Uma Valeti and UPSIDE, the CEOs, have been selected as one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs at the 2026 "Constructors and Innovators Summit".

Emeryville, California, October 14, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- Goldman Sachs ( NYSE : GS ) honored Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO of UPSIDE Foods, with the title of "Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of 2026" at the "Constructors and Innovators Summit" held today in Hillsborough, California.

Goldman Sachs selected Valeti from multiple industries and honored them during this two-day event.

Uma Valeti founded UPSIDE Foods because of his love for meat, but he could not accept the pain that animals endure during the meat production process. This dilemma initiated a decade-long journey of innovation in the field of cell agriculture. The initial bold idea of cultivating real meat directly from animal cells has now evolved into an American food technology company that drives breakthroughs in science, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. Today, UPSIDE is creating a new method to produce real meat without slaughter, expanding consumer choices, enhancing food safety, and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to see food and agriculture as frontier areas full of innovative opportunities.

UPSIDE Foods, the founder and CEO, and Dr. Uma Valeti stated: "I founded UPSIDE because I love meat and believe that we can produce it without killing animals. Ten years later, we have proven that this is scientifically feasible, and now we are pushing for its scaling up through American-style innovation and manufacturing capabilities. But our ambition is far more than just one product. The world needs more, not less, of high-quality food production methods. I am incredibly proud of our team and what we are building, as it will provide people with more choices and help to establish a stronger and more resilient food system."

Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon stated: "We are delighted to recognize Uma Valeti as one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs of 2026. As artificial intelligence reshapes the global landscape, the leaders of UPSIDE Foods are proving that agility and foresight can become the ultimate competitive advantage. They are not only building an exceptional company but also redefining the possibilities of their industries."

Goldman Sachs' "Constructors & Innovators Summit" has entered its 15th year and is an event that founders and CEOs of high-growth companies cannot afford to miss. Past recipients have later successfully led companies with market values in the billions of dollars on both the private and public markets. In addition to honoring the most outstanding entrepreneurs each year, the summit also includes plenary sessions and thematic workshops hosted by senior entrepreneurs, scholars, business leaders, and resident researchers.

Regarding Uma Valeti, Doctor of Medicine

Valeti is trained in cardiology, but in his heart, he is an entrepreneur. During his specialized training in cardiology at Mayo Clinic, he used stem cells from patients to regenerate damaged heart tissue, which led to an idea: could a similar method be used to cultivate real meat from animal cells without harming animals? After several years of proving the scientific feasibility of this approach, Uma resigned from his position as a cardiologist and founded the world's first meat cultivation company, UPSIDE Foods, pioneering a new industry with a single mission: to produce meat in the right way.

About UPSIDE Foods

UPSIDE Foods is the world's first cultured meat company, founded in 2015 with a bold goal: to enable everyone to enjoy authentic meat without harming animals. The team rethought the way meat is produced from the ground up and was among the first to develop advanced methods for cultivating real meat directly from animal cells. Their Chicken Filet is the first cultured meat product to be approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it is sold in the United States. The company has raised over $600 million from a diverse group of investors including Cargill, SoftBank, Temasek, Tyson, and Whole Foods. To learn more about how UPSIDE is committed to "producing meat correctly" through cell agriculture and creating a more sustainable and scalable food system, please visit www.upsidefoods.com.

About Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that provides comprehensive financial services to a wide and diverse range of clients, including corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. The company was founded in 1869, has its headquarters in New York, and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

For media inquiries regarding UPSIDE, please contact Erin Santy: [ email protected ].

For media inquiries regarding the summit or Goldman Sachs, please contact Michael Bruen: [ email protected ].