S2G Ventures

S2G Ventures, established in 2014 and based in Chicago, is a multi-stage venture fund focused on food and agriculture. The firm aims to support entrepreneurs whose products and services address the growing consumer demand for healthy, sustainable, and local food options. S2G Ventures identifies various sectors within the food system that are poised for transformation and builds a diverse portfolio through seed, venture, and growth-stage investments. Its investment areas encompass agriculture, food ingredients, infrastructure and logistics, food safety and technology, as well as retail, restaurants, and consumer brands. The firm’s mission is to drive innovation in these sectors to enhance sustainability and health in the food supply chain.

Sanjeev Krishnan

Senior Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer

Rachel O'Connell

Associate

Cristina Rohr

Managing Director, Food and Agriculture

Aaron Rudberg

Chief Operating Officer & Senior Managing Director

Chuck Templeton

Managing Partner

Matthew Walker

Managing Director, Food and Agriculture

Past deals in Agriculture

Arable

Series C in 2022
Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Avant Meats

Venture Round in 2022
They focus on technology, commercial product innovation, and branding as well as intellectual property portfolio building in the area of ‘cell-based’ animal protein food products.

Dexer

Convertible Note in 2022
AgVoice is a hands-free enabled, voice-interactive mobile technology for food and agriculture professionals to capture insights on the go. Users can improve productivity and workflow management, increase documentation accuracy, and gain valuable insights to optimize the use of resources in crop and animal production for a sustainability and environmental impact, by using proprietary analytics and processing of raw voice files including captured time stamps and location data. AgVoice is designed for use across the food and agriculture ecosystem, including livestock and crop production, agronomy, animal health and wellness, and machinery repair.

Yali Biosciences

Seed Round in 2022
Yali Biosciences is a food tech company that uses synthetic biology and genomics tools to make climate-smart, sustainable foods.

3Bar Biologics

Seed Round in 2021
3Bar Biologics Inc. is a bioscience company located in Columbus, Ohio, focused on enhancing agricultural productivity through innovative solutions. Established in 2013, the company specializes in the development of Bio-YIELD, a microbe inoculant system that utilizes naturally occurring microbes tailored to specific crops and soil conditions. This all-natural product aims to increase crop yields and produce healthier plants by employing beneficial microorganisms. Bio-YIELD was first introduced to farmers in the eastern Corn Belt in 2014 and is supported by over 15 years of research conducted by scientists at The Ohio State University. The firm is committed to expanding its reach to global markets as it gathers further data to support its products, promoting sustainable farming practices that protect farmers' investments in their land and seeds.

Sound Agriculture

Series C in 2021
Sound Agriculture uses molecular discovery to create climate-resilient crops, enhancing harvest yields for growers. They also use an innovative life science approach to sustainably increase farming productivity. The company was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Emeryville, California.

Arable

Series B in 2020
Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

AppHarvest

Series C in 2020
AppHarvest, Inc. is an agricultural technology company that focuses on constructing and operating controlled-environment greenhouse farms. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Morehead, Kentucky, the company aims to produce non-GMO, chemical-free vegetables by integrating traditional farming methods with modern technology. Its greenhouses are designed to optimize water distribution and reduce overall water usage, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. Through these innovative approaches, AppHarvest seeks to enhance food production while minimizing environmental impact.

Growers Edge

Series B in 2020
Growers Edge puts grower profits first by delivering grower income assurance through data-driven financial technology products, solutions, and tools for the agricultural sector. Empowering farmers to adopt new technologies to increase profitability, Growers Edge solves the financial gaps of farmers by changing how agricultural inputs and services are sold, allowing them to capture more value and improve profits. Led by a proven team of crop management leaders and backed by top agtech investors, the company is headquartered in Johnston, Iowa.

Sound Agriculture

Series C in 2020
Sound Agriculture uses molecular discovery to create climate-resilient crops, enhancing harvest yields for growers. They also use an innovative life science approach to sustainably increase farming productivity. The company was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Emeryville, California.

Dexer

Convertible Note in 2019
AgVoice is a hands-free enabled, voice-interactive mobile technology for food and agriculture professionals to capture insights on the go. Users can improve productivity and workflow management, increase documentation accuracy, and gain valuable insights to optimize the use of resources in crop and animal production for a sustainability and environmental impact, by using proprietary analytics and processing of raw voice files including captured time stamps and location data. AgVoice is designed for use across the food and agriculture ecosystem, including livestock and crop production, agronomy, animal health and wellness, and machinery repair.

Arable

Series A in 2017
Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Midwestern Bioag

Venture Round in 2016
Midwestern Bioag is a biologically-based agricultural consulting company that provides a route to better farming through better soils. They show farmers how to create a tailored farm management plan that builds the capacity of the soil to provide a wide range of economic and environmental benefits for the farm. It was founded in 1982 and headquartered in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.