Astanor Ventures II

Astanor Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2017 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The firm specializes in investing in technology-enabled companies within the agri-food sector, focusing on entrepreneurs who aim to regenerate food systems and the blue ocean economy. Astanor Ventures targets early-stage investments in agriculture and food technology, particularly emphasizing sustainable and impactful solutions. Its investments span a global network, with a strong presence in Europe and North America, and the firm actively seeks to support over 45 companies that align with its vision of creating a nourishing, regenerative, and trusted food future. Through a combination of capital, sector expertise, and a network of diverse stakeholders, Astanor Ventures is dedicated to promoting innovations that enhance the agri-food value chain.

Hendrik Van Asbroeck

Managing Partner

Valerie Christy

Associate

George Coelho

Partner

Arnout Dijkhuizen

Principal

Emmanuel Faber

Partner

Adrian Friederich

Associate

Arne Hautekiet

Analyst

Leslie Kapin-Royere

Principal

Hans Marteau

Partner

Laetitia de Panafieu

Principal

Kanira Shah

Principal

Luisa Somaini

Analyst

Christina Ulardic

Partner

Past deals in Food Processing

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2022
Kuleana creates plant-based alternatives for people's seafood favorites, using plants and biotechnology without the environmental and ethical consequences.

Galley Solutions

Series A in 2022
Galley Solutions, Inc. develops innovative food production software designed to assist restaurants, caterers, and corporate kitchens in managing their operations more efficiently. Its primary product, Galley, enables users to create and organize recipes, compile menus, and generate shopping lists. Additionally, the software supports kitchen managers in maintaining inventories, tracking ingredient costs, and optimizing menu items that share ingredients or preparation processes. By providing tools for real-time inventory management, purchasing, and food costing, Galley allows food businesses to analyze their operations and make informed decisions to enhance profitability. Founded in 2017 and based in San Diego, California, Galley Solutions, Inc. was previously known as Galley, LLC.

Planetary

Seed Round in 2022
Operator of the fermentation-based protein contract manufacturer intended to help clients scale their operations. The company offers research and development services, upstream processing, and downstream finished product formulations, providing clients with a scaled and cost-efficient production of sustainable, diverse, and authentic analogs to animal-derived foods and ingredients.

Umiami

Series A in 2022
Developer of a plant-based food technology designed to reduce meat consumption. The company's technology offers plant-based whole-cuts that contain plant proteins, enabling consumers to have alternatives that mimic the taste, texture, and smell of meat.

Umiami

Series A in 2022
Developer of a plant-based food technology designed to reduce meat consumption. The company's technology offers plant-based whole-cuts that contain plant proteins, enabling consumers to have alternatives that mimic the taste, texture, and smell of meat.

MeliBio

Seed Round in 2022
MeliBio, Inc., established in 2020 and located in Berkeley, California, specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as molecularly identical alternatives to honey. The company utilizes scientific technologies and synthetic biology to create honey-like products without relying on bees, addressing concerns related to biodiversity loss associated with commercial bee farming. By providing these innovative alternatives, MeliBio enables food producers to incorporate vegan nectar into their offerings, promoting a more sustainable approach to honey production.

Source.ag

Seed Round in 2022
Source.ag is accelerating access to fresh fruit and vegetables with A.I.-powered glasshouses. The company's team of experienced engineers and plant scientists has partnered with the growers to build the sector’s advanced artificial intelligence. Its proprietary algorithms simulate plant behavior to define and execute optimal cultivation strategies, taking into account millions of data points on climate, biology, and resources. By enabling more growers to operate more facilities more efficiently through pioneering technology, Source is making glasshouse agriculture accessible, profitable, and globally scalable. Together, they are on a mission to provide nutritious food to more people while using fewer resources.

Smallhold

Series A in 2021
Smallhold, Inc. is a farming technology company based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in the cultivation of mushrooms through innovative, climate-controlled mini farms. Established in 2017, the company employs automated and modular growing systems that are remotely managed and available on a subscription basis. This technology allows food industry professionals, such as restaurants and grocery stores, to produce a consistent and reliable supply of local mushrooms tailored to their specific needs, regardless of external climatic conditions or market fluctuations. By leveraging advanced data analytics, Smallhold develops precise climate recipes to optimize mushroom growth, ultimately shortening the supply chain and enhancing the accessibility of fresh produce.

Calyxia

Series A in 2021
Calyxia design and produce microcapsules. Their microcapsules are size controlled from one micron to 50 microns. They completely protect an active ingredient from all damaging processes, and, they release the ingredient at just the right time and place for performance. The result is environmentally cleaner, higher performing formulation chemistry.

v2food

Series B in 2021
v2food is a plant-based meat startup that produces legume-based meat alternatives. The company v2 product is a delicious, nutritious alternative for anyone who loves the taste of meat but doesn’t want to get it from animals. It is a safe space to connect with like-minded people and create positive relationships with food that will help them feed the planet in a sustainable way. v2food was founded by Nick Hazell in 2019 and is based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

ProducePay

Series C in 2021
ProducePay is a financing and trading platform that supports the agricultural industry by providing essential financial resources. Originally conceived at Cornell University, the company gained momentum with strong backing from both faculty and students, earning recognition within Cornell’s entrepreneurial community. ProducePay offers farmers immediate access to liquidity and financing, along with real-time data that enhances pricing transparency. The platform connects farmers to crucial industry players, allowing them to access tailored cash flow services that can help expand their businesses sustainably.

Modern Meadow

Series C in 2021
Modern Meadow, LLC is a biofabrication company established in 2011 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company specializes in producing animal-free leather and other cultured products, such as meat alternatives, through innovative methods that eliminate the need for animal slaughter. By utilizing living cells and fermentation-based processes, Modern Meadow develops lightweight materials that provide superior color, performance, and durability, while also promoting lab-to-brand traceability. Their approach significantly reduces the inputs of land, water, energy, and chemicals, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This focus on sustainability enables customers to maintain the quality and appearance of materials without relying on petrochemical inputs or animal-derived substances.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2021
Kuleana creates plant-based alternatives for people's seafood favorites, using plants and biotechnology without the environmental and ethical consequences.

Apeel

Venture Round in 2020
Apeel Sciences, based in California, addresses the global food waste crisis by developing plant-derived solutions that extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Founded in 2012, the company creates pre-and post-harvest products using natural plant extracts, such as Edipeel and Invisipeel, which protect fruits and vegetables from environmental factors and pre-harvest issues. These innovations effectively double the lifespan of harvested crops without refrigeration, helping to reduce spoilage and conserve resources like water and energy. By leveraging materials found in the skins, peels, and seeds of fruits and vegetables, Apeel aims to minimize food waste and promote sustainability throughout the supply chain. The company's efforts are supported by a range of private investors and philanthropic organizations.

Ynsect

Series C in 2020
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. It specializes in the production and processing of insects for use as sustainable feed in aquaculture and poultry farming. The company utilizes innovative vertical farming techniques to convert organic resources into high-quality insect-based nutrients, including proteins and lipids, which are essential for animal nutrition. In addition to feed applications, Ynsect processes insects into non-food products such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By automating its production processes and focusing on large-scale insect farming, Ynsect aims to provide premium organic alternatives that support the agricultural and environmental sectors. Its expertise has made it a valuable partner for agri-food professionals, laboratories, investors, and insect industry farmers.

Ynsect

Series C in 2020
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. It specializes in the production and processing of insects for use as sustainable feed in aquaculture and poultry farming. The company utilizes innovative vertical farming techniques to convert organic resources into high-quality insect-based nutrients, including proteins and lipids, which are essential for animal nutrition. In addition to feed applications, Ynsect processes insects into non-food products such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By automating its production processes and focusing on large-scale insect farming, Ynsect aims to provide premium organic alternatives that support the agricultural and environmental sectors. Its expertise has made it a valuable partner for agri-food professionals, laboratories, investors, and insect industry farmers.

Infarm

Series C in 2020
Infarm, founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, specializes in indoor vertical farming systems designed to cultivate a variety of produce, including herbs, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits. The company merges advanced vertical farming techniques with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and machine learning to create a resilient and transparent food system. Infarm's smart modular farms are strategically distributed in urban areas, allowing city residents access to fresh produce while promoting self-sufficiency in food production. With a focus on research and development, patented technologies, and a diverse team of experts, Infarm aims to enhance the safety, quality, and environmental sustainability of food in urban settings.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2020
Kuleana creates plant-based alternatives for people's seafood favorites, using plants and biotechnology without the environmental and ethical consequences.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2020
Kuleana creates plant-based alternatives for people's seafood favorites, using plants and biotechnology without the environmental and ethical consequences.

The Gut Stuff

Seed Round in 2019
Operator of an online information portal intended specifically for gut health and nutrition. The company's online platform allows its users to share their conditions, and get tips, recipes and solutions for the issues from nutritionists and dieticians and also provides nutritional health bars to its customers, enabling consumers to help improve gut health.

Infarm

Series B in 2019
Infarm, founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, specializes in indoor vertical farming systems designed to cultivate a variety of produce, including herbs, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits. The company merges advanced vertical farming techniques with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and machine learning to create a resilient and transparent food system. Infarm's smart modular farms are strategically distributed in urban areas, allowing city residents access to fresh produce while promoting self-sufficiency in food production. With a focus on research and development, patented technologies, and a diverse team of experts, Infarm aims to enhance the safety, quality, and environmental sustainability of food in urban settings.

Garten

Series A in 2019
Garten, Inc. distributes vegan, gluten free, organic, and non GMO food products for individuals and offices in Silicon Valley, California. The company offers healthy snacks, coffee and tea, fresh produce, beverages, dairy products, and equipment. It also provides a slack wellness application that enables employees behavior across nutrition, rest, yoga, meditate, exercise, detox, and emotional wellbeing dimensions. Garten, Inc. was formerly known as Oh My Green, Inc. and changed its name to Garten, Inc. in June, 2020. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in San Mateo, California.

Ynsect

Series C in 2019
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. It specializes in the production and processing of insects for use as sustainable feed in aquaculture and poultry farming. The company utilizes innovative vertical farming techniques to convert organic resources into high-quality insect-based nutrients, including proteins and lipids, which are essential for animal nutrition. In addition to feed applications, Ynsect processes insects into non-food products such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By automating its production processes and focusing on large-scale insect farming, Ynsect aims to provide premium organic alternatives that support the agricultural and environmental sectors. Its expertise has made it a valuable partner for agri-food professionals, laboratories, investors, and insect industry farmers.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.