Big Idea Ventures

Big Idea Ventures, LLC is a New York-based venture capital firm established in 2018 that specializes in investing in early and growth-stage companies within the FoodTech sector. The firm is particularly focused on alternative protein solutions, including plant-based food products, plant-based ingredients, and cell-based meats. Big Idea Ventures aims to support the development of innovative food technologies and has invested in over 100 companies across 22 countries, with a strong presence in Asia and North America. The firm collaborates with a network of strategic partners and engages with governments globally to address food security and foster new food ecosystems. In addition to its main office in New York, Big Idea Ventures has locations in Singapore and Paris.

Bill Arnold

Director - GFRP Fund

Henrietta Hearth

Vice President Global Acceleration

Michael Lightman

Managing Partner

Thomas Mastrobuoni

Chief Investment Officer

Qaynat Sharma

Partner

Van Truskett

Director - GRFP Fund

Adrien Villalonga

Senior Investment Associate

Christian Cadeo

Managing Partner

Past deals in AgTech

MEATOSYS

Pre Seed Round in 2024
MeatOSys equips farmers with technology and supplies to cultivate meat on their farms, using cells harvested from their own animals, ensuring full traceability. This process increases meat production while reducing animal usage. The company also supplies the food industry with the resulting cultivated meat.

Alcheme Bio

Venture Round in 2023
Alcheme Bio is a company focused on enhancing the taste of cultivated foods through innovative cellular flavoring. By mapping the relationship between media formulations and flavor, Alcheme Bio bioengineers media supplements that enable cells to express their own flavors, mimicking natural processes found in the wild. This approach allows clients in the food industry to produce cultivated products that are not only cost-effective and cleaner but also significantly more flavorful, addressing a key barrier to the widespread adoption of cultivated foods.

TerraSafe Materials

Venture Round in 2023
TerraSafe Materials, established in 2023 and headquartered in New York, NY, is a material science company dedicated to creating sustainable packaging solutions. It specializes in developing biopolymer compounds to replace traditional petroleum-based packaging materials. TerraSafe's products, including biodegradable coatings and polymer alternatives, cater to various industries such as food packaging, construction, agriculture, and transportation, facilitating a shift towards sustainability.

PFx Biotech

Venture Round in 2023
PFx Biotech is a pioneering company that specializes in the development of alternative proteins using precision fermentation. They focus on producing human milk proteins, which are nourishing and contain beneficial bioactivities such as immune-boosting, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties. By leveraging their fermentation platform, they aim to provide sustainable protein alternatives that can help reduce water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby promoting a more environmentally friendly and animal-free protein landscape.

Future Cow

Pre Seed Round in 2023
Future Cow is a Brazilian startup specializing in cellular agriculture, focusing on the development of innovative technology to produce dairy milk without the use of cows. By employing precision fermentation techniques, Future Cow replicates the molecular proteins found in traditional dairy, using only a digitized version of cow genes and no animal cells. This process results in animal-free milk that is molecularly identical to conventional dairy while significantly reducing environmental impacts. The company aims to address concerns related to animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional dairy farming. Future Cow's approach represents a significant advancement in food technology, offering consumers a more sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional dairy products.

The Very Food

Seed Round in 2023
The Very Food Co is a French start-up focused on transforming the food industry by providing sustainable alternatives to dairy and eggs. The company specializes in ready-to-use, plant-based ingredients that serve as functional replacements for traditional animal products, catering to the increasing demand for vegan options. By leveraging scientific research, Very Food maps plant properties to their molecular profiles to create formulations that maintain the functionality and taste of eggs and dairy. Their innovative solutions are designed for easy integration into existing processes, allowing food manufacturers and foodservice professionals to transition towards a more sustainable and resilient food system without compromising culinary quality.

Niskus Biotec

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Niskus Biotec specializes in producing food ingredients that enhance the sustainability, supply chain security, and functionality of various products. The company focuses on developing functional, protein-rich ingredients suitable for a wide range of food and beverage applications, aimed at improving nutrition, taste, and texture. Niskus Biotec collaborates with agri-food companies to facilitate the development and implementation of scaled-up manufacturing processes, utilizing specially designed solid-state fermenters. This flexible, staged approach allows businesses to effectively integrate these innovative ingredients into their offerings.

FoodSquared

Pre Seed Round in 2022
FoodSquared is a B2B food tech company that enables the next generation of plant-based shellfish starting with shrimp.

Mewery

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Mewery is a Czech-based company focused on the production of cultivated pork meat. Utilizing a proprietary technology, Mewery grows pork cells in bioreactors, incorporating pork stem cells and a microalgae-based growth medium. This innovative approach allows the company to cultivate pork within 6 to 7 weeks while significantly reducing production costs by up to 70%. Mewery's methods also demonstrate substantial environmental benefits, utilizing 95% less land, 78% less water, and achieving a 92% reduction in carbon emissions for each kilogram of cultivated pork produced. By developing novel and fortified pork products, Mewery aims to address the challenges of scaling the cultivated meat industry and provide fresh, sustainable meat alternatives to consumers.

Umami United

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Umami United is a Japanese-inspired plant-based food brand focused on enriching the alternative protein market with unique and innovative ingredients. The company specializes in creating products that deliver intense umami flavor, appealing to both vegan consumers and those seeking healthier food options. Its flagship product, UMAMI Egg, is formulated primarily from konjac powder, showcasing the brand's commitment to leveraging Japanese culinary traditions and technology to develop its offerings. By providing plant-based alternatives to traditional eggs and meat, Umami United aims to broaden choices for the growing vegan population while promoting a flavorful and nutritious diet.

Optimized Foods

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Optimized Foods is a company focused on developing sustainable food production techniques, specializing in cell-cultured products. The company is pioneering the cultivated meat category by utilizing proprietary mycelium scaffolds and advanced cell biology. Its innovative approach allows for the creation of nutritious, mycelium-based food options, transforming traditional food production methods. By concentrating on the form, function, and structure of cultured meat, Optimized Foods aims to provide healthier and more sustainable food products at scale, addressing the growing demand for sustainable alternatives in the food industry.

Alt Atlas

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Alt Atlas is an innovative company focused on developing an AI-driven digital manufacturing platform tailored for the alternative meat and dairy industries. The platform connects advanced cell lines and smart tools to accelerate production processes in a cost-effective manner. Initially targeting cultivated meat, the company's technology aims to tackle significant challenges in scaling up production, including the underutilization of AI and the scarcity of relevant cell lines. Alt Atlas offers a unique solution by providing proprietary, non-GMO bovine stem cell lines and customized AI-based services that enhance cell culture conditions for cultivated meat production. With a team possessing over 70 years of combined experience in academia and the food and agritech sectors, the company is well-equipped to drive innovation in this emerging field. Alt Atlas serves business-to-consumer companies engaged in producing cultivated meat, positioning itself as a crucial enabler of technological advancement within the cultivated meat ecosystem.

Maya Milk

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Maya Milk, established in 2021 with its headquarters in Izmir, Turkey, specializes in precision fermentation technology to create animal-free dairy proteins and fatty acids. The company aims to serve the food and dairy industry by producing vegan alternatives that mimic the structure and functionality of animal-derived counterparts, enabling customers to enhance their alternative dairy products.

Phuture

Seed Round in 2019
Phuture Limited is a Hong Kong-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in producing plant-based minced meat products. Focused on sustainability, Phuture aims to provide alternatives to traditional meat by offering non-genetically modified, halal options that closely mimic the taste and texture of pork. The company's proprietary processing technology incorporates rice into its product blend, enhancing the flavor and mouthfeel to create a satisfying experience for consumers. Through innovation in food technology, Phuture seeks to redefine the culinary landscape and promote healthier lifestyles by making plant-based eating more accessible and enjoyable.

Vevolution

Vevolution is an operator of a global investment marketplace focused on plant-based and cell-agriculture innovations. The company offers software-as-a-service solutions designed to support startups, investors, and consumers in accelerating the growth of sustainable businesses. By connecting like-minded individuals and organizations, Vevolution facilitates the adoption of green products and services, fostering a community that aims to create a positive impact on the world.
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