Global Sustainable Transformation (GST): The TUM Spin-off Reinventing Sustainable Oil Production
Global Sustainable Transformation (GST) is one of Munich’s most promising biotech startups, born at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and now reshaping how the world produces oils, fats, and bioactives at the gate.
With its proprietary FHCR™ fermentation technology, GST enables a sustainable, local, and deforestation-free alternative to conventional palm oil and cacao butter production.
In an era of rising agricultural pressure, disrupted global supply chains, and urgent climate targets, GST stands at the intersection of biotechnology and circular economy innovation.
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WHAT GST DEVELOPS: A BREAKTHROUGH IN MICROBIAL OIL PRODUCTION
The startup is the exclusive provider of the FHCR™ technology, a synchronized platform that transforms organic side streams, such as agricultural by-products into high-value oils, fats, butters, and bioactives.
“Our product is chemically identical to cacao butter, only it does not require agricultural land. We produce it in our lab using a completely new fermentation technology.”
— Dr. Mahmoud Masri, Co-Founder & CEO of GST
The result: sustainable, scalable, and price-stable alternatives for the food, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals industries.
THE PROBLEM GST SOLVES
During the 2020 pandemic, palm oil prices doubled, highlighting the fragility of global production networks. Global Sustainable Transformation (GST) was founded in that exact moment of crisis.
“We realized the world cannot rely on long, vulnerable supply chains anymore. Food must be produced locally. That’s where we started.”
— Dr. Mahmoud Masri, Co-Founder & CEO of GST
WHY GST IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING BIOTECH STARTUPS
Strong Scientific Foundation
GST emerged from the Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology at TUM, commercializing more than a decade of academic research on microbial oil production.
The founding team includes:
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Brück
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Arnold
- Dr. Mahmoud Masri
Awards & Recognition
- Winner, Circular BiomanufacturingChallenge (Sprin-D, 2023)
– 12-month program with up to €1.5M in funding - Listed in the 2024 Official FoodTech 500
– Recognized among the world’s top 500 foodtech companies
Momentum & Growth
- 15 team members and expanding
- Over €5 million raised
- First customers acquired
- Currently scaling toward industrial production
Partner with GST or request investment information.
HOW GST GREW IN MUNICH
Munich—and especially the Garching Research Campus—has been instrumental in GST’s growth.
“The early development of our platform took place at TUM, where we had access to everything from small bioreactors to pilot plants. This infrastructure is priceless for a biotech startup.”
– Dr. Mahmoud Masri, Co-Founder & CEO of GST
The team also benefited from:
- a dense network of researchers, labs, and innovation partners
- TUM’s entrepreneurship support, including TUMFORTE
- access to talent from one of Europe’s top technical universities
WHY THE GATE GARCHING STARTUP CENTER MATTERS
GST is based at the gate Garching, right next to the TUM campus. For biotech founders, proximity to labs and researchers is a competitive advantage:
“The gate provides a highly supportive startup environment. Its biggest advantage is the direct proximity to the Garching Research Campus, giving founders easy access to TUM’s laboratories, infrastructure, and pilot facilities. The gate also hosts a strong community of startups and organizes regular meetings, workshops, and training sessions that enable idea exchange, peer learning, and cross-innovation. These activities help founders think outside the box and break out of daily operational routines.”
Dr. Mahmoud Masri, Co-Founder & CEO of GST
MINDSET: WHAT DRIVES GST FORWARD
GST is preparing to enter the market with its first product: “yeast butter” (as shown in the picture), a cacao butter equivalent for the food sector.
There are still some challenges ahead, especially when it comes to regulation and scaling up to industrial production. But even with all that, the team’s confidence remains strong.
“People say 70% of startups fail. I don’t believe in that.
If you have a good plan, and if you have a good team—and that’s the most important part—your chance of success is higher than 70%.”
– Dr. Mahmoud Masri, Co-Founder & CEO of GST
FAQ
Is Global Sustainable Transformation (GST) a TUM spin-off?
Yes, Global Sustainable Transformation (GST) originated from the Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology at TUM.
How does the FHCR™ technology work?
It uses precision fermentation to convert organic side streams into high-value oils and bioactives, efficiently, waste-free, and without agricultural land.
Which industries benefit from microbial oil production?
Food, cosmetics, specialty chemicals, and any sector relying on plant-based oils or bioactives.