Astanor Ventures

Astanor Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2017 and based in Brussels, Belgium, focusing on early-stage investments in the agri-food and agriculture sectors. The firm is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who are innovating within the food system, blue ocean economy, and agriculture, specifically targeting technology-enabled companies that aim to create a nourishing, regenerative, and trustworthy food future. Astanor Ventures manages multiple funds, including Astanor Good Harvest Ventures I, which was launched in 2018 and invests in Europe and North America, and Astanor Ventures II, initiated in 2023, targeting investments in Italy, France, and Ireland. Both funds prioritize impact investments in agtech and foodtech, seeking to support over 45 companies globally while leveraging a strong network of entrepreneurs, impact investors, and experts in the field.

Eric Archambeau Ph.D

Co-Founder & Senior Managing Partner

George Powlick

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. operates as a wholesaler of food products. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Berkeley, California.

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, Smallhold utilizes automated and modular growing systems that are remotely managed and subscription-based, allowing food industry professionals to produce consistent and reliable local mushrooms tailored to their specific needs. The company's produce is distributed to partner restaurants, grocery stores, and markets, ensuring a steady supply of fresh mushrooms. By leveraging technology, Smallhold aims to provide a sustainable solution for mushroom farming that is resilient to climatic changes and market fluctuations.

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
Produce Pay was first conceived at Cornell University. With strong support from experienced faculty and the student body, it was able to rapidly gain momentum. Produce Pay obtained recognition from Cornell’s entrepreneurial community and was soon dubbed "The Next Johnson Start-Up," in reference to Cornell’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management.

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 Sciences

Venture Round in 2020
Apeel Sciences, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, specializes in developing plant-derived solutions aimed at reducing food waste and extending the shelf life of fresh produce. The company's innovative products, such as Edipeel and Invisipeel, are designed to protect fruits and vegetables from environmental factors and pre-harvest challenges, effectively doubling their lifespan without the need for refrigeration. By utilizing advances in materials science, Apeel Sciences addresses the global food waste crisis, which amounts to approximately $2.6 trillion annually. The company's technologies not only help to minimize spoilage but also contribute to reducing water and energy consumption while preserving natural ecosystems. Apeel Sciences has gained support from a range of private investors and philanthropic partners, including prominent organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Ynsect

Series C in 2020
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. The company specializes in the design, construction, and operation of insect production and processing facilities aimed at producing sustainable feed for fish and poultry. Ynsect focuses on the bioconversion of organic resources through insects, transforming them into high-quality nutrients such as proteins and lipids for animal feed, as well as non-food applications like organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By leveraging insect nutrients and behaviors, Ynsect collaborates with clients to develop innovative products and services. The company is recognized for its expertise in large-scale insect farming and automated processing, making it a preferred partner among professionals in the agri-food sector, laboratories, investors, and public institutions.

Ynsect

Series C in 2020
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. The company specializes in the design, construction, and operation of insect production and processing facilities aimed at producing sustainable feed for fish and poultry. Ynsect focuses on the bioconversion of organic resources through insects, transforming them into high-quality nutrients such as proteins and lipids for animal feed, as well as non-food applications like organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By leveraging insect nutrients and behaviors, Ynsect collaborates with clients to develop innovative products and services. The company is recognized for its expertise in large-scale insect farming and automated processing, making it a preferred partner among professionals in the agri-food sector, laboratories, investors, and public institutions.

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.

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.

Ynsect

Series C in 2019
Ynsect is a biotech company based in Evry, France, founded in 2011. The company specializes in the design, construction, and operation of insect production and processing facilities aimed at producing sustainable feed for fish and poultry. Ynsect focuses on the bioconversion of organic resources through insects, transforming them into high-quality nutrients such as proteins and lipids for animal feed, as well as non-food applications like organic fertilizers and bioenergy. By leveraging insect nutrients and behaviors, Ynsect collaborates with clients to develop innovative products and services. The company is recognized for its expertise in large-scale insect farming and automated processing, making it a preferred partner among professionals in the agri-food sector, laboratories, investors, and public institutions.