AgFunder, established in 2013, is a venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in the United Kingdom. It specializes in seed and early-stage investments in agritech and food tech companies that are driving meaningful environmental and social impact across the global food system. AgFunder evaluates each investment based on ESG principles and its potential to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The firm manages multiple funds, totaling over 50 portfolio companies, and also operates a global media platform, AFN, with over 90,000 subscribers.
Wittaya Aqua International Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Toronto, Ontario, operates the Wittaya AquaOp platform, which enhances operational efficiency for aquaculture farms. The platform addresses the common reliance on outdated paper and spreadsheet-based management systems by aggregating and analyzing existing production data. This enables farmers to make informed decisions regarding feeding, water quality, and overall production management. By employing mathematical and nutritional models, Wittaya AquaOp helps optimize feeding practices and compute performance metrics, providing a dynamic simulation of animal inventory. As aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector globally, the need for effective data-driven decision-making tools is paramount for farmers seeking to improve their operations and increase harvests at cost-effective rates.
Biodefense
Pre Seed Round in 2024
BioDefense specializes in innovative microbial defense solutions aimed at enhancing food safety and freshness. The company develops Bioshield, a coating made from food materials designed to protect fresh produce by maximizing its safety and shelf life. Additionally, BioDefense's technology effectively extracts and traps pathogenic microbes from various sources, including water and consumer goods. This approach allows for precise and rapid analysis at the single-cell level, enabling clients to produce contaminant-free products with a high degree of confidence. Through these advancements, BioDefense aims to address critical challenges in food safety and microbial contamination in various industries.
Fashol
Seed Round in 2024
Fashol is a technology-driven agriculture startup that facilitates direct market access for farmers while offering smallholder retailers an efficient last-mile delivery service. The company focuses on enhancing the food supply chain by sourcing fresh produce directly from farmers and delivering it to retailers. This approach ensures that consumers receive traceable and safe food products, while also creating a cost-effective supply chain that minimizes complexity, time, and expense. By connecting farmers with markets and streamlining logistics, Fashol aims to empower agricultural communities and improve the overall efficiency of food distribution.
Exosomm
Pre Seed Round in 2023
Exosomm is an innovative foodtech start-up focused on developing nutritional solutions derived from natural milk exosomes. The company was founded based on research from Hadassah Medical Center, led by Prof. Reif's team. Exosomm's flagship product is a specialized food formula designed for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This product utilizes a patented active anti-inflammatory ingredient sourced from milk exosomes, which are isolated using a natural and environmentally friendly process. By targeting health and immunity, Exosomm aims to provide effective solutions for individuals with specific dietary needs.
Intello Labs
Series B in 2022
Intello Labs specializes in utilizing image recognition and machine learning technologies to assess the quality of agricultural crops. The company has developed an analytics platform that employs AI, including computer vision and deep learning, to provide automated solutions for the food commodities sector. By offering smartphone applications that facilitate grading and quality monitoring of agricultural products, Intello Labs enables growers, traders, retailers, and food service companies to achieve greater transparency and standardization in quality assessment. This approach aims to minimize value risk and reduce wastage within agricultural supply chains.
Brightseed
Series B in 2022
Brightseed, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in the discovery of bioactive compounds in plants to enhance human health. Utilizing its advanced Forager platform, which employs artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, Brightseed accelerates the identification and validation of clinically beneficial molecules. This innovative approach enables the company to uncover connections between natural compounds and health outcomes, revealing the potential of bioactives that have previously remained uncharted. By integrating these discoveries back into the food supply chain, Brightseed collaborates with various companies across the consumer health continuum to develop science-backed health solutions aimed at managing chronic diseases and improving overall quality of life. Founded in 2017, Brightseed is committed to exploring the untapped resources of the plant kingdom to address pressing health challenges.
Mooji Meats
Seed Round in 2022
Mooji Meats is a sustainable food manufacturing company specializing in the production of plant-based steaks designed to replicate the taste and texture of real meat. Utilizing a proprietary platform, Mooji Meats mimics muscle structure with plant fibers, offering consumers an alternative to traditional rib-eyes that meets their culinary desires while prioritizing health and environmental considerations. The company focuses on providing a luxury experience without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), aiming to satisfy both ethical and taste preferences in the growing market for plant-based alternatives.
IntegriCulture
Series A in 2022
IntegriCulture Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Bunkyo, Japan, specializes in the development of cellular agriculture products, including clean meat and clean foie gras. The company focuses on improving sustainability and food security while addressing public health issues associated with traditional meat production. IntegriCulture has created a patented large-scale cell culture system that allows for the cultivation of a wide range of cells without the need for expensive growth factors, making clean meat more affordable for consumers. Through its innovative technology, IntegriCulture aims to revolutionize the food industry and promote a more sustainable future.
Juicy Marbles
Seed Round in 2021
Juicy Marbles is a food-tech company that specializes in creating thick, juicy, and marbled plant-based steaks. Utilizing proprietary protein texturing technology, the company produces whole cuts that aim to replicate the taste, price, and convenience of traditional meat products. Juicy Marbles envisions a variety of meat alternatives that not only appeal to consumers but also contribute to reducing meat consumption in a more sustainable manner. The company's goal is to significantly lower meat consumption by 2030, promoting healthier eating options while advancing the transition of the meat industry towards sustainability.
Ai Palette
Series A in 2021
Ai Palette specializes in providing AI-driven product development solutions tailored for businesses in the food and consumer packaged goods sectors. The company leverages insights from millions of digital conversations combined with company data to generate product concepts that align with a brand's identity and address consumer needs. Utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, natural language processing, and image recognition, Ai Palette's platform enables companies to identify emerging food trends and consumer preferences. This approach helps firms determine which products to launch next, thereby enhancing the likelihood of success for new product introductions.
Ganaz
Series A in 2021
Ganaz Inc. is a public benefit corporation that specializes in developing a workforce management platform for the agriculture and food manufacturing sectors. Founded in 2017 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company’s application connects employers with farm workers, streamlining communication and management processes. The platform enables farmers to manage multiple individual conversations, automatically translate messages between languages, and categorize workers into groups. It also allows employers to send work-related updates, facilitating recruitment, retention, onboarding, training, and payroll processes. By simplifying people management, Ganaz aims to help agricultural businesses save time, effort, and resources.
Brightseed
Venture Round in 2020
Brightseed, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in the discovery of bioactive compounds in plants to enhance human health. Utilizing its advanced Forager platform, which employs artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, Brightseed accelerates the identification and validation of clinically beneficial molecules. This innovative approach enables the company to uncover connections between natural compounds and health outcomes, revealing the potential of bioactives that have previously remained uncharted. By integrating these discoveries back into the food supply chain, Brightseed collaborates with various companies across the consumer health continuum to develop science-backed health solutions aimed at managing chronic diseases and improving overall quality of life. Founded in 2017, Brightseed is committed to exploring the untapped resources of the plant kingdom to address pressing health challenges.
IntegriCulture
Series A in 2020
IntegriCulture Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Bunkyo, Japan, specializes in the development of cellular agriculture products, including clean meat and clean foie gras. The company focuses on improving sustainability and food security while addressing public health issues associated with traditional meat production. IntegriCulture has created a patented large-scale cell culture system that allows for the cultivation of a wide range of cells without the need for expensive growth factors, making clean meat more affordable for consumers. Through its innovative technology, IntegriCulture aims to revolutionize the food industry and promote a more sustainable future.
Hyphen
Seed Round in 2020
Hyphen is a technology company focused on automating culinary operations for the restaurant and foodservice industry. Its innovative solutions aim to reduce the cost of fresh food through the use of robotics and modular hardware. The platform incorporates reprogrammable software and computer vision technology, enabling restaurants to efficiently manage peak service times and minimize human errors in food preparation. By streamlining operations, Hyphen enhances productivity and operational efficiency within the foodservice sector.
Ai Palette
Seed Round in 2019
Ai Palette specializes in providing AI-driven product development solutions tailored for businesses in the food and consumer packaged goods sectors. The company leverages insights from millions of digital conversations combined with company data to generate product concepts that align with a brand's identity and address consumer needs. Utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, natural language processing, and image recognition, Ai Palette's platform enables companies to identify emerging food trends and consumer preferences. This approach helps firms determine which products to launch next, thereby enhancing the likelihood of success for new product introductions.
Connecterra
Series A in 2018
Connecterra is a technology company specializing in the dairy industry. It develops software that employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform raw data into actionable insights, enhancing farm productivity and sustainability. The company's core product, the Intelligent Dairy Farmer's Assistant, uses sensors and AI to identify issues on farms, recommend solutions, and support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable practices. This not only benefits farmers but also their industry partners, such as dairy processors, animal feed, and genetic companies. Connecterra's ultimate goal is to enable more productive, humane, and sustainable use of Earth's natural resources, feeding future generations while minimizing environmental impact.
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