Techstars

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

Ethan Austin

MD of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator

Max Kelly

Managing Director of Techstars London

Lesa Mitchell

Managing Director

Vijay Tirathrai

Managing Director

Mark Tortorella

Advisor

Nathanial Zola

MD

Past deals in Food Processing

BEERMKR

Seed Round in 2023
Developer of an automatic beer brewing machine designed to brew, ferment, carbonate, and serve beer. The company's brewing machine allows making over a gallon of craft beer and all the beer fermentation process is controlled by an application, enabling customers to enjoy beer conveniently.

Nyungu Afrika

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Nyungu Afrika is a circular economy using agricultural waste, pineapple leaves, and corn husk fibers. They offer services for agricultural waste like pineapple and corn husk fibers.

Trado (Formerly MeatoDoor)

Pre Seed Round in 2022
The meat procurement process for food businesses is highly unorganized with multiple suppliers, stock availability challenges, variation in quality and pricing and, lack of transparency. MeatoDoor is digitizing the meat ordering process by providing a one-stop solution ensuring quality standardization, transparency, and convenience in the procurement process. MeaoDoor is addressing the pain points of a $6.1 Bn GCC meat market that is growing annually @5.4% until 2030. With global health concerns, changing consumer expectations, and government regulations, it is the right time for organizing the multiple stakeholders in the supply chain to deliver quality and trust. MeatoDoor has created a reverse auction platform that offers instant quotes, access to promotions, competitive pricing bringing efficiency and reducing cost in meat procurement. The customers are owned by MeatoDoor as the orders are executed by in-house team.

jalebi

Pre Seed Round in 2021
jalebi is an early-stage B2B food-tech startup unifying a food businesses content + data value-chain, transforming rudimentary and inefficient processes in a surging $8.1 trillion global industry.

Khepra

Seed Round in 2021
Khepra uses proprietary technology and excess renewable electricity to break down plastics and agricultural waste. The company applies ultrasonic technology to breaking waste streams into drop-in fuels in a novel, completely electrified process. This process is used as a method to use excess solar and wind energy during curtailment and provide clean energy generation during times of low generation. The company is operating in San Francisco, California.

Parkday

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Parkday is a mobile app and data platform providing custom food programs by using recommendation algorithms and data science to generate personalized ready-to-eat meals from our food partners based on dietary preferences, geography, and lifestyle.

Caddy

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Caddy automates food processors' everyday workflows to unlock smarter food safety and traceability. It was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.

Hya Bioplastics

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Hya Bioplastics is a startup focused on producing biodegradable food packaging made from re-engineered plant fibers. The company utilizes proprietary decentralized manufacturing technology to create cost-competitive biodegradable solutions, aiming to provide sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics. Hya Bioplastics is also developing a patent-pending process that enhances the production of bioplastics from plant waste fibers, contributing to environmentally friendly packaging options.

MilkRun

Series A in 2021
MilkRun provides an online retail channel for small and mid-sized producers to engage directly with their customers, orchestrating the direct sale, distribution and fulfillment of locally grown and made goods. With an end-to-end solution, MilkRun can deliver a 6x improvement to producers by using technology to deploy the pre-industrial distribution model for local food systems.

Milk Moovement

Seed Round in 2021
Milk Moovement is a Developer of a dairy supply chain management platform designed to track milk pick-ups and monitoring milk production. The company's platform is a comprehensive tool that tracks dairy production and quality by using a cloud-based web and mobile solution, giving users access to key information in real-time, enabling all supply chain stakeholders (producers, processors, transporters, testing labs, and cooperatives) to have access to milk performance metrics and in-depth information on current production, quality, and historical data right at their fingertips.

Xook

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Xook is a developer of robotic fresh food kiosks that delivers fresh food at the office, cafeteria, or at an apartment. Xook offers freshly prepared food to users' order and served in under a minute.

Phood

Seed Round in 2021
Phood is a startup company developing a food waste prevention platform that aims to reduce food waste. The platform utilizes data analytics and artificial intelligence to capture the food that businesses, such as restaurants, are purchasing, preparing, and are stored in refrigerators or on shelves to cut food waste in half and helps food businesses build a more resilient food system and supply chain. IN 2015, Luc Dang and Nick Kruczek established the company New York, New York.

E-Fish

Pre Seed Round in 2021
E-Fish is a direct to consumer seafood marketplace connecting at-home discerning cooks, to independent seafood wholesalers at scale. Our American fishermen, harvest to order, package the product within 24 hours, and ship overnight. Seafood that arrives within 48 hours out of water is noticeably better, especially when compared to traditional products that spend years in a freezer.

Toolsvilla

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Indian Farming is mostly dependant on Human & Animal labour. 7 out of 10 farms in India use traditional farming practises which keeps the business small & non-scalable. Toolsvilla is India's Leading Digital Marketplace to Buy, Sell, Finance, Service & Insure ‘Machinery’, ‘Automation Tools’ & ‘Equipment’ used by both Farm & Non-Farm Rural SMBs. Our aim is to give transparency on pricing, information & comparison of Machinery & Hardware Equipment all on a Single Platform. We bring the ease of buying Machinery & tools to every customer who finds it hard to get one. We help them with not just the knowledge but also services like Cash-on-delivery, EMI payments, Easy-returns & After-Sales Support. We envision Toolsvilla as a one-stop platform for all machinery & automation needs for SMBs.

IXON Food Technology

Pre Seed Round in 2020
IXON specializes in advanced sous-vide aseptic packaging (ASAP) that allows protein to remain stable at room temperature for up to two years. It exclusively owns the patent of ASAP, as well as technologies surrounding ASAP. This includes technologies related to processing, packaging, analytical, and food hygiene. They license and custom-make equipment for food manufacturers, so they can have exclusive rights to make and distribute ASAP food products. They also assist in product development, product testing, plant design, plant construction, operation management, hygiene maintenance, corporate training, and patent enforcement, so that our partners have little to worry about and are guaranteed commercial success.

Milk Moovement

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Milk Moovement is a Developer of a dairy supply chain management platform designed to track milk pick-ups and monitoring milk production. The company's platform is a comprehensive tool that tracks dairy production and quality by using a cloud-based web and mobile solution, giving users access to key information in real-time, enabling all supply chain stakeholders (producers, processors, transporters, testing labs, and cooperatives) to have access to milk performance metrics and in-depth information on current production, quality, and historical data right at their fingertips.

Iamus Technologies

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Iamus Technologies Limited is an artificial intelligence and robotics company based in Ireland that focuses on developing advanced technology for the poultry industry. The company has created robotic systems specifically designed to assist poultry farmers in making informed and safer production decisions. Over the past two years, Iamus has collaborated with poultry processors worldwide to identify key performance indicators that its robots can continuously monitor within poultry sheds. This technology captures automatic and accurate data regarding the birds and their environment, allowing for real-time analysis and intervention. By utilizing machine learning, Iamus transforms visual, environmental, and biometric data into actionable insights, thereby addressing the increasing demands of modern, intensive broiler production and helping producers optimize their operations.

FeedX

Pre Seed Round in 2020
FeedX is marketplace for animal feed. We build mission critical digital infrastructure that powers the animal feed industry. We are building an easier to use, more efficient, animal feed supply chain to save buyers and sellers time and money.

Grubbly Farms

Seed Round in 2020
Grubbly Farms Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in producing and selling sustainable feed and snacks for chickens using black soldier fly larvae. The company's flagship product, Grubblies, is made from dried larvae that are cultivated on pre-consumer food waste, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional poultry feed. This approach not only addresses the rising costs associated with livestock feed—one of the largest expenses for farmers—but also provides a high-protein, calcium-rich diet that supports egg and feather production. By offering an innovative and sustainable source of protein, Grubbly Farms aims to alleviate financial pressures on farms while promoting environmentally responsible farming practices. The company's products are available for purchase online, catering to poultry owners seeking healthier feeding options for their livestock.

Petabolix

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Petabolix Inc. develops an intelligent nutrition platform to map diets for pets. It offers Petabolix that evaluates pets for nutritional needs based on breed, age, activity level, and other conditions. The company’s Petabolix provides personalized diet recommendations and enables to find diets and best-priced retailers for pet food purchases. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Pesky Fish

Seed Round in 2020
Nothing beats the experience of eating the freshest fish, straight out the sea. But with a supply chain where 80% of our catch is exported, while the other 20% gets handled multiple times up the chain, is it really any wonder that these experiences are so few and far between? Convinced we could do better for both fishermen and consumers, we set ourselves a challenge: build a scalable, sustainable supply chain where fishermen sell their catch directly to customers, have it delivered the same day, with every fillet traceable to the boat. Introducing Pesky Fish. Our fishermen now receive the best and most stable prices for their catch, while we deliver the freshest supply into London customers - a day faster than the fastest competitor, using a fraction of the resources to do so. Having proven its value at both ends of the chain, our mission now is to onboard more boats and customer into our new model - helping us to build a better industry for the future. Intended impact For our consumers, we want to make the best quality, sustainable fish accessible and affordable, while giving them an unprecedented connection with the person who catches their food. For our amazing fishermen, we want to revitalise the fleet - supporting their businesses with a larger market, higher, stable catch values and faster payments. Underpinning our supply chain will be the introduction of new and simple technology to be used by both skippers and customers. While boats currently land their fish to the volatile markets, they will now be able to communicate and sell their catch direct to customers, achieving the best price - all while still at sea! Over time, and by proving its value, this knowledge will revolutionise the way the industry markets, regulates and sustains its fish and fishermen - starting in the UK, then across the world. Substantial accomplishments to date - Now delivering Cornish catch to customers in London as short as 8 hours after leaving the sea. - Established in 3 ports with coastal packing partners, with 3 more ports post-funding. - Delivering fresh fish supply into London on a Monday to a market that has only ever been served Tuesday-Saturday. - Boats across 3 ports landing direct with 22 deliveries made by fishermen direct to their customers in 2017. - Secured exclusive partnership with Intercity Railfreight to deliver same-day fish through rail network, enabling 99.7% of our journey to be carbon neutral. - Full time trading as of October with an ever-growing number of repeat restaurant and home customers in Central London. - Launched transactional website and Saturday shop in Spa Terminus market, with orders doubling month on month and £2K of smoked salmon in December. - £4K/week only limited by our ability to service our restaurant customer's payment terms. - Partnership with Succorfish for at-sea data capture system, supported by 80% match funding from EU. Monetisation strategy Where our traditional competitors add a % mark-up on what's landed or bought in the market (roughly 40%), Pesky makes a simple and fixed £/Kg distribution charge on every fish - supported by stable £/Kg value chain costs and comparatively tiny overheads vs competition. This allows us to offer fishermen higher, stable prices for their catch while making the best quality fish more affordable than ever to our customers - encouraging participation at both ends of the chain. Use of proceeds Funds will be used to dramatically increase our capacity to buy from the boats and service more customers - helping us to immediately capitalise on the opportunity. Our primary areas of investment will be to implementing port, city and tech infrastructure, supporting cash flow and developing our brilliant team. - 38% - Operational expenses (Establishing logistic networks, site overheads, targeted local marketing, team development) - 36% - Working capital to support customer payment terms - 19% - Capital expenditure for London site and single electric van. - 6% - Data system development (supported by 80% matched EU grant)

Zelish

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Zelish is a mobile application helps people run their kitchen effortlessly without worrying about the hassles of planning, shopping and cooking. Zelish a) provides recipe recommendations personalized to individual’s lifestyle b) automatically builds grocery cart & orders grocery completely zero-touch c) handholds home cooks to execute the recipe to perfection Zelish is working on adding the ability to connect to IoT enabled smart kitchen appliances, thus making kitchens completely hassle-free.

Nise

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Nise Tech Inc. specializes in the development and manufacturing of innovative cooking appliances, particularly the Nise Wave, an app-controlled sous vide circulator. This device allows users to make precise temperature adjustments for cooking, transforming any pot of water into a versatile cooking solution. The Nise Wave can prepare a variety of dishes, including medium-rare steak and crème brûlée, all through a user-friendly mobile application. In addition to its cooking appliances, the company also offers ready-to-cook meal options, such as Korean barbecue and mulled wine. Founded in 2015 and based in Brampton, Canada, Nise Tech Inc. focuses on enhancing the cooking experience by combining advanced technology with convenience, enabling users to prepare meals more efficiently while multitasking.

Pepper

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Pepper is a personalized nutrition company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2016. It focuses on empowering individuals to manage their dietary habits at home through innovative kitchen technology. The company is also developing a suite of nutrition APIs that assist health, food, insurance, and technology firms in enhancing user experiences and making informed business decisions. Additionally, Pepper operates a content-mediation platform that connects skilled writers with organizations seeking customized content solutions, ensuring high-quality writing services tailored to various needs.

Curie London

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Curie is online platform offering wide range of plant based meat products to promote sustainability and improve animal life. The most users using CURIE are eco-conscious and progressive individuals.

MilkRun

Pre Seed Round in 2020
MilkRun provides an online retail channel for small and mid-sized producers to engage directly with their customers, orchestrating the direct sale, distribution and fulfillment of locally grown and made goods. With an end-to-end solution, MilkRun can deliver a 6x improvement to producers by using technology to deploy the pre-industrial distribution model for local food systems.

microTERRA

Pre Seed Round in 2019
microTERRA creates sustainable protein for farmers in LATAM. Protein is the largest cost to farmers, representing 70% of their total spend. By combining hardware and biotech, microTERRA develops microalgae systems that transform wastewater into a sustainable protein and clean water. Our first customers are fish farms. We transform their wastewater into fish feed, onsite, lowering their production costs, producing protein sustainably and cleaning the water.

microTERRA

Venture Round in 2019
microTERRA creates sustainable protein for farmers in LATAM. Protein is the largest cost to farmers, representing 70% of their total spend. By combining hardware and biotech, microTERRA develops microalgae systems that transform wastewater into a sustainable protein and clean water. Our first customers are fish farms. We transform their wastewater into fish feed, onsite, lowering their production costs, producing protein sustainably and cleaning the water.

microTERRA

Pre Seed Round in 2019
microTERRA creates sustainable protein for farmers in LATAM. Protein is the largest cost to farmers, representing 70% of their total spend. By combining hardware and biotech, microTERRA develops microalgae systems that transform wastewater into a sustainable protein and clean water. Our first customers are fish farms. We transform their wastewater into fish feed, onsite, lowering their production costs, producing protein sustainably and cleaning the water.

ImagoAI

Pre Seed Round in 2019
ImagoAI provides agri-food quality decision system using Artificial Intelligence. The AI powered system helps in delivering consistent food quality, generate premium products, and prevent supply chain waste. Companies use our technology to increase revenues, reduce food loss, and prevent product recalls.

Phood

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Phood is a startup company developing a food waste prevention platform that aims to reduce food waste. The platform utilizes data analytics and artificial intelligence to capture the food that businesses, such as restaurants, are purchasing, preparing, and are stored in refrigerators or on shelves to cut food waste in half and helps food businesses build a more resilient food system and supply chain. IN 2015, Luc Dang and Nick Kruczek established the company New York, New York.

Otrafy

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Otrafy is a Quality Management Software that optimizes and administers vendor relationship for quality assurance departments.Helping food production facilities to reach compliance and regulatory requirements faster by minimizing and automating mundane, low value-added activities.

FLY BY JING

Pre Seed Round in 2019
They put uncensored chinese flavours and the highest quality ingredients together and tell to make nice.TheyBELIEVE IN REAL: REAL FOOD, REAL PEOPLE, AND REAL MOMENTS THAT BRING US TOGETHER TO DISCOVER SOMETHING SPICY, ODDLY SATISFYING AND SLIGHTLY SAVORY.

Food for All

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Food for All makes quality food affordable to all while stopping perfectly good and delicious meals from being wasted. After developing the company's concept in collaboration with Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Food for All was born in Oct 2016 with the help of more than 650 incredible people all over the US that backed us in our Kickstarter campaign.

kencko

Seed Round in 2019
kencko foods, inc. produces and sells organic fruit and vegetable products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company offers sachet-based drink, including ten pack, thirty pack, and sixty pack. kencko foods, inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in New York, New York with a processing facility in Lisbon, Portugal.

Planetarians

Seed Round in 2019
Why: When the alternative meat consumption grows from the current 2% to a projected 23%, where will the industry get proteins? Isolation, fermentation, cultured… all of them require it’s own ingredients for proteins. They might be not so readily available in the food system on the Earth… What: PLANETARIANS developed a new platform to make alternative meats from animal feed (Sunflower, Corn DDGS, Pulses). Skipping protein isolation it uses just 0.5:1 water (no chemicals). Product prototypes have umami taste, improved protein quality and lower costs than meats made from isolates and concentrates. How: Solid-state fermentation converts carbs in the ingredients into extra protein in addition to inherent one and improves PDCAAS. Wet extrusion works as a kill step and creates a meat-like texture.

Meal IQ

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Meal IQ is an Intelligent Meal Planning and Shopping App for people on Diets or having Food Intolerances.

Gastrograph

Series A in 2018
Gastrograph, developed by Analytical Flavor Systems, Inc., is an artificial intelligence platform designed for the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2010 and based in New York, the platform enables companies to gather real-time flavor data, detect and predict production flaws, and assess market fit. By moving beyond traditional tasting panels, Gastrograph employs a predictive flavor profile engine to evaluate how new products are likely to perform across various markets and demographic segments. This capability is particularly valuable in an industry characterized by high failure rates, as it helps food companies adapt to rapidly changing consumer preferences and optimize their product development processes. Through its innovative approach, Gastrograph supports packaged food companies in navigating the complexities of the modern marketplace.

Fresco

Pre Seed Round in 2018
FRESCO is revolutionizing the cooking oil market in order to allow anybody to make any dish tastier and healthier, transforming a commodity, like olive oil, into a premium and emotional product. For this reason they developed the first solution to make the best condiment ever, the fresh olive oil. Fresco experience is easy and exciting: all you need is EVA, the first mini-oil mill, and his frozen olives Pulps. Thanks to their multi-skilled team and outstanding partners, they concluded the prototyping phase and they raised €1,0M. In May 2018 they have entered the B2B market with a pre-order campaign and they have already sold 50 subscription plans.

KITRO

Seed Round in 2018
KITRO develops IT food waste management solution for the food and beverage industry. The software solution identifies, tracks, and monitors food waste and elevates the food waste reduction possibilities. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Renens, Switzerland.

Pilotworks

Venture Round in 2018
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Chef Connie

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Chef Connie provides assistance in the kitchen by planing and publishing menus using an integrated tool. It is a meal kit provider that often changes their menus weekly or sometimes even daily, and they are always adjusting their meals depending on the diners' needs and palates. Chef Connie was founded by Aidan Nulman in Canada, in 2018.

Natufia

Seed Round in 2018
Natufia Labs PLC provides hydroponic equipment that automatically grows nutritious assortment of fresh plants and herbs in households and restaurant kitchens. The company offers kitchen garden equipment, organic plant seeds, microgreens seeds, and accessories, such as ceramic cups, measurement test kits, harvesting displays, replacement LEDs, and hydroponic gardening literature. It serves chefs, hotels, lounges and bars, spas and nutrition centers, designers and architects, distributors, and retail sectors. It sells its products online. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Tallinn, Estonia.

kencko

Pre Seed Round in 2018
kencko foods, inc. produces and sells organic fruit and vegetable products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company offers sachet-based drink, including ten pack, thirty pack, and sixty pack. kencko foods, inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in New York, New York with a processing facility in Lisbon, Portugal.

Spoonshot

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Spoonshot Inc. is a technology company that specializes in artificial intelligence-driven analytics for the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2015 and based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with additional offices in London and Bengaluru, Spoonshot provides a mobile application and online platform that offers personalized insights and recommendations. Its innovative approach combines food science and AI to analyze consumer behavior and market trends, allowing clients to develop menus, select recipes, and gather customer feedback effectively. By connecting various data sets, Spoonshot helps industry stakeholders predict future trends and identify novel opportunities, ensuring they can meet evolving consumer demands. The company, originally known as Dishq, rebranded to Spoonshot in October 2018.

Pesky Fish

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Nothing beats the experience of eating the freshest fish, straight out the sea. But with a supply chain where 80% of our catch is exported, while the other 20% gets handled multiple times up the chain, is it really any wonder that these experiences are so few and far between? Convinced we could do better for both fishermen and consumers, we set ourselves a challenge: build a scalable, sustainable supply chain where fishermen sell their catch directly to customers, have it delivered the same day, with every fillet traceable to the boat. Introducing Pesky Fish. Our fishermen now receive the best and most stable prices for their catch, while we deliver the freshest supply into London customers - a day faster than the fastest competitor, using a fraction of the resources to do so. Having proven its value at both ends of the chain, our mission now is to onboard more boats and customer into our new model - helping us to build a better industry for the future. Intended impact For our consumers, we want to make the best quality, sustainable fish accessible and affordable, while giving them an unprecedented connection with the person who catches their food. For our amazing fishermen, we want to revitalise the fleet - supporting their businesses with a larger market, higher, stable catch values and faster payments. Underpinning our supply chain will be the introduction of new and simple technology to be used by both skippers and customers. While boats currently land their fish to the volatile markets, they will now be able to communicate and sell their catch direct to customers, achieving the best price - all while still at sea! Over time, and by proving its value, this knowledge will revolutionise the way the industry markets, regulates and sustains its fish and fishermen - starting in the UK, then across the world. Substantial accomplishments to date - Now delivering Cornish catch to customers in London as short as 8 hours after leaving the sea. - Established in 3 ports with coastal packing partners, with 3 more ports post-funding. - Delivering fresh fish supply into London on a Monday to a market that has only ever been served Tuesday-Saturday. - Boats across 3 ports landing direct with 22 deliveries made by fishermen direct to their customers in 2017. - Secured exclusive partnership with Intercity Railfreight to deliver same-day fish through rail network, enabling 99.7% of our journey to be carbon neutral. - Full time trading as of October with an ever-growing number of repeat restaurant and home customers in Central London. - Launched transactional website and Saturday shop in Spa Terminus market, with orders doubling month on month and £2K of smoked salmon in December. - £4K/week only limited by our ability to service our restaurant customer's payment terms. - Partnership with Succorfish for at-sea data capture system, supported by 80% match funding from EU. Monetisation strategy Where our traditional competitors add a % mark-up on what's landed or bought in the market (roughly 40%), Pesky makes a simple and fixed £/Kg distribution charge on every fish - supported by stable £/Kg value chain costs and comparatively tiny overheads vs competition. This allows us to offer fishermen higher, stable prices for their catch while making the best quality fish more affordable than ever to our customers - encouraging participation at both ends of the chain. Use of proceeds Funds will be used to dramatically increase our capacity to buy from the boats and service more customers - helping us to immediately capitalise on the opportunity. Our primary areas of investment will be to implementing port, city and tech infrastructure, supporting cash flow and developing our brilliant team. - 38% - Operational expenses (Establishing logistic networks, site overheads, targeted local marketing, team development) - 36% - Working capital to support customer payment terms - 19% - Capital expenditure for London site and single electric van. - 6% - Data system development (supported by 80% matched EU grant)

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

Burlap & Barrel

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Burlap & Barrel provides spices for professional chefs and home cooks. It offers products online. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in New York, New York.

kencko

Pre Seed Round in 2018
kencko foods, inc. produces and sells organic fruit and vegetable products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company offers sachet-based drink, including ten pack, thirty pack, and sixty pack. kencko foods, inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in New York, New York with a processing facility in Lisbon, Portugal.

Chowbotics

Series A in 2018
Chowbotics Inc. designs and develops food service robots to prepare food in restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels, as well as food courts in airports, malls, and hospitals. It offers Sally, a salad-making robot. Chowbotics Inc. was formerly known as Casabots, Inc. and changed its name to Chowbotics Inc. in March 2017. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Jose, California.

Milkful

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Milkful, LLC manufactures and markets nutritional snack bars for nursing moms. It offers bars made of rolled oats, brewers yeast, flax seeds, black sesame seeds, nuts, fenugreek, Chia seeds, hemp seeds, and organic virgin coconut oil. The company adds sweetners to its products such as brown rice syrup and honey. It offers its products online. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rosso & Flynn

Seed Round in 2018
Rosso & Flynn's is dedicated to providing the best tasting products and offering full transparency on all of our meats.

Rosso & Flynn

Convertible Note in 2018
Rosso & Flynn's is dedicated to providing the best tasting products and offering full transparency on all of our meats.

PathSpot

Convertible Note in 2018
PathSpot Technologies, Inc. develops and manufactures a system controlled by a software that protects restaurants and their customers from the threat of food-borne illness. It utilizes a unique algorithm for filtering, processing, and analyzing fluorescent light to scans an employee's hands to detect pathogens that cause food borne illness. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in New York City, New York.

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

Natufia

Seed Round in 2018
Natufia Labs PLC provides hydroponic equipment that automatically grows nutritious assortment of fresh plants and herbs in households and restaurant kitchens. The company offers kitchen garden equipment, organic plant seeds, microgreens seeds, and accessories, such as ceramic cups, measurement test kits, harvesting displays, replacement LEDs, and hydroponic gardening literature. It serves chefs, hotels, lounges and bars, spas and nutrition centers, designers and architects, distributors, and retail sectors. It sells its products online. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Tallinn, Estonia.

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

Pilotworks

Series A in 2017
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Saige

Venture Round in 2017
Saige is a modern day personal chef service. They bring you the benefits of a personal chef – but not in your kitchen – at a fraction of the cost. Once you fill out your family’s dietary profile, they use a mixture of chef expertise and machine learning to recommend meals, which they then cook out of their commercial kitchen and deliver to your door. With your feedback, their meals continue to evolve based on your tastes/needs.

KITRO

Pre Seed Round in 2017
KITRO develops IT food waste management solution for the food and beverage industry. The software solution identifies, tracks, and monitors food waste and elevates the food waste reduction possibilities. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Renens, Switzerland.

Planetarians

Convertible Note in 2017
Why: When the alternative meat consumption grows from the current 2% to a projected 23%, where will the industry get proteins? Isolation, fermentation, cultured… all of them require it’s own ingredients for proteins. They might be not so readily available in the food system on the Earth… What: PLANETARIANS developed a new platform to make alternative meats from animal feed (Sunflower, Corn DDGS, Pulses). Skipping protein isolation it uses just 0.5:1 water (no chemicals). Product prototypes have umami taste, improved protein quality and lower costs than meats made from isolates and concentrates. How: Solid-state fermentation converts carbs in the ingredients into extra protein in addition to inherent one and improves PDCAAS. Wet extrusion works as a kill step and creates a meat-like texture.

Local Crate

Convertible Note in 2017
Local Crate is a food and beverage delivery service company.

Planetarians

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Why: When the alternative meat consumption grows from the current 2% to a projected 23%, where will the industry get proteins? Isolation, fermentation, cultured… all of them require it’s own ingredients for proteins. They might be not so readily available in the food system on the Earth… What: PLANETARIANS developed a new platform to make alternative meats from animal feed (Sunflower, Corn DDGS, Pulses). Skipping protein isolation it uses just 0.5:1 water (no chemicals). Product prototypes have umami taste, improved protein quality and lower costs than meats made from isolates and concentrates. How: Solid-state fermentation converts carbs in the ingredients into extra protein in addition to inherent one and improves PDCAAS. Wet extrusion works as a kill step and creates a meat-like texture.

KptnCook

Seed Round in 2017
KptnCook GmbH designs and develops mobile application for curated recipe-based grocery shopping with step-by-step cooking pictures. The application offers three new recipes everyday which is paired with shopping lists, which contain real products and prices from different supermarkets. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Berlin, Germany.

Chowbotics

Series A in 2017
Chowbotics Inc. designs and develops food service robots to prepare food in restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels, as well as food courts in airports, malls, and hospitals. It offers Sally, a salad-making robot. Chowbotics Inc. was formerly known as Casabots, Inc. and changed its name to Chowbotics Inc. in March 2017. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Jose, California.

Smallhold

Seed Round in 2017
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.

Freshline

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Freshline is an eCommerce and fulfillment platform designed for perishable food suppliers who sell directly to consumers. Initially launched as Coastline in 2016, the company focused on connecting fish farms and fisheries with high-end restaurants, utilizing the founders' extensive experience in the perishable food supply chain. Over four years, Coastline established seafood supply lines from various countries, including Japan, Mexico, and Vietnam, achieving approximately $4 million in annual revenue. In response to the changing market dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company pivoted to Freshline, adapting its business model to better serve direct-to-consumer needs while maintaining a focus on fresh and quality perishable products. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Freshline continues to innovate in the food supply sector.

kencko

Angel Round in 2016
kencko foods, inc. produces and sells organic fruit and vegetable products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The company offers sachet-based drink, including ten pack, thirty pack, and sixty pack. kencko foods, inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in New York, New York with a processing facility in Lisbon, Portugal.

NaCa Fermentation

Seed Round in 2016
NaCa Fermentation specializes in improving fermentation for beverage distilleries, breweries, and wineries. The beverage processing company aims to eliminate stuck, slow, and unpredictable fermentations by transforming a biological process into a mechanical one. With its specially designed fermenters and patent pending fermentation technology, the company is successful in achieving consistent fermentations that never stick and can ferment in 24 hours, without compromising the quality of the products.

Gastrograph

Seed Round in 2016
Gastrograph, developed by Analytical Flavor Systems, Inc., is an artificial intelligence platform designed for the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2010 and based in New York, the platform enables companies to gather real-time flavor data, detect and predict production flaws, and assess market fit. By moving beyond traditional tasting panels, Gastrograph employs a predictive flavor profile engine to evaluate how new products are likely to perform across various markets and demographic segments. This capability is particularly valuable in an industry characterized by high failure rates, as it helps food companies adapt to rapidly changing consumer preferences and optimize their product development processes. Through its innovative approach, Gastrograph supports packaged food companies in navigating the complexities of the modern marketplace.

Afineur

Seed Round in 2016
Afineur Corp is a biotechnology company based in Brooklyn, New York, that focuses on developing fermentation technologies aimed at improving the flavor and nutritional profile of food products. Established in 2014, Afineur leverages fermentation as a precise tool to enhance the chemistry of various food items, contributing to advancements in food quality and consumer health. Through its innovative platform, the company seeks to transform the food industry by providing solutions that elevate both taste and nutrition.

Saige

Seed Round in 2016
Saige is a modern day personal chef service. They bring you the benefits of a personal chef – but not in your kitchen – at a fraction of the cost. Once you fill out your family’s dietary profile, they use a mixture of chef expertise and machine learning to recommend meals, which they then cook out of their commercial kitchen and deliver to your door. With your feedback, their meals continue to evolve based on your tastes/needs.

Wise Apple

Convertible Note in 2016
Wise Apple makes life easier by making lunch better - delivering fresh, custom, pre-packaged, ready-to-serve lunches and snacks directly to your door. The service takes away the daily challenge and stress parents face when planning and packing their children's lunch. Wise Apple lunches are chef-crafted, and kid-approved using the highest quality, nutritious ingredients. The service offers items for a range of preferences including gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options. Launched in 2016, by Rebecca Sholiton and Nate Cooper, Wise Apple is on a mission to see food through kids eyes, making good-for-you food fun for kids.

Grubbly Farms

Seed Round in 2016
Grubbly Farms Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in producing and selling sustainable feed and snacks for chickens using black soldier fly larvae. The company's flagship product, Grubblies, is made from dried larvae that are cultivated on pre-consumer food waste, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional poultry feed. This approach not only addresses the rising costs associated with livestock feed—one of the largest expenses for farmers—but also provides a high-protein, calcium-rich diet that supports egg and feather production. By offering an innovative and sustainable source of protein, Grubbly Farms aims to alleviate financial pressures on farms while promoting environmentally responsible farming practices. The company's products are available for purchase online, catering to poultry owners seeking healthier feeding options for their livestock.

Mellow

Seed Round in 2016
Mellow is a sous-vide machine that takes orders through your smartphone and keeps food cold until it’s the exact time to start cooking. Because it's controlled through your phone, and it can keep your food at refrigerator temperatures, Mellow fits into your day seamlessly. No matter what's going on, you'll have amazing food ready to go.

Chowbotics

Seed Round in 2016
Chowbotics Inc. designs and develops food service robots to prepare food in restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels, as well as food courts in airports, malls, and hospitals. It offers Sally, a salad-making robot. Chowbotics Inc. was formerly known as Casabots, Inc. and changed its name to Chowbotics Inc. in March 2017. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Jose, California.

Flowtify

Seed Round in 2015
Flowtify develops and operates a hygiene and quality management platform and application for food service industry. The software helps users implement HACCP (hygiene self-control system) documents in a traceable way in accordance with EU Regulation 852/2004 on tablets and smartphones. All checklists are documented paperlessly and archived in the cloud. Employees can perform tasks themselves with the aid of photos, videos and PDFs and, in the event of any abnormalities, notifications can be sent automatically to the relevant people.

Morsel

Convertible Note in 2015
Morsel Inc. is a New York-based company that specializes in preparing and delivering healthy meals for employees. Established in 2015, Morsel focuses on providing nutritious and flavorful lunch options that cater to individual preferences while also promoting sustainability by minimizing food waste. The company's innovative approach aims to streamline the process of offering wholesome meals in corporate settings.

Pilotworks

Seed Round in 2015
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Provender

Seed Round in 2015
Provender is an online platform that enables farmers to create direct-trade associations with buyers. The platform allows farmers to quantify and organize their yields, and make that data accessible to buyers everywhere. Provender was founded in April 2013 and is based in Montréal, Quebec.

Grove

Pre Seed Round in 2013
Grove Labs Inc. is a company focused on developing natural indoor gardening products that facilitate the cultivation of fruits and vegetables at home. Founded in 2013 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, Grove aims to make local, healthy food accessible to everyone. The company offers a range of products for seed and plant care, as well as tools for aquarium maintenance and water testing. Additionally, it provides educational resources designed to teach life sciences, sustainability, and nutrition in schools. Grove's innovative systems enable users to monitor and optimize their indoor gardening through web-connected technology, allowing for easy management of controlled environments and plant growth. The company envisions a future where home farming appliances are as commonplace as refrigerators.

Freight Farms

Pre Seed Round in 2013
Freight Farms, Inc. specializes in manufacturing hydroponic crop production units constructed from up-cycled shipping containers. Their flagship product, the Leafy Green Machine, is a pre-assembled system that enables commercial-scale production of various crops, including herbs like mint and basil, as well as lettuces and brassicas such as kale and cabbage, regardless of climate or season. Founded in 2010 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the company aims to enhance food accessibility in regions where traditional farming is challenging. By facilitating high-yield crop production, Freight Farms supports the development of local food economies and sustainable food systems for a diverse clientele, including business owners, farmers, educational institutions, municipalities, and non-profits across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Laveem

Pre Seed Round in 2012
Laveem specializes in providing tools for healthier food decisions. It is driven by a belief that the only way to stem the growing epidemic of diet-related disease is to empower people with the information to make better choices daily. At Laveem, its goal is to provide this information for every food, everywhere. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Food Genius

Seed Round in 2011
Food Genius, Inc. is a technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in data and menu analysis for the food industry. Founded in 2010, it provides a web-based platform known as Food Genius Reports, which offers insights into restaurant menus and emerging trends by analyzing data from various dining establishments across the United States. The company caters to a diverse clientele, including brands, manufacturers, distributors, and restaurant chains, delivering comprehensive reports and analytics that address complex foodservice business questions. Its services range from competitive price tracking to statistical analyses of menu items, supporting clients in making informed decisions. Food Genius serves notable companies such as Kraft, Coca-Cola, and Arby’s, and operates as a subsidiary of US Foods, Inc.

CookItFor.Us

Seed Round in 2011
CookItFor.Us connects Cravers with Makers to get recipes made, delivering all the benefits of homemade, without having to cook. Whether you plan meals in advance, or are looking for something to eat last minute, your food selections can be ready for pick up, delivery, dine in, or made right in your home! Choose what works best for you. We facilitate the transaction from order to payment, so that you can fully enjoy each and every bite.

Foodzie

Pre Seed Round in 2008
Foodzie is an online marketplace that connects consumers with small artisan food producers, enabling them to discover and purchase gourmet and organic health foods. The platform simplifies the selling process for these producers, allowing them to reach a wider audience while ensuring that food enthusiasts can easily find high-quality products. By aggregating a diverse selection of unique offerings, Foodzie fosters a community centered around artisanal food and provides a convenient shopping experience for those seeking exceptional culinary items.