Leaps by Bayer

Leaps by Bayer is the corporate venture capital arm of Bayer, established in 2015 and headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. The company focuses on investing in groundbreaking advancements within the life sciences, particularly in biotechnology and agriculture. By targeting disruptive biotechnologies, Leaps by Bayer aims to make significant and lasting contributions that can profoundly impact humanity. Through its strategic investments, the firm seeks to support innovations that address critical challenges in healthcare and food production.

Paimun Amini

Senior Director of Venture Investments Agriculture

Fabio Pucci Ph.D

Senior Director of Venture Investments Health

Past deals in Agriculture

NewLeaf Symbiotics

Series D in 2023
NewLeaf Symbiotics is an agriculture technology company based in Saint Louis, Missouri, that specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of beneficial symbiotic bacteria aimed at enhancing plant health and increasing crop yields. The company focuses on natural bacteria, particularly pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs, which are utilized in various agricultural products for row crops, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Through laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials, NewLeaf Symbiotics aims to provide sustainable agricultural solutions that assist farmers in combating plant diseases and improving overall agricultural productivity. Founded in 2011 and originally known as TrophoMax, LLC, the company rebranded to its current name in 2012.

Rantizo

Series A in 2023
Rantizo, Inc. is a company that specializes in the development and sale of agricultural drones and related equipment, including trailers, sprayers, spreaders, and battery chargers. Founded in 2018 and based in Iowa City, Iowa, Rantizo offers precision spraying services for crops using an innovative electrostatic spraying technique. This technology ensures even coverage of pesticides and chemicals, addressing common challenges faced by farmers in applying these substances. Additionally, Rantizo integrates software solutions with drone manufacturers and agronomy systems to enhance large-scale agricultural operations, facilitating efficient mapping, compliance, and coordination of spraying needs. Through its products and services, Rantizo aims to streamline agricultural practices and improve crop management for farmers.

Guardian Agriculture

Series A in 2023
Guardian Agriculture specializes in developing autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) systems tailored for precision agriculture. Their innovative technology empowers farmers by providing automated aerial crop protection services, significantly enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. The eVTOL system utilizes lithium battery power to ensure safe and effective application over farm fields. Additionally, it captures valuable data to help farmers refine their chemical usage and improve crop sustainability. By integrating aerial utility services with precision agriculture, Guardian Agriculture aims to support growers in extending their operational reach and achieving more sustainable farming practices.

Sound Agriculture

Series D in 2022
Sound Agriculture uses molecular discovery to create climate-resilient crops, enhancing harvest yields for growers. They also use an innovative life science approach to sustainably increase farming productivity. The company was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Emeryville, California.

NuCicer

Seed Round in 2022
NuCicer is focused on transforming chickpeas from a niche ingredient into a staple superfood by developing new varieties with enhanced agronomic and quality traits. The company specializes in producing chickpeas that feature increased protein content, improved flavor, and tailored nutritional properties. Utilizing a diverse chickpea breeding library alongside a proprietary breeding innovation platform that integrates plant genetics and machine learning, NuCicer aims to address the growing demands for nutritious and sustainable food sources. Their efforts not only enhance the nutritional value of chickpeas but also aim to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, supporting the needs of the alternative-meat sector and promoting a more sustainable food system.

Apollo Agriculture

Series B in 2022
Apollo Agriculture Ltd. is an agtech company based in Nairobi, Kenya, that supports smallholder farmers by providing financial and technical assistance. Founded in 2015, the company offers loans to help farmers acquire essential inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, and crop insurance, along with access to expert advice. By utilizing agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology, Apollo customizes financing packages based on individual farmer needs, assessing credit risk through satellite and soil data. This tailored approach aims to enhance farming practices and significantly increase crop yields, thereby maximizing profits for farmers in emerging markets.

Sound Agriculture

Series C in 2021
Sound Agriculture uses molecular discovery to create climate-resilient crops, enhancing harvest yields for growers. They also use an innovative life science approach to sustainably increase farming productivity. The company was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Emeryville, California.

Guardian Agriculture

Seed Round in 2021
Guardian Agriculture specializes in developing autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) systems tailored for precision agriculture. Their innovative technology empowers farmers by providing automated aerial crop protection services, significantly enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. The eVTOL system utilizes lithium battery power to ensure safe and effective application over farm fields. Additionally, it captures valuable data to help farmers refine their chemical usage and improve crop sustainability. By integrating aerial utility services with precision agriculture, Guardian Agriculture aims to support growers in extending their operational reach and achieving more sustainable farming practices.

Covercress

Series B in 2021
CoverCress Inc. is a biotechnology company based in St. Louis, Missouri, focused on developing and commercializing field pennycress as an oilseed crop. Founded in 2013, the company aims to produce oil for industrial and renewable fuels, as well as meal for nutritious livestock feed. CoverCress specializes in crop breeding services that enhance soil cover during corn harvest and soybean planting, allowing farmers to maximize yields through sustainable agricultural practices. The company is dedicated to utilizing low-input methods to create a feedstock for low carbon intensity biofuels, contributing to more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions.

Amfora

Series B in 2021
Amfora, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, established in 2016. The company focuses on developing nutritional forage crops through innovative biotechnological processes, particularly gene editing. Its mission is to address the increasing global demand for high-protein foods by enhancing the nutritional density of crops such as soybeans, wheat, and rice. By improving the protein content of these food and feed crops, Amfora aims to contribute to a more sustainable food system, reducing both costs and the environmental impact associated with food production.

Pairwise Plants

Series B in 2021
Pairwise Plants is an agricultural gene editing company based in San Diego, California, focused on enhancing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and canola. Founded in 2017 by a team of experts in food technology and genetics, Pairwise aims to improve the quality and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, berries, and stone fruits. The company collaborates with food and agriculture organizations to provide innovative solutions for both row and specialty crops. Pairwise holds licenses for advanced gene editing technologies from prestigious institutions, enabling the development of new crop varieties. With a commitment to building a healthier world through better food, Pairwise anticipates launching its first products in the coming years.

Rantizo

Series A in 2020
Rantizo, Inc. is a company that specializes in the development and sale of agricultural drones and related equipment, including trailers, sprayers, spreaders, and battery chargers. Founded in 2018 and based in Iowa City, Iowa, Rantizo offers precision spraying services for crops using an innovative electrostatic spraying technique. This technology ensures even coverage of pesticides and chemicals, addressing common challenges faced by farmers in applying these substances. Additionally, Rantizo integrates software solutions with drone manufacturers and agronomy systems to enhance large-scale agricultural operations, facilitating efficient mapping, compliance, and coordination of spraying needs. Through its products and services, Rantizo aims to streamline agricultural practices and improve crop management for farmers.

Unfold

Venture Round in 2020
Unfold focuses on innovating vegetable varieties that deliver optimized quality and sensory experience in the vertical farming industry. They combine leading seed genetics with the agronomic expertise to dramatically advance productivity, flavor, and other consumer preferences. It was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Sacramento, California.

Apollo Agriculture

Series A in 2020
Apollo Agriculture Ltd. is an agtech company based in Nairobi, Kenya, that supports smallholder farmers by providing financial and technical assistance. Founded in 2015, the company offers loans to help farmers acquire essential inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, and crop insurance, along with access to expert advice. By utilizing agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology, Apollo customizes financing packages based on individual farmer needs, assessing credit risk through satellite and soil data. This tailored approach aims to enhance farming practices and significantly increase crop yields, thereby maximizing profits for farmers in emerging markets.

Covercress

Venture Round in 2020
CoverCress Inc. is a biotechnology company based in St. Louis, Missouri, focused on developing and commercializing field pennycress as an oilseed crop. Founded in 2013, the company aims to produce oil for industrial and renewable fuels, as well as meal for nutritious livestock feed. CoverCress specializes in crop breeding services that enhance soil cover during corn harvest and soybean planting, allowing farmers to maximize yields through sustainable agricultural practices. The company is dedicated to utilizing low-input methods to create a feedstock for low carbon intensity biofuels, contributing to more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions.

NewLeaf Symbiotics

Series D in 2020
NewLeaf Symbiotics is an agriculture technology company based in Saint Louis, Missouri, that specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of beneficial symbiotic bacteria aimed at enhancing plant health and increasing crop yields. The company focuses on natural bacteria, particularly pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs, which are utilized in various agricultural products for row crops, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Through laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials, NewLeaf Symbiotics aims to provide sustainable agricultural solutions that assist farmers in combating plant diseases and improving overall agricultural productivity. Founded in 2011 and originally known as TrophoMax, LLC, the company rebranded to its current name in 2012.

AgBiome

Series C in 2018
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing biological products to address significant challenges in agriculture, particularly soil-borne diseases affecting greenhouse and major row crops. Utilizing advanced genomics and screening technologies, AgBiome identifies plant-associated microbes that can enhance plant health, improve pest resistance, and increase crop yields. The company operates a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility and collaborates with prominent agricultural firms to expedite its research and product development. AgBiome's offerings include fungicides that protect crops from various diseases and a platform for capturing and screening diverse microbes for agricultural applications. Established in 2012, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable solutions that support global food production and address critical agricultural issues such as insect and nematode control.

Resson

Series C in 2018
Resson Aerospace is a bioinformatics and data analytics company, delivering customized agriculture solutions for large corporate clients. Utilizing recent advances in large-scale cloud-based data processing, swarm robotics, and advanced data analytics, its proprietary Resson Agricultural Management and Analytics System gives the agricultural operator analytical insight and dynamic control over the farm area. Resson Aerospace’s Resson Agricultural Management and Analytics System, data-driven agriculture solution, analyzes crop metrics to assess crop status and health, providing operators with the information required to optimize agricultural operations, improve efficiency, boost yields, and maximize profitability. It is headquartered in Fredericton, N.B.

Pairwise Plants

Series A in 2018
Pairwise Plants is an agricultural gene editing company based in San Diego, California, focused on enhancing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and canola. Founded in 2017 by a team of experts in food technology and genetics, Pairwise aims to improve the quality and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, berries, and stone fruits. The company collaborates with food and agriculture organizations to provide innovative solutions for both row and specialty crops. Pairwise holds licenses for advanced gene editing technologies from prestigious institutions, enabling the development of new crop varieties. With a commitment to building a healthier world through better food, Pairwise anticipates launching its first products in the coming years.

Joyn Bio

Series A in 2017
Joyn Bio is a joint venture founded by Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks developing probiotics for plants to provide growers with next generation solutions to their biggest challenges. Joyn Bio’s first area of focus will be on engineering microbes that provide cereal crops with their nitrogen needs to reduce agriculture’s reliance on nitrogen fertilizer and its environmental impact. Joyn Bio brings together microbiologists, synthetic biologists, plant scientists, and ecologists at its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and its plant research facility in West Sacramento, California.

NewLeaf Symbiotics

Series C in 2017
NewLeaf Symbiotics is an agriculture technology company based in Saint Louis, Missouri, that specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of beneficial symbiotic bacteria aimed at enhancing plant health and increasing crop yields. The company focuses on natural bacteria, particularly pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs, which are utilized in various agricultural products for row crops, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Through laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials, NewLeaf Symbiotics aims to provide sustainable agricultural solutions that assist farmers in combating plant diseases and improving overall agricultural productivity. Founded in 2011 and originally known as TrophoMax, LLC, the company rebranded to its current name in 2012.

FarmLead

Series A in 2017
Built by farmers for farmers, FarmLead is reinventing how grain is marketed and sold through the world’s fastest growing grain marketplace. Available online and as a mobile app, FarmLead also provides farmers access to exclusive market research, grain testing, price visibility and reduced brokerage fees and risks. The FarmLead Marketplace facilitates greater equality, efficiency and transparency for the grain industry. Farmers find more verified buyers and identify the best possible deal, while grain buyers easily access and identify the grain for sale in their desired location.

Resson

Series B in 2016
Resson Aerospace is a bioinformatics and data analytics company, delivering customized agriculture solutions for large corporate clients. Utilizing recent advances in large-scale cloud-based data processing, swarm robotics, and advanced data analytics, its proprietary Resson Agricultural Management and Analytics System gives the agricultural operator analytical insight and dynamic control over the farm area. Resson Aerospace’s Resson Agricultural Management and Analytics System, data-driven agriculture solution, analyzes crop metrics to assess crop status and health, providing operators with the information required to optimize agricultural operations, improve efficiency, boost yields, and maximize profitability. It is headquartered in Fredericton, N.B.

Plant Response

Series A in 2015
Plant Response is focused on advancing agricultural ecosystems through innovative biological solutions. The company develops technologies aimed at reducing stress in plants and promoting growth globally. Their product offerings include plant healthcare solutions derived from natural compounds, which enhance plant immunity and tolerance to various stresses. Additionally, these technologies improve nutrient utilization, supporting agricultural professionals in their efforts to protect plant health and optimize growth. Plant Response's initiatives are rooted in research and aim to address the challenges faced in modern agriculture.

AgBiome

Series B in 2015
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing biological products to address significant challenges in agriculture, particularly soil-borne diseases affecting greenhouse and major row crops. Utilizing advanced genomics and screening technologies, AgBiome identifies plant-associated microbes that can enhance plant health, improve pest resistance, and increase crop yields. The company operates a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility and collaborates with prominent agricultural firms to expedite its research and product development. AgBiome's offerings include fungicides that protect crops from various diseases and a platform for capturing and screening diverse microbes for agricultural applications. Established in 2012, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable solutions that support global food production and address critical agricultural issues such as insect and nematode control.

AgBiome

Venture Round in 2014
AgBiome, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on developing biological products to address significant challenges in agriculture, particularly soil-borne diseases affecting greenhouse and major row crops. Utilizing advanced genomics and screening technologies, AgBiome identifies plant-associated microbes that can enhance plant health, improve pest resistance, and increase crop yields. The company operates a state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse facility and collaborates with prominent agricultural firms to expedite its research and product development. AgBiome's offerings include fungicides that protect crops from various diseases and a platform for capturing and screening diverse microbes for agricultural applications. Established in 2012, AgBiome aims to provide sustainable solutions that support global food production and address critical agricultural issues such as insect and nematode control.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.