THRIVE AgriFood

Pioneers in deploying venture capital into high impact agrifood tech since 2014, we back ambitious teams that are reconnecting and strengthening the link between human health and the health of the planet through innovative technology. Clay Capital was founded with the belief that food is both the cause of, and remedy to, some of today’s most urgent challenges: environmental degradation, societal inequity, and human health. We see these issues as interconnected.In Europe and Asia especially, there is a generation of entrepreneurs motivated to tackle the $12 trillion market opportunity that lies in restoring and reconnecting human and planetary health - and who have a toolkit fit for purpose: from farmers and chefs, to biotechnologists, computational biologistics, plant scientists, computer engineers and multidisciplinary teams merging these skillsets. There is no single silver bullet; transforming a system that has supported humanity in its evolution from Nomadic to Agrarian, and been the seed that rooted and grew societies around the globe, will not happen overnight. Therefore, there’s an urgent need for both transitional solutions and revolutionary new infrastructure. We aim to back both, and enable a healthier food system to co-exist with a healthier planet within our lifetimes. Clay Capital invests to strengthen and refocus how materials are produced and consumed through innovation to have sustainable, nutritious, and circular outcomes. This context presents us with unrivalled opportunities for smart investing - investments that address urgent issues today, for a better tomorrow.

As a late-stage, growth equity-focused fund, we arrive in the sweet spot between seed/early-stage and the buyout phase, minimizing risk and maximizing value. We work with exceptional entrepreneurs to help scale their business with capital and resources. Our holistic investment approach to AgriFood realizes value across the entire value chain from pre-production to distribution. Growth and late stage investments are an underserved market need in Agriculture and Food, and we’re biased towards underinvested sub-sectors within these verticals. Much of our investing happens between the coasts. Our St. Louis location puts us within 500 miles of 70% of US agriculture production. Additionally, the highest concentration of plant science PHDs in the world live in the St. Louis area, giving us a unique position to scout, form relationships, and strike deals with this rich talent pool. Our exhaustive, metric-driven underwriting process ensures we invest in the best of the best. We lean towards tech-enabled, sustainable AgriFood companies in the late stage VC/growth stage with converging to positive operating cash flow. This limits risk and leads to outsized returns. We lead deals and work with entrepreneurs through active board participation. We create distinctive, highly effective Value Enhancement Plans for each of our investments to ensure our entrepreneurs reach scale.

Nourish Ventures is on a mission to partner with and scale the industry trailblazers leading the food system of the future. Nourish Ventures is the corporate venture capital fund of Griffith Foods. Griffith Foods is an innovative, global, product-development company that has been solving problems in the food industry for more than 100 years. At Nourish we invest in, and partner with, innovative start-up companies that are shaping a healthy and sustainable food system. We are committed to forming partnerships with entrepreneurs who share our aspiration to blend care and creativity while nourishing the world. From smarter alternative proteins to safer ecologically-sound farming methods, it’s our mission to actualize and scale the development of tomorrow’s food system.

Foodland Ventures is the VC & accelerator investing in the new generation of AgriFood tech founders changing the global food industry with technology. Foodland Ventures‘ accelerator is designed for founders looking to fundraise and expand their business globally. We aim to connect agrifood tech startups with business partners and investors in Asia and the US. With high flexibility, the accelerator program aims for real impact, allowing global founders to remotely gain access to essential resources without the need for relocation. Also, this is a complimentary service offered for global agrifood startups - you won’t be charged any fees or equity during the process. WHAT YOU GAIN Connect to Industry Decision-Makers Our accelerator provides direct access to key decision-makers in the agrifood industry through tailor-made match-making and exclusive pitch sessions. Gain Access to Global Investors Get direct access to our investment team and global investor network including VCs, CVCs, and angel investors throughout the program. Make effective connections with online / offline introductions. Expand your Network with our AgriFood Tech Founders’ Community Engage with our community of veteran founders specifically in the agrifood tech sector. Connect with like-minded founders who have successfully fundraised and expanded their business internationally. WHO SHOULD JOIN OUR ACCELERATORAgrifood tech startups solving challenges in the agricultural / food supply chain with innovative solutions. Startups with initial market validation. Startups looking to expand their business in Asia and the US. Startups looking to raise with international investors.

With a focus sector in food and agriculture with specific verticals of Food Technology, Agriculture Technology, Climate Technology, Sustainability and Consumer Food Products, we provide strategic investment, mentorship, and operational support to visionary entrepreneurs. Our regional perspective, coupled with deep industry expertise, enables us to identify and nurture groundbreaking solutions, fostering sustainable growth and creating impactful outcomes. Committed to driving innovation and shaping the future, we partner with exceptional founders, fueling their journey towards success and meaningful impact on a regional and global scale. WE ARE DRIVEN BY A PURPOSE : to expedite the shift towards a sustainable, climate-resilient world. At First Frontier Ventures, our investment approach is characterized by a combination of rigorous due diligence, strategic guidance, and continuous support throughout the growth journey of our portfolio companies. We are committed to fostering innovation and creating lasting value for both entrepreneurs and investors. Our fund is dedicated to catalyzing this transformation by focusing on Climate Tech, Sustainability, and Agri-Food Tech. These sectors hold immense potential in reshaping industries and tackling pressing global challenges. Through strategic investments in pioneering startups and innovative solutions that champion positive change, our goal is twofold: to generate compelling returns for our investors and to actively contribute to a future that's both sustainable and food-secure. 350+ Agrifoodtech Startups First Frontier Ventures stands as a formidable force in the agrifoodtech realm, boasting a vast network of 350+ pioneering agrifootech startups. Our robust ecosystem is a testament to our commitment to empowering innovation. Through strategic alliances and comprehensive support, we've cultivated a diverse community of forward-thinking entrepreneurs, each driving transformative change in the industry. Our dedication to these 350+ startups extends beyond mere numbers; it represents a collective mission to revolutionize the agrifoodtech landscape, fostering collaborations, amplifying impact, and propelling the evolution of sustainable and scalable solutions that tackle global challenges.

We are the corporate venture capital arm of Paulig, investing in startups that contribute to a tastier, healthier and more sustainable planet. We seek financial and societal impact in our investments, as well as a strategic link between Paulig and the startups we back. As an evergreen fund connected to a 150-year-old family-owned business, we don’t have a determined time for exit and always act in the best joint interest of the startup and investors. Our investment focus PINC was launched as Paulig Incubator in 2018 to help Paulig stay in the forefront of relevant innovations, as well as to contribute to a tastier, healthier and more sustainable planet. Today, our ambition is the same, but we have developed into a corporate venture arm. We aim for strategic, financial, and societal impact in our investments, fostering a sustainable food system for tomorrow. We are investing across the agrifood value chain in three primary impact themes: Improve planetary health and diet within the current food system: This includes innovations in agriculture and food security, such as advanced crop breeding or green fertilizers, innovative ingredients and next generation healthy foods, as well as solutions for tracking and improving climate and nature. Novel technologies to feed 10 BN people by 2050: Technologies needed to sustainably produce enough food for our growing population. This includes food production without land use change, such as precision fermentation and cell-cultivation. A circular system for food & materials: Regardless of whether we grow our food in soil or in bioreactors, the system needs to be circular. Some examples are upcycled ingredients, food from unused sources, new coating and packaging solutions, as well as technologies to prevent or make better use of side streams. We are looking for entrepreneurs in an attractive market space with an intrinsic drive to find a solution to the problem they are addressing, a clear and scalable plan for success, a complimentary team and partners whom we can trust and work closely with. We value collaboration and are proactively working with building strong investment syndicates, in which we’re flexible in our role as co-investor, co-lead, or lead investor, if there is a strong strategic link. As a corporate venture capital and evergreen fund, we always act in the best joint interest of the startup and investors. Investment criteriaPre-seed & seed Entry ticket €200k-€1M Focus on the Nordics & Europe Strategic link to Paulig preferred Flexible in the role as co-investor, co-lead, or lead investor Our offer We’re a value driven team with financial, operational, and strategic experience and capabilities. We have a hands-on approach and support founders when needed or actively through board roles. Our extensive Nordic and European network of investors and innovation-enablers can help to accelerate development and scale-up efforts. Moreover, PINC serves as an entryway to Paulig for collaborations, consumer insights, expert guidance in brand and product development, and access to a vast European sales and distribution network.