Pontifax

Pontifax Global Food and Agriculture Technology Fund ("Pontifax AgTech") is a pioneering growth capital investor in food and agriculture technology. We invest globally in growing businesses that improve agricultural productivity, nutrition, health, sustainability and supply chain efficiency.

Ben Belldegrun

Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Tristan Berne

Associate

Timothy Bluth

Vice President

Gil Demeter

Vice President

Philip Erlanger

Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Harry Savage

Associate

Past deals in AgTech

Anuvia Plant Nutrients

Series D in 2022
Anuvia Plant Nutrients manufactures slow-release specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition products designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote sustainable practices. Based in Beech Island, South Carolina, with a production facility in central Florida, the company offers innovative bio-based fertilizers that optimize nutrient availability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources. Anuvia's product line includes Symtrx, a fertilizer with a nutrient composition of 16-8-0-16S, and GreenTRX, which is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of turf. The company's offerings cater to a diverse clientele, including farmers, turf managers, homeowners, and municipalities, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship since its founding in 2005.

AgBiome

Series D in 2021
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing innovative biological products for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2012, AgBiome utilizes advanced genomics and screening technologies to identify plant-associated microbes that enhance plant health, pest resistance, and crop yields. The company manufactures fungicides to protect crops from soil-borne and foliar diseases while also employing a platform that captures and screens diverse microbes for their effectiveness against insects, diseases, and nematodes. AgBiome collaborates with leading agricultural firms to accelerate its discovery process and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in global food production. With a workforce of approximately 87 employees and a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable and effective solutions for farmers facing significant agricultural issues.

Conservis

Venture Round in 2021
Conservis provides farm management software to help you see your operation from the dirt up. Track field activities, manage inventories and analyze yields. The Conservis platform connects your information to manage your progress today and harvest opportunities ahead. Conservis started when four farmers asked our founders for help with workflow management. That was five years ago. Today, the Conservis system is used by the most successful agricultural producers to make informed business decisions. It is trusted to manage over $8 Billion in land, equipment and crop assets at all stages of production to improve bottom-line performance.

Hazel Technologies

Series C in 2021
Hazel Technologies, Inc. designs and manufactures packaging inserts to reduce the spoilage of fruits and vegetables. It offers packaging inserts called sachets that are placed in boxes of the produce by growers at the time of harvest, extending the shelf-life of produce by slowing aging in produce and preventing fungus or decay. The company also provides agricultural and horticultural consulting services. Hazel Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with an additional location in Salinas, California.

Anuvia Plant Nutrients

Series C in 2021
Anuvia Plant Nutrients manufactures slow-release specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition products designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote sustainable practices. Based in Beech Island, South Carolina, with a production facility in central Florida, the company offers innovative bio-based fertilizers that optimize nutrient availability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources. Anuvia's product line includes Symtrx, a fertilizer with a nutrient composition of 16-8-0-16S, and GreenTRX, which is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of turf. The company's offerings cater to a diverse clientele, including farmers, turf managers, homeowners, and municipalities, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship since its founding in 2005.

pairwise, Inc.

Series B in 2021
Pairwise, Inc. is a food and technology company focused on improving the quality of fruits and vegetables through innovative agricultural gene editing techniques. Founded in 2017 and based in San Diego, California, Pairwise collaborates with food and agriculture companies to develop new crop varieties, including leafy greens, berries, and stone fruits. The company utilizes advanced tools and traits licensed from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, leveraging expertise from a team with backgrounds in agriculture, consumer packaged goods, and research. With a commitment to fostering a healthier world, Pairwise aims to introduce its first products in the coming years, contributing to advancements in food technology and sustainable agriculture.

Provivi

Series C in 2020
Provivi Inc. develops biopesticides for agriculture, commercial, household, and public health pest management. It develops research quantities of carbene/nitrene transferase enzymes that activate diazo and azide compounds to generate iron-carbenoids and iron-nitrenoids through a mode of activation. The company also develops a biocatalysis and fermentation technology, which is based on biocatalysts that enable efficient synthesis of biopesticides. Its technology has applications in industries, such as pharmaceuticals, nutrition, flavors, and fragrances. The company offers its products through distributors worldwide. Provivi Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Santa Monica, California.

Anuvia Plant Nutrients

Series C in 2020
Anuvia Plant Nutrients manufactures slow-release specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition products designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote sustainable practices. Based in Beech Island, South Carolina, with a production facility in central Florida, the company offers innovative bio-based fertilizers that optimize nutrient availability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources. Anuvia's product line includes Symtrx, a fertilizer with a nutrient composition of 16-8-0-16S, and GreenTRX, which is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of turf. The company's offerings cater to a diverse clientele, including farmers, turf managers, homeowners, and municipalities, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship since its founding in 2005.

Conservis

Debt Financing in 2020
Conservis provides farm management software to help you see your operation from the dirt up. Track field activities, manage inventories and analyze yields. The Conservis platform connects your information to manage your progress today and harvest opportunities ahead. Conservis started when four farmers asked our founders for help with workflow management. That was five years ago. Today, the Conservis system is used by the most successful agricultural producers to make informed business decisions. It is trusted to manage over $8 Billion in land, equipment and crop assets at all stages of production to improve bottom-line performance.

Tropic Biosciences

Series B in 2020
Tropic Biosciences UK LTD is a biotechnology company focused on developing high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops, specifically targeting the coffee and banana industries. Established in 2016 and headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom, the company employs advanced non-GMO gene editing technologies to enhance crop performance while promoting grower wellbeing and consumer health. Through its innovative approach, Tropic Biosciences aims to improve sustainable agricultural practices and address the challenges faced by tropical crop producers.

Anuvia Plant Nutrients

Venture Round in 2019
Anuvia Plant Nutrients manufactures slow-release specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition products designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote sustainable practices. Based in Beech Island, South Carolina, with a production facility in central Florida, the company offers innovative bio-based fertilizers that optimize nutrient availability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources. Anuvia's product line includes Symtrx, a fertilizer with a nutrient composition of 16-8-0-16S, and GreenTRX, which is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of turf. The company's offerings cater to a diverse clientele, including farmers, turf managers, homeowners, and municipalities, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship since its founding in 2005.

Provivi

Series C in 2019
Provivi Inc. develops biopesticides for agriculture, commercial, household, and public health pest management. It develops research quantities of carbene/nitrene transferase enzymes that activate diazo and azide compounds to generate iron-carbenoids and iron-nitrenoids through a mode of activation. The company also develops a biocatalysis and fermentation technology, which is based on biocatalysts that enable efficient synthesis of biopesticides. Its technology has applications in industries, such as pharmaceuticals, nutrition, flavors, and fragrances. The company offers its products through distributors worldwide. Provivi Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Santa Monica, California.

FoodLogiQ

Series B in 2019
FoodLogiQ specializes in supplier management, food safety compliance, quality incident, and whole chain traceability to verify supplier compliance with food safety and act, allowing food companies to improve global supply chain visibility, streamline supplier management, build quality issue tracking, and reporting.

Precision BioSciences

Debt Financing in 2019
Precision BioSciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in genome editing, utilizing its proprietary ARCUS platform to develop therapeutic and food products. The Therapeutic segment focuses on creating allogeneic CAR T immunotherapies aimed at treating various cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia and multiple myeloma, with several candidates currently in clinical trials. Notable product candidates include PBCAR0191, targeting CD19, and PBCAR269A, targeting BCMA. Additionally, the company is engaged in in vivo gene correction and has collaborations for developing treatments for chronic Hepatitis B. The Food segment aims to innovate in food and nutrition products. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Precision BioSciences is committed to translating advanced genome editing technology into impactful medical and agricultural solutions.

Conservis

Venture Round in 2018
Conservis provides farm management software to help you see your operation from the dirt up. Track field activities, manage inventories and analyze yields. The Conservis platform connects your information to manage your progress today and harvest opportunities ahead. Conservis started when four farmers asked our founders for help with workflow management. That was five years ago. Today, the Conservis system is used by the most successful agricultural producers to make informed business decisions. It is trusted to manage over $8 Billion in land, equipment and crop assets at all stages of production to improve bottom-line performance.

AgBiome

Series C in 2018
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing innovative biological products for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2012, AgBiome utilizes advanced genomics and screening technologies to identify plant-associated microbes that enhance plant health, pest resistance, and crop yields. The company manufactures fungicides to protect crops from soil-borne and foliar diseases while also employing a platform that captures and screens diverse microbes for their effectiveness against insects, diseases, and nematodes. AgBiome collaborates with leading agricultural firms to accelerate its discovery process and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in global food production. With a workforce of approximately 87 employees and a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable and effective solutions for farmers facing significant agricultural issues.

Tropic Biosciences

Series A in 2018
Tropic Biosciences UK LTD is a biotechnology company focused on developing high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops, specifically targeting the coffee and banana industries. Established in 2016 and headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom, the company employs advanced non-GMO gene editing technologies to enhance crop performance while promoting grower wellbeing and consumer health. Through its innovative approach, Tropic Biosciences aims to improve sustainable agricultural practices and address the challenges faced by tropical crop producers.

Precision BioSciences

Series B in 2018
Precision BioSciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in genome editing, utilizing its proprietary ARCUS platform to develop therapeutic and food products. The Therapeutic segment focuses on creating allogeneic CAR T immunotherapies aimed at treating various cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia and multiple myeloma, with several candidates currently in clinical trials. Notable product candidates include PBCAR0191, targeting CD19, and PBCAR269A, targeting BCMA. Additionally, the company is engaged in in vivo gene correction and has collaborations for developing treatments for chronic Hepatitis B. The Food segment aims to innovate in food and nutrition products. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Precision BioSciences is committed to translating advanced genome editing technology into impactful medical and agricultural solutions.

Inocucor Technologies

Series B in 2018
Concentric develops ground-breaking agtech advancements that are safe for people, protect our natural resources and increase agriculture’s potential to feed the world. Concentric produces high-performance specialty biological products that naturally improve crop yields and replenish soils.

FoodLogiQ

Venture Round in 2018
FoodLogiQ specializes in supplier management, food safety compliance, quality incident, and whole chain traceability to verify supplier compliance with food safety and act, allowing food companies to improve global supply chain visibility, streamline supplier management, build quality issue tracking, and reporting.

Inocucor Technologies

Series B in 2018
Concentric develops ground-breaking agtech advancements that are safe for people, protect our natural resources and increase agriculture’s potential to feed the world. Concentric produces high-performance specialty biological products that naturally improve crop yields and replenish soils.

Conservis

Debt Financing in 2017
Conservis provides farm management software to help you see your operation from the dirt up. Track field activities, manage inventories and analyze yields. The Conservis platform connects your information to manage your progress today and harvest opportunities ahead. Conservis started when four farmers asked our founders for help with workflow management. That was five years ago. Today, the Conservis system is used by the most successful agricultural producers to make informed business decisions. It is trusted to manage over $8 Billion in land, equipment and crop assets at all stages of production to improve bottom-line performance.

Anuvia Plant Nutrients

Venture Round in 2016
Anuvia Plant Nutrients manufactures slow-release specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition products designed to enhance crop yields, improve soil health, and promote sustainable practices. Based in Beech Island, South Carolina, with a production facility in central Florida, the company offers innovative bio-based fertilizers that optimize nutrient availability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve natural resources. Anuvia's product line includes Symtrx, a fertilizer with a nutrient composition of 16-8-0-16S, and GreenTRX, which is formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of turf. The company's offerings cater to a diverse clientele, including farmers, turf managers, homeowners, and municipalities, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship since its founding in 2005.

Blue River Technology

Series B in 2015
Blue River Technology Inc. engages in developing computer vision and robotics technology for agricultural applications. Its technology identifies weeds and selectively kills unwanted plants. The company’s automated solution is suitable for organic agriculture and fields with chemical-resistant weeds. Blue River Technology Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Sunnyvale, California with additional offices in Salinas, California and Yuma, Arizona. As of September 12, 2017, Blue River Technology Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Deere & Company.

Conservis

Series A in 2015
Conservis provides farm management software to help you see your operation from the dirt up. Track field activities, manage inventories and analyze yields. The Conservis platform connects your information to manage your progress today and harvest opportunities ahead. Conservis started when four farmers asked our founders for help with workflow management. That was five years ago. Today, the Conservis system is used by the most successful agricultural producers to make informed business decisions. It is trusted to manage over $8 Billion in land, equipment and crop assets at all stages of production to improve bottom-line performance.

AgBiome

Series B in 2015
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing innovative biological products for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2012, AgBiome utilizes advanced genomics and screening technologies to identify plant-associated microbes that enhance plant health, pest resistance, and crop yields. The company manufactures fungicides to protect crops from soil-borne and foliar diseases while also employing a platform that captures and screens diverse microbes for their effectiveness against insects, diseases, and nematodes. AgBiome collaborates with leading agricultural firms to accelerate its discovery process and deliver solutions that address critical challenges in global food production. With a workforce of approximately 87 employees and a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable and effective solutions for farmers facing significant agricultural issues.

VitAG

Private Equity Round in 2014
VitAG Corporation engages in the disposition of municipal biosolids and animal residuals into inorganic fertilizers. Its VitAG recycling technology transforms biosolids into ammonium sulfate granular fertilizers. The company sells its fertilizers through distributors in the United States and internationally. VitAG Corporation is based in Beech Island, South Carolina.