Valley Oak Investments

Valley Oak Investments, founded in 1999 and based in Davis, California, is a family office that specializes in investing in private companies, funds, and real assets. The firm focuses on early-stage ventures within the sectors of food and agriculture technology, property technology, and financial technology. By maintaining a permanent capital base, Valley Oak partners with exceptional entrepreneurs, aiming to build enduring and impactful companies in these dynamic industries.

Niko Hrdy

President

23 past transactions

Fathom

Seed Round in 2022
Fathom is a free application that automatically records and transcribes meetings on platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, allowing users to focus on conversations instead of note-taking. It provides instant summaries and highlights key points, streamlining the process of reviewing discussions and action items. This tool enhances communication efficiency for sales teams and professionals by ensuring that critical information is easily accessible.

Spoiler Alert

Series A in 2021
Spoiler Alert is a Boston-based software company that specializes in helping perishable consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands manage excess and slow-moving inventory. The company focuses on the manufacturing and distribution levels, providing a B2B sales platform that streamlines the liquidation processes for food and beverage brands. This platform facilitates transactions across a private network of discount retailers and nonprofit organizations, with the aims of maximizing value recovery and enhancing customer relationships. By digitizing traditionally manual sales processes, Spoiler Alert improves the efficiency of sales and supply chain managers. Founded by MIT alumni, the company collaborates with major brands such as Campbell's, Danone, and Kraft Heinz, while also supporting a growing network of discount channels dedicated to increasing food access and minimizing waste.

Gradient Works

Seed Round in 2021
Gradient Works is a seed-stage software company based in Austin, Texas, focused on developing innovative book management solutions for high-velocity revenue teams. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs with expertise in revenue generation and customer lifecycle management, the company offers a platform designed to enhance organizational performance. Its software includes features such as smart lead-to-account matching, flexible routing workflows, and dynamic assignments, all aimed at improving outbound sales effectiveness. By providing these tools, Gradient Works empowers organizations to optimize their quota coverage and achieve their sales targets more efficiently.

Bear Flag Robotics

Seed Round in 2021
Bear Flag Robotics, Inc. specializes in developing autonomous technology for farm tractors, aiming to enhance productivity and safety in agriculture. Founded in 2017 by Igino Cafiero and Aubrey Donnellan, the company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Its software enables users to plan routes, schedule jobs, and receive real-time alerts about equipment status. Additionally, it features remote emergency stop capabilities and obstacle avoidance, ensuring safe operation in various conditions. By utilizing perception sensors and robotic actuators, Bear Flag Robotics' technology allows central mission control to manage tractor operations, providing real-time data that helps farmers optimize their practices, reduce input costs, and increase production yields.

Pair Team

Seed Round in 2019
Pair Team focuses on enhancing primary care infrastructure for vulnerable communities, particularly those served by safety-net systems, Medicaid, and Medicare patients. As a tech-enabled care team, it extends the capabilities of clinical staff by offering personalized, high-touch care experiences. The organization addresses various barriers to healthcare, including transportation issues, housing and food insecurity, and limited mobile access. Pair Team employs a dedicated care team consisting of community health workers, registered nurses, and behavioral health clinicians to deliver comprehensive support tailored to the needs of low-income individuals. Additionally, the company is developing a care delivery platform designed to implement clinical best practices, integrate services with community-based organizations, and streamline administrative tasks, allowing clinicians to dedicate more time to patient care.

Hazel Technologies

Series B in 2019
Hazel Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on reducing waste in the agricultural supply chain through innovative packaging solutions. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional facility in Salinas, California, the company designs and manufactures packaging inserts, such as sachets, that are placed in produce boxes at the time of harvest. These inserts utilize ethylene inhibitors to slow the aging process of fruits and vegetables, thereby extending their shelf life and reducing spoilage. Hazel Technologies also offers agricultural and horticultural consulting services to growers and shippers, helping them improve the efficiency of their operations. The effectiveness of their products is supported by research from independent academic institutions, and the company has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to further its mission of combating food waste and enhancing profitability within the fresh produce sector.

Spoiler Alert

Corporate Round in 2018
Spoiler Alert is a Boston-based software company that specializes in helping perishable consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands manage excess and slow-moving inventory. The company focuses on the manufacturing and distribution levels, providing a B2B sales platform that streamlines the liquidation processes for food and beverage brands. This platform facilitates transactions across a private network of discount retailers and nonprofit organizations, with the aims of maximizing value recovery and enhancing customer relationships. By digitizing traditionally manual sales processes, Spoiler Alert improves the efficiency of sales and supply chain managers. Founded by MIT alumni, the company collaborates with major brands such as Campbell's, Danone, and Kraft Heinz, while also supporting a growing network of discount channels dedicated to increasing food access and minimizing waste.

Bear Flag Robotics

Seed Round in 2018
Bear Flag Robotics, Inc. specializes in developing autonomous technology for farm tractors, aiming to enhance productivity and safety in agriculture. Founded in 2017 by Igino Cafiero and Aubrey Donnellan, the company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Its software enables users to plan routes, schedule jobs, and receive real-time alerts about equipment status. Additionally, it features remote emergency stop capabilities and obstacle avoidance, ensuring safe operation in various conditions. By utilizing perception sensors and robotic actuators, Bear Flag Robotics' technology allows central mission control to manage tractor operations, providing real-time data that helps farmers optimize their practices, reduce input costs, and increase production yields.

Hazel Technologies

Series A in 2018
Hazel Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on reducing waste in the agricultural supply chain through innovative packaging solutions. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional facility in Salinas, California, the company designs and manufactures packaging inserts, such as sachets, that are placed in produce boxes at the time of harvest. These inserts utilize ethylene inhibitors to slow the aging process of fruits and vegetables, thereby extending their shelf life and reducing spoilage. Hazel Technologies also offers agricultural and horticultural consulting services to growers and shippers, helping them improve the efficiency of their operations. The effectiveness of their products is supported by research from independent academic institutions, and the company has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to further its mission of combating food waste and enhancing profitability within the fresh produce sector.

FarmWise

Seed Round in 2017
FarmWise provides technology-based services that allow farmers to streamline farm operations and increase food production efficiency. It offers a productive mechanical weeding implement for vegetable crops, along with its exceptional training and support program. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Hazel Technologies

Seed Round in 2017
Hazel Technologies, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on reducing waste in the agricultural supply chain through innovative packaging solutions. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional facility in Salinas, California, the company designs and manufactures packaging inserts, such as sachets, that are placed in produce boxes at the time of harvest. These inserts utilize ethylene inhibitors to slow the aging process of fruits and vegetables, thereby extending their shelf life and reducing spoilage. Hazel Technologies also offers agricultural and horticultural consulting services to growers and shippers, helping them improve the efficiency of their operations. The effectiveness of their products is supported by research from independent academic institutions, and the company has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to further its mission of combating food waste and enhancing profitability within the fresh produce sector.

Spoiler Alert

Seed Round in 2016
Spoiler Alert is a Boston-based software company that specializes in helping perishable consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands manage excess and slow-moving inventory. The company focuses on the manufacturing and distribution levels, providing a B2B sales platform that streamlines the liquidation processes for food and beverage brands. This platform facilitates transactions across a private network of discount retailers and nonprofit organizations, with the aims of maximizing value recovery and enhancing customer relationships. By digitizing traditionally manual sales processes, Spoiler Alert improves the efficiency of sales and supply chain managers. Founded by MIT alumni, the company collaborates with major brands such as Campbell's, Danone, and Kraft Heinz, while also supporting a growing network of discount channels dedicated to increasing food access and minimizing waste.

Sample6

Series C in 2016
Sample6 is a synthetic-biology based bacteria diagnostic system capable of enrichment-free detection. Its technology detects as low as 1CFU/ml in just 4 hours. Its proprietary Bioillumination Platform was developed by Professor Tim Lu (MIT) and Dr. Michael Koeris in the lab of Professor James Collins at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Boston University. The platform allows for the engineering of bioparticles that target and “light up” specific unwanted bacteria—or specific groups of bacterial species. They couple this capability with highly sensitive sensor technology that detects low levels of pathogens to see results in minutes—right on-site—with no laboratory required. Sample6′s mission is to improve the health and safety of global consumers by building integrated systems that quickly and easily detect harmful and unwanted bacteria. They see applications in food production, retailing, healthcare, and beyond—anywhere humans and bacteria intersect.

Whoop

Series B in 2015
WHOOP is the performance optimization system that tracks recovery, training, and sleeping hours thus helping elite athletes and teams win. The company provides athletes, coaches, and trainers with a continuous understanding of strain and recovery to balance training, reduce injuries, and predict performance. It creates a product that makes individuals and teams perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives. The WHOOP Strap 3.0 collects physiological data 24/7 to provide an accurate and granular understanding of the body. Aurelian Nicolae, John Capodilupo, and Will Ahmed established WHOOP in 2012 and in Boston, Massachusetts.

Plated

Series B in 2015
Plated is a company that delivers fresh ingredients and chef-designed recipes directly to customers' doors, facilitating the preparation of home-cooked meals. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, Plated operates a subscription-based online platform that allows users to access ready-to-cook meal kits. This service caters to individuals who are passionate about cooking, enabling them to create restaurant-quality dishes at home and share these experiences with family and friends.

NatureBox

Series C in 2015
NatureBox is building a personalized food shopping experience online that caters to the consumer’s taste and dietary preferences. It is initially focusing on the $64B snack food category. By creating its own line of products, NatureBox intends to build a multi-channel and multi-category brand in the food industry. NatureBox continues to grow its customer base 50-100% per month of an already large base. NatureBox serves customers in all 50 states. The company has partnered with WhyHunger to help provide nutritious food to the millions of Americans who go hungry. Through WhyHunger, the company works directly with community organizations, emergency food providers, and summer meal programs for low-income children. Previously, NatureBox donated over 150,000 meals to Feeding America. NatureBox has over 500,000 fans on Facebook and receives over 450,000 visits per month.

MiniLuxe

Venture Round in 2014
Miniluxe operates as a nail and beauty lounge that offers manicures, pedicures, warm oil treatment, waxing, and hands and feet therapies. It was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Whoop

Series A in 2014
WHOOP is the performance optimization system that tracks recovery, training, and sleeping hours thus helping elite athletes and teams win. The company provides athletes, coaches, and trainers with a continuous understanding of strain and recovery to balance training, reduce injuries, and predict performance. It creates a product that makes individuals and teams perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives. The WHOOP Strap 3.0 collects physiological data 24/7 to provide an accurate and granular understanding of the body. Aurelian Nicolae, John Capodilupo, and Will Ahmed established WHOOP in 2012 and in Boston, Massachusetts.

Farmeron

Seed Round in 2014
Farmeron helps farmers across the world to manage their farming data online and to do farm performance analysis using exciting statistics. By integrating Farmeron with machinery being used on farms of the world, we're able to speed up data retrieval process and ease core farming data management operations. Adding an analytics layer on top this data, Farmeron delivers statistics and reports to farmers, and these can be used to monitor production performance, adjust production plans but also for government reporting needs.

Sourcery Technologies

Seed Round in 2013
Sourcery is developing a payments and commerce platform that focuses on the wholesale foodservice industry, a $220B market that still runs on 1980s technology: buyers search for products in paper catalogs, submit orders by fax or phone, and deal with paper invoices and checks. Sourcery's platform brings all of these transactions online. Sourcery enables companies of all sizes to handle their AP needs in one place. We turn a stack of invoices into a boatload of insights automagically. We work with leading restaurateurs, operators and accountants to build the best accounts payable solution for the industry. Owners and executives of multi-unit restaurant organizations rely on Sourcery to provide a scalable solution to help them create efficiencies, and, ultimately, grow their business, while impacting their bottom line. Sourcery integrates with most accounting software and restaurant management applications. We use a combination of computation and human verification to have the best in class extraction of structured data from invoices down the the line item. Our data analytics automatically detect anomalies and notify purchasers about rising prices. Customers include Palantir, Dropbox, Airbnb, Stripe as well as restaurants, caterers, and other food businesses. Call toll free on +1-(866)830-0691

Whoop

Seed Round in 2013
WHOOP is the performance optimization system that tracks recovery, training, and sleeping hours thus helping elite athletes and teams win. The company provides athletes, coaches, and trainers with a continuous understanding of strain and recovery to balance training, reduce injuries, and predict performance. It creates a product that makes individuals and teams perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives. The WHOOP Strap 3.0 collects physiological data 24/7 to provide an accurate and granular understanding of the body. Aurelian Nicolae, John Capodilupo, and Will Ahmed established WHOOP in 2012 and in Boston, Massachusetts.

Caviar

Seed Round in 2013
Caviar is the easiest way for consumers and businesses to order food from favorite local eateries with the ability to live-track the order on a map. Browse a picture menu, place the order, and we'll deliver within 1 hour. Caviar offers restaurants a delivery solution in just a few minutes without any infrastructure, logistical, or operational costs.

Marrone Bio Innovations

Series A in 2007
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. is a biopesticide company based in Davis, California, focused on the discovery, development, and marketing of natural products for agricultural pest and disease management. The company offers a range of bio-based products, including biopesticides, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, biofungicides, biostimulants, and bionutrition products. Its notable offerings include Regalia, which protects crops from fungal and bacterial diseases, and various herbicides like GreenMatch and GreenMatch EX, designed for weed control in organic farming. Additionally, Marrone Bio Innovations develops solutions to manage invasive species in waterways and leverages naturally occurring microorganisms to create effective products for controlling pests and enhancing plant health. Founded in 2006, the company markets its products through online platforms.
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