Astanor Ventures II

Astanor Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who are innovating in the food, marine, and agriculture sectors. The firm focuses on technology-driven companies that aim to transform the agri-food value chain, utilizing disruptive technologies to foster a future of food that is nourishing, regenerative, and sustainable. Astanor Ventures combines its capital with extensive sector expertise and a robust network that includes entrepreneurs, impact investors, technologists, scientists, farmers, chefs, policymakers, and food enthusiasts. This collaborative approach is designed to cultivate a food system that is not only trusted and scalable but also emphasizes quality and environmental responsibility.

Eric Archambeau

Investor

David Barber

Partner

Valerie Christy

Associate

George Coelho

Partner

Arnout Dijkhuizen

Principal

Emmanuel Faber

Partner

Adrian Friederich

Associate

Arne Hautekiet

Analyst

Leslie Kapin-Royere

Principal

Hans Marteau

Partner

Kathleen A. Merrigan

Venture Partner

George Powlick

Partner

Kanira Shah

Principal

Luisa Somaini

Analyst

Christina Ulardic

Partner

Hendrik Van Asbroeck

Managing Partner

Laetitia de Panafieu

Principal

Past deals in Agriculture

Plantible

Series B in 2024
Plantible Foods, Inc. is a company that focuses on developing and producing sustainable plant-based protein. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, the company extracts flavors from lemna and utilizes aquatic plants to create its products. Plantible operates a proprietary agricultural manufacturing platform designed to help food companies innovate while minimizing costs. Its plant-based protein is all-natural, organic, and free of major allergens, exhibiting functional characteristics similar to those of egg whites, whey protein, or casein. This allows clients to enhance the quality of their products while benefiting from a more sustainable and cost-effective protein source, ultimately contributing to the optimization of the food industry.

Switch Bioworks

Seed Round in 2024
Switch Bioworks is a biotechnology company specializing in sustainable agriculture. It produces eco-friendly nitrogen fertilizers by genetically reprogramming naturally occurring symbiotic microbes, transforming them into controlled fertilizer-producing microorganisms that benefit crops directly at the root level. This innovative approach offers farmers an affordable and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional chemical nitrogen fertilizers.

Monarch Tractor

Series C in 2024
Monarch Tractor is a company that specializes in the development of fully electric and autonomous tractors aimed at improving agricultural productivity, sustainability, and safety. These tractors significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and assisting farmers in achieving their sustainability objectives. By employing advanced sensors and machine learning, Monarch tractors navigate fields and monitor crop health autonomously, facilitating precision farming without the need for human intervention. Equipped with sophisticated technology, including cameras and sensors, these tractors collect and analyze data on crop health, soil conditions, and other critical variables, providing farmers with actionable insights to optimize their farming practices, enhance operational efficiency, and increase crop yields.

Aphea.Bio

Series C in 2023
Aphea.Bio is a company focused on developing next-generation biopesticides and biostimulants derived from natural microorganisms. Its biopesticides serve as an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, addressing the increasing pressure on synthetic chemical use in agriculture. Additionally, the company creates biostimulants that enhance crop growth by improving the uptake of nutrients from the soil. Aphea.Bio's products aim to sustainably increase crop yields and health, specifically targeting crops such as maize and wheat. By utilizing proprietary technologies, the company accelerates the discovery of innovative biocontrol and biostimulant solutions, enabling farmers to manage pests, diseases, and fertilizer application more effectively.

Ynsect

Series D in 2023
Founded in 2011, Ynsect is a biotech company specializing in insect farming and processing. It produces feed for fish and poultry using insects as a sustainable protein source. The company also develops products for non-food applications such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy.

Vivent

Venture Round in 2022
Vivent equips growers, breeders, and agrochemical companies with real-time plant data. It monitors plant responses to environmental changes and detects stressors early, enabling optimized growing conditions, improved crop protection, accelerated product development, and trait identification.

Switch Bioworks

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Switch Bioworks is a biotechnology company specializing in sustainable agriculture. It produces eco-friendly nitrogen fertilizers by genetically reprogramming naturally occurring symbiotic microbes, transforming them into controlled fertilizer-producing microorganisms that benefit crops directly at the root level. This innovative approach offers farmers an affordable and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional chemical nitrogen fertilizers.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2022
Current Foods specializes in creating plant-based alternatives for popular seafood items. Utilizing plants and biotechnology, they aim to replicate the taste and texture of tuna and salmon without environmental or ethical concerns.

Planetary

Seed Round in 2022
Planetary is a global infrastructure platform that designs, builds, and operates upstream, downstream, and formulations capacity and related intellectual property for biomass and precision fermentation. The company enables scalable production of biotech-enabled alternatives to animal-derived foods and other bio-based materials by integrating proprietary fermentation technology with AI-driven optimization. Serving bioprocessing, engineering, product formulation, and food markets, Planetary supports sustainable biomanufacturing at scale by reducing environmental impact through lower greenhouse gas emissions, less land and water use, and efficient conversion of raw materials into high-protein, fiber-rich biomass.

Mi Terro

Angel Round in 2022
Mi Terro is a pioneering company that manufactures eco-friendly packaging materials derived from agricultural waste. Utilizing advanced material science, they create ocean degradable and home compostable flexible packaging solutions for various applications such as fresh produce, food, fashion, cleaning products, and standard packaging. Their innovative process transforms agricultural byproducts into protein-based materials, replacing petroleum-based plastics while reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Monarch Tractor

Series B in 2021
Monarch Tractor is a company that specializes in the development of fully electric and autonomous tractors aimed at improving agricultural productivity, sustainability, and safety. These tractors significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and assisting farmers in achieving their sustainability objectives. By employing advanced sensors and machine learning, Monarch tractors navigate fields and monitor crop health autonomously, facilitating precision farming without the need for human intervention. Equipped with sophisticated technology, including cameras and sensors, these tractors collect and analyze data on crop health, soil conditions, and other critical variables, providing farmers with actionable insights to optimize their farming practices, enhance operational efficiency, and increase crop yields.

Smallhold

Series A in 2021
Smallhold, Inc. is a farming technology company based in Brooklyn, New York, that specializes in growing mushrooms using innovative methods. Established in 2017, Smallhold utilizes climate-controlled, do-it-yourself mini farms to cultivate a variety of mushrooms. The company partners with restaurants, grocery stores, and markets to distribute its produce, ensuring freshness and local availability. Smallhold's modular and automated growing systems allow food industry professionals to customize their produce based on specific business requirements, while also capturing extensive data to optimize growing conditions. By providing a reliable source of local produce, Smallhold bypasses the challenges posed by climatic changes and market fluctuations.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2021
Current Foods specializes in creating plant-based alternatives for popular seafood items. Utilizing plants and biotechnology, they aim to replicate the taste and texture of tuna and salmon without environmental or ethical concerns.

Miimosa

Venture Round in 2021
MiiMOSA is a crowdfunding platform focused on the agriculture and food sectors. It provides an alternative financing solution for project developers seeking quick and straightforward funding from a community of contributors. The platform allows users to create customized fundraising projects while enabling the public to financially support initiatives that resonate with them. In addition to monetary contributions, MiiMOSA offers unique donation options, including products like cheese, yogurt, whiskey, and ice cream, enhancing the engagement between project developers and supporters. This approach fosters a collaborative environment aimed at revitalizing the agriculture industry and promoting sustainable food practices.

Aphea.Bio

Series B in 2020
Aphea.Bio is a company focused on developing next-generation biopesticides and biostimulants derived from natural microorganisms. Its biopesticides serve as an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, addressing the increasing pressure on synthetic chemical use in agriculture. Additionally, the company creates biostimulants that enhance crop growth by improving the uptake of nutrients from the soil. Aphea.Bio's products aim to sustainably increase crop yields and health, specifically targeting crops such as maize and wheat. By utilizing proprietary technologies, the company accelerates the discovery of innovative biocontrol and biostimulant solutions, enabling farmers to manage pests, diseases, and fertilizer application more effectively.

Ynsect

Series C in 2020
Founded in 2011, Ynsect is a biotech company specializing in insect farming and processing. It produces feed for fish and poultry using insects as a sustainable protein source. The company also develops products for non-food applications such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy.

Vivent

Series A in 2020
Vivent equips growers, breeders, and agrochemical companies with real-time plant data. It monitors plant responses to environmental changes and detects stressors early, enabling optimized growing conditions, improved crop protection, accelerated product development, and trait identification.

Miimosa

Series B in 2020
MiiMOSA is a crowdfunding platform focused on the agriculture and food sectors. It provides an alternative financing solution for project developers seeking quick and straightforward funding from a community of contributors. The platform allows users to create customized fundraising projects while enabling the public to financially support initiatives that resonate with them. In addition to monetary contributions, MiiMOSA offers unique donation options, including products like cheese, yogurt, whiskey, and ice cream, enhancing the engagement between project developers and supporters. This approach fosters a collaborative environment aimed at revitalizing the agriculture industry and promoting sustainable food practices.

Current Foods

Seed Round in 2020
Current Foods specializes in creating plant-based alternatives for popular seafood items. Utilizing plants and biotechnology, they aim to replicate the taste and texture of tuna and salmon without environmental or ethical concerns.

MagGrow

Series A in 2020
MagGrow is an Irish company founded in 2013, specializing in innovative magnetic spraying systems for the horticulture and arable sectors of agriculture. Based in Dublin, MagGrow has developed a patented technology that enhances droplet formation, leading to significant reductions in spray drift and improved coverage. Key products include the MagGrow backpack 1200, which features a harness and frame, the MagGrow vertical boom, and the MagGrow boom Kit 7000, designed with cast aluminum and no moving parts. The company's technology offers customers substantial benefits, including up to 70% reduction in pesticide drift and typical coverage improvements of 20-40%. By optimizing pesticide usage and conserving resources such as water and labor, MagGrow's solutions help extend spray windows and comply with environmental regulations. The company operates across multiple regions, including the USA, Canada, and Europe.

Artemis

Series A in 2019
Artemis is a technology company that develops a cultivation management platform designed for enterprise greenhouses, indoor farms, and high tunnel farms. The platform enables growers to efficiently manage their operations by providing tools for tracking productivity, compliance, and data insights. Users can monitor their facilities remotely through desktops, tablets, or smartphones, facilitating workflow management, crop batch registration, and food safety tracing. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Artemis aims to empower indoor farm operators to make data-driven decisions that enhance plant performance and reduce operating costs. The company was previously known as Agrilyst Inc. before rebranding in May 2019.

Ynsect

Series C in 2019
Founded in 2011, Ynsect is a biotech company specializing in insect farming and processing. It produces feed for fish and poultry using insects as a sustainable protein source. The company also develops products for non-food applications such as organic fertilizers and bioenergy.
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