Food+Ag Tech News: July 17 - July 23

A Weekly Press Review About FoodTech

ShakeUpFactory
Jul 22, 2017 · 7 min read

Investment

Plenty raises $200 mln in SoftBank led round

Plenty said it raised $200 million of Series B financing in a round led by the SoftBank Vision Fund and joined by affiliates of Moore Capital Management founder Louis M. Bacon as well as existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Bezos Expeditions, DCM, Data Collective and Finistere. The indoor farming company described the round as the largest AgTech investment in history.

Food & Beverage Deals Hit New High

Deals to private food and beverage companies hit an all-time high of 102 in Q2’17, growing 31% from the previous quarter. If this investment pace continues throughout the second half of the year, 2017 may see new records in both deal count and investment dollars to the food and beverage industry.

With $50 million in funding, Brandless sells everyday essentials for $3 each

It’s probably never been a better time to be a new CPG brand. Thanks to new distribution channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, it’s never been easier — or cheaper — for a new brand to build and audience and find customers online.

Hargol FoodTech Completes Raises $600k in Funding

Hargol FoodTech, a Misgav, Israel-based developer of a sustainable protein ingredient from commercially farmed grasshoppers, completed a financing round of $600k. Backers included Sirius Venture Capital (Singapore) and SLJ Investment Partners (The Netherlands).

Corporates

Walmart.com Top Online Grocer for Fresh, Jet.com for Packaged

Walmart.com is the most preferred online retailer for buying fresh foods, while Jet.com takes top spot for packaged groceries, according to a new report from Field Agent, a market research firm based in Fayetteville, Ark.

Amazon is already selling some prepared ‘Amazon Meal Kits’

Based just on trademark filings and reported plans, Amazon’s potential entry into the prepared meal kit market has had a significant impact on freshly-IPO’d Blue Apron’s stock price. Now, however, we know that Amazon is actually already testing its own “Amazon Meal Kits,” thanks to a customer in Seattle who has already ordered and prepared one.

Trademarks show Amazon has sights on meal-kits, “single cow burgers” and other fast food options

Amazon has made no secret of its ambitions to expand into more fresh food services, from its own, homegrown efforts like AmazonFresh for groceries (first launched in 2013) and Amazon Restaurants for restaurant delivery (first launched in 2014), through to its most recent plan to acquire Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.

Finding opportunity at the intersection of food production and distribution

With more than 30 years of experience leading economic development efforts across Missouri, Steve Johnson, CEO of Missouri Partnership, works with AgTech companies evaluating Missouri for investment and AgTech leaders across the state working to attract those companies, giving him a unique perspective on the AgTech industry.

FoodTech

These Vegan Vending Machines Are Coming For SF

Think of leCupboard as Redbox for vegan food, or as a mini, mobile version of eatsa, the expanding group of automat-style restaurants serving quinoa bowls through a system of iPads and lockers. leCupbaord pitches itself as a “full-stack FoodTech startup” with a “soil to software” approach, a description that’s probably only appetizing to Silicon Valley investors.

2017 Food Tech Landscape: The Push for CPG Innovation and the Omnichannel Restaurant

In connection with The Mixing Bowl’s “FOOD IT: Fork to Farm” event, Brita Rosenheim has released an updated version of her Food Tech & Media Landscape Map and provided some thoughts on the latest industry trends. For additional industry commentary, you can watch Brita’s interview on theCube from the event.

The 10 most valuable food-delivery companies | PitchBook News

The food delivery space is like a clown car — an overstuffed vehicle spilling startup after startup. And just when you think the car can’t possibly fit another Postmates look-alike, VCs shell out for yet another multimillion-dollar round.

Kimbal Musk — Elon’s brother — is running a shipping-container farm compound in New York City

Kimbal Musk, the brother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is trying to change the way we eat by creating what he calls a “real-food revolution.”

AgTech

The 25 Most Innovative Ag-Tech Startups

When the USA was founded 241 years ago, farming was the economy’s primary driver. By 1870, nearly half of the employed population held jobs in agriculture. Today, it’s a $3 trillion industry — but only 2% of Americans hold a farm-oriented job.

Could AgTech Solve Water Scarcity Issues?

Testing is underway at Purdue University on a “human-computer collaborative decision-making system.” More simply put — Purdue researchers want to make it easier to make otherwise more complex irrigation decisions.

Retail

How Some Are Turning To Tech To Reinvent The Supermarket ?

The grocery store landscape is changing fast. Retail food palaces are simultaneously going big, small, mobile and even virtual to please millennial consumers who want it now, want it digital and want it delivered. At the same time, this rapidly growing audience wants it fresh and healthy. Add in technology, which has become a weapon for giant grocery chains, start-ups and food-tech visionaries who see such tools as AI, virtual reality, predictive algorithms and mobile apps as paths to new models of buying food, and the result is a market hurtling towards chaos.

WineTech

How to Get Your Online Beverage Business Off the Ground ?

The online beverage sales industry is expected to continue growing in the coming years, thanks to the increase in households with internet connections and the proliferation of online shopping. Time-poor consumers want the convenience that ordering their caffeine, alcohol, or soft drink fix online will bring them. But even with an online business, you can’t afford to skip market research. The odds may be in your favor, but nonetheless, an awareness of the supply and demand situation in your particular area is crucial.

ShakeUp Factory

Startup Accelerator & Network Catalyst, Adding Value in Growth & Transformation for Breakthrough Projects from Farm to Fork

ShakeUpFactory

Written by

Startup accelerator and network catalyst, adding value in growth and transformation for breakthrough projects from farm to fork : www.shakeupfactory.co

ShakeUp Factory

Startup Accelerator & Network Catalyst, Adding Value in Growth & Transformation for Breakthrough Projects from Farm to Fork

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