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Prefer is a technology company.
Prefer has raised $6.2M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Prefer.
Prefer was founded in 2022 by Scott Belsky (Chairman / Co-Founder).
Prefer has raised $6.2M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Prefer is a Singapore-based food technology company developing sustainable and affordable ingredients through advanced fermentation processes. The company primarily crafts alternatives for high-demand commodities, including PreferRoast™, a coffee extender, and PreferChoc™, a cocoa extender. These proprietary products leverage precision fermentation to replicate desirable flavors and functionalities, offering a viable solution to supply chain volatility and environmental concerns within the food and beverage industry.
The company was founded by Nur Syafina and Louise Liu, emerging from the Entrepreneurs First venture builder program. Their foundational insight stemmed from the escalating prices and sustainability challenges prevalent in global coffee and cocoa markets. Recognizing the need for resilient and cost-effective ingredient solutions, they established Prefer to apply biotechnology to address these pressing industry gaps.
Prefer serves coffee and chocolate manufacturers seeking to manage raw material costs and enhance the sustainability of their products. The company’s long-term vision is to establish a new paradigm for ingredient sourcing, making the global food supply chain more affordable and environmentally responsible. It aims to broaden its impact by developing a range of fermented alternatives that cater to a conscious consumption model.
Preferred Technologies, LLC (Pref-Tech) is a Houston-based technology company specializing in security integration and managed IT services, providing comprehensive solutions like physical security systems, integration software, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and network infrastructure.[1][2][4][5] Founded in 2005, it serves government and other sectors with a focus on resolving customer pain through high craftsmanship, employing 111 people and generating $14 million in annual revenue as of 2024, with $1 million in funding.[1]
The company addresses security and IT challenges by offering tailored protection, including data analytics, AI, business continuity, and IT risk management, enabling clients to focus on core operations without uncertainty around risks.[1][5]
Preferred Technologies, LLC was founded in 2005 in Houston, Texas, at 1414 Wedgewood St, establishing itself in the security and investigations sector alongside business services.[1][2] Key leadership includes President Shaun Castillo, who oversees operations in a family-oriented culture that emphasizes employee inspiration for creative problem-solving.[1]
The company emerged to provide technology services to government and other sectors, evolving into a specialist in security integration with early emphasis on local area network (LAN) systems integration, telecommunications consulting, and security systems services.[2][3][4] Its growth reflects steady traction in competitive fields like cybersecurity and managed IT, competing with firms such as 3SixtyConsult and Alert Protective Services.[1]
Pref-Tech rides the growing demand for integrated security and IT services amid rising cybersecurity threats, cloud adoption, and AI-driven risk management in government and business sectors.[1][3] Its timing aligns with market forces like increasing data breaches and regulatory pressures for business continuity, where NAICS codes (33, 22, 541, 54) and SIC codes (17, 173) underscore its role in technical consulting, security services, and systems design.[1][2]
By influencing the startup and enterprise ecosystem through reliable LAN integration and security software, Pref-Tech supports smaller players like competitors (e.g., Star Asset Security) while enabling larger organizations to navigate risks confidently, contributing to Houston's tech hub in business services.[1][4][5]
Pref-Tech is poised for expansion in AI-enhanced security and cloud services, leveraging its established government ties and $14M revenue base to capture more market share in a cybersecurity market projected to grow amid global threats.[1][3] Trends like advanced data analytics and network resilience will shape its path, potentially boosting funding beyond $1M through strategic partnerships.
As a steady Houston player, its influence may evolve toward national contracts, reinforcing the security integration niche and empowering clients to innovate without protection gaps—echoing its core mission of anxiety-free risk navigation.[5]
Key people at Prefer.
Prefer was founded in 2022 by Scott Belsky (Chairman / Co-Founder).
Prefer has raised $6.2M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Prefer's investors include Helen Lin, Chancery Hill Capital, Forge Ventures, Tiang Lim Foo, 500 Startups, Kirill Silkin, Accelerator Ventures, Better Bite Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Pickup Coffee, SEEDS Capital, Yoonmin Cho.
Prefer has raised $6.2M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $4.2M Pre-Series A in August 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2025 | $4.2M Pre-Series A | Helen Lin, Chancery Hill Capital | Forge Ventures |
| Feb 1, 2024 | $2.0M Seed | Tiang Lim Foo | 500 Startups, Kirill Silkin, 500 Startups, Accelerator Ventures, Better Bite Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Pickup Coffee, SEEDS Capital, Yoonmin Cho |