever Carnivore has raised $7 million in seed round funding. The funding round was led by Lever VC. Companies like McWin Capital Partners, Thia Ventures, Valo Ventures, Newfund Capital and Stray Dog Capital all backed the funding round.

The funds will enable the company to accelerate its expansion plans. The company is relocating its Lincoln Park operations to a nearby, larger facility by the end of the year. Expansion plans include scaling up production into 500-liter bioreactors and adding test kitchens.

Clever Carnivore uses a technology called cell biology to produce its cultivated meat. The company takes a small tissue sample from a cow, pig or chicken and then grows the meat in a food production facility. The company feeds the cell combinations of nutrients to produce the meat, according to the company.

Clever Carnivore currently produces cultivated pork, beef and chicken. The company is aiming to introduce the Clever Bratwurst in early 2024.