Investor Report — The Top 5
The Top 5 FoodTech StartUps of the week — 22nd July 2019
If you aren’t already aware the FoodTech industry is booming. With over 3,300 actors listed on Forward Fooding’s FoodTech Data Navigator and that number only increasing daily. It can be hard to navigate through the rapidly growing FoodTech ecosystem.
Therefore we provide an insightful breakdown on our top 5 FoodTech startups of the week, who are rising within the ecosystem and generating the most buzz. For more detailed analytics and information on all the players in the environment ensure to checkout the FoodTech Data Navigator.
Calysta is a California-based biotechnology company leading the world in the development and manufacture of fish and animal protein feed products from new sources, primarily methane conversion technology.
Founded — 2012
Located — California, USA
IPO Status — Private
Latest Funding Stage — Series E — 26th June 2019
Total Funding — $118M
Latest Buzz: Calysta has completed their latest funding round, series E, on the 26th of June 2019. They have secured $30 million from BP Ventures, the venture side of the supermajor British oil and gas company. Following a press release BP will provide Calysta with methane supplies to feed the microbes that power its gas fermentation process to produce its single-cell protein — FeedKind — which can be used as animal feed for aquaculture, livestock, and pets.
FeedKind is already being produced in England.
2. CONNECTERRA
Connecterra is an artificial intelligence platform that will grow food sustainably to feed future generations. Using their machine learning platform, they understand the data to create insights for farmers to help them run an efficient farm. Their first product, Ida, is a self-learning system that uses AI technology to improve productivity in dairy farming by measuring a cow’s activity, health and eating habits. The tracker collects data and provides actionable insights to the farmer which in turn leads to healthy, happier cows and increased milk production.
Founded — 2014
Located — Amsterdam, Netherlands
IPO Status — Private
Latest Funding Stage — Grant — 1st January 2019
Total Funding — $9.5M
Latest Buzz: Connecterra has been announced as one of the partners in the Danone led coalition — ‘Farming for Generations’. This group of leading food and agricultural companies has been formed to make the global dairy industry more sustainable by helping dairy farmers transition to regenerative agriculture practices. The coalition will start by researching the farming models of 25 dairy farms in the US, EU and Russia to identify best practices, how they differ between geographies, and how technology plays a role.
Connected Robotics is an information technology company that designs and manufactures robotic arms for enterprises. The company’s product, OctoChef, provides cooking services. It caters to individual restaurants, shopping malls, stations, service areas, amusement centers, and large-scale events.
Founded — 2014
Located — Tokyo, Japan
IPO Status — Private
Latest Funding Stage — Series A — July 5th 2019
Total Funding — $8.5M
Latest Buzz: Connected Robotics announced the completion of its series A round, with a total of $7.9M raised. Leading the round was Global Brain Corp, which announced its investment in Connected Robotics this week alongside the 31VENTURES Global Innovation Fund, the UTokyo Innovation Platform, the Sony Innovation Fund, and the accelerator group 500 Startups.
4. Aerofarms
AeroFarms is an urban agricultural company with a mission to transform agriculture by building and operating environmentally responsible farms throughout the world. It provides an aeroponic growing system that grows and produces with neither soil or sun, in any location.
AeroFarms was founded in 2004 and is based in Newark, New Jersey. It is a recipient of the Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for 2018 and 2019. The company was also among the Inc Magazine’s “25 Most Disruptive Companies” for the year 2017.
Founded — 2004
Located — Newark, USA
IPO Status — Private
Latest Funding Stage — Series E — July 8th 2019
Total Funding — $238M
Latest Buzz: The vertical farming startup has announced a $100m Series E round to expand its warehouse facilities that hold massive indoor farms, and explore new types of produce it can grow in those facilities. The round was led by Ingka Group, the parent company of IKEA.
5. EatGrub
Eat Grub is a boundary-breaking new sustainable food brand that aims to revolutionise Western food culture by introducing insects as a staple part of it.
Founded — 2044
Located — London, UK
IPO Status — Private
Latest Funding Stage — Angel Round — November 29th 2016
Total Funding — $250K
Latest Buzz: The entomophagy company has just announced their biggest order to date, securing a deal with German discounter Lidl, which will stock their roasted crickets in 3,200 of its domestic stores. This is a massive upgrade on the current 700 outlets they are stocked in across Europe, 250 of those being Sainsbury’s stores in the UK.
In order to gain more insights and analytics, along with the latest buzz on all the companies within the FoodTech ecosystem,
In order to find out more about these companies and where they are located check out Forward Fooding’s Global FoodTech Map. However, if you are interested in gaining more insights and analytics on these companies and others like them, make sure to request a demo for our latest FoodTech Data Navigator. Our state-of-the-art data platform captures and monitors the evolution of interconnected AgriFoodTech startup companies, investors and accelerators globally. With a limited time launch offer, expiring on the 31st of September.
Written by Armaan Dobberstein — Marketing Associate at Forward Fooding, avid foodie and chef as well as an interested FoodTech fan!
