Emeryville – October 14, 2026 -- Goldman Sachs named UPSIDE Foods CEO Uma Valeti, M.D., one of its Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2026 at the Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. The bank selected Valeti from multiple industries for the honor.
UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million since its 2015 founding
Valeti, a cardiologist who worked on stem-cell heart tissue regeneration during a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, left clinical practice to found what the company calls the world's first cultivated meat company. UPSIDE's Chicken Filet was the first cultivated meat product cleared by both the FDA and the USDA for sale in the U.S.
Investors include Cargill, Softbank, Temasek, Tyson and Whole Foods.
Valeti says UPSIDE is moving from proving the science to scaling production
Valeti said the company has validated the underlying science and is now taking it to scale through American manufacturing. He added that UPSIDE's ambitions extend beyond a single product, with the aim of widening consumer choice and building a more resilient food system.
Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon said UPSIDE's leaders are "redefining what is possible in their industry" as AI reshapes the global landscape.
Goldman's two-day summit enters its 15th year targeting hypergrowth founders
The Builders and Innovators Summit gathers founders and CEOs of hypergrowth companies. Goldman Sachs said previous honorees have gone on to lead multi-billion dollar companies in both private and public markets. The program includes general sessions and clinics led by entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders, as well as resident scholars.