Lever VC

Lever VC, established in 2017, is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with additional offices in San Francisco and Hong Kong. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage companies within the alternative protein sector, including plant-based and cell-based meat, egg, and dairy products. Lever VC operates globally, with a team spread across the US, Hong Kong, Europe, and Israel. The firm's Managing Partner, Nick Cooney, brings extensive experience in the alternative protein space, having previously co-founded New Crop Capital and the Good Food Institute. Lever VC's team has collectively deployed over $1.5 billion across various sectors, with over thirty investments in the alternative protein sector.

Ronen Bar

Venture Partner

James Caffyn

Partner

Jasmin Kern

Senior Associate

Felipe Krelling

Venture Partner

Laura Ocampo

Venture Partner

Ramzi Schumann

Venture Partner

Yoanna Zheng

Venture Partner

Past deals in Nutrition

THIS

Series B in 2023
THIS is a plant-based meat brand that specializes in creating alternative meat products designed to appeal to meat lovers. The company focuses on developing items made from plant-based ingredients that are fortified with essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and iron. By doing so, THIS aims to provide consumers with the sensory experience of traditional meat while ensuring that no animals are harmed in the process. The brand's offerings cater to those seeking satisfying meat alternatives, promoting a sustainable and ethical dietary choice.

New School Foods

Seed Round in 2023
New School Foods specializes in developing plant-based seafood alternatives that replicate the texture, flavor, and nutritional benefits of traditional seafood. The company's flagship product is a plant-based filet designed to resemble wild salmon, providing consumers with a similar cooking experience and taste. By offering these whole-muscle seafood substitutes, New School Foods aims to contribute to a more sustainable food system and promote kinder consumption practices.

GROUNDED

Seed Round in 2022
Grounded is a London-based food and beverage company founded in 2016, specializing in the production of healthy natural drinks. The company focuses on creating low-sugar and plant-based beverages, including protein milkshakes made from coconut milk. Grounded uses only raw ingredients sourced from nature, ensuring that its products provide a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional drinks. The packaging is environmentally friendly, utilizing materials derived from plants, which aligns with the company's commitment to sustainability while catering to health-conscious consumers.

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.

CellX

Series A in 2022
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.

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.

Nude

Series A in 2022
Nude is a food technology company that specializes in creating plant-based food products using organically-grown oats sourced from small producers. Committed to sustainability, Nude aligns its operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on delivering flavorful and healthy alternatives to traditional foods. The company emphasizes transparency by calculating the carbon footprint of its products, allowing consumers to make informed choices about their dietary options. Led by women, Nude aims to simplify the consumption of vegetable-based alternatives while championing environmental responsibility.

Marvelous Foods

Angel Round in 2022
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.

NoMoo Plant-Based

Series A in 2021
NoMoo Plant-Based specializes in the production of plant-based dairy alternatives, focusing on fermented cashew nut cheeses and yogurts. The company aims to provide sustainable options to traditional animal-based products by creating a variety of vegan offerings, including cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise, and French-style fermented butter. By utilizing locally sourced cashews, NoMoo Plant-Based offers consumers a taste of Brazilian cuisine while promoting a plant-based lifestyle.

Welldone

Series A in 2021
Welldone is a producer of plant-based meat products that focuses on providing nutritious and affordable alternatives to animal-based foods. The company offers a diverse range of items, including cutlets, minced meat, and patties, designed to meet the nutritional needs of consumers while promoting ethical eating practices. With strong research and development capabilities and sourcing operations in Russia, Welldone aims to establish itself as the leading brand in the country, catering to a market of over 140 million people. The company is also targeting international expansion and aims to achieve price parity with traditional meat products, enabling it to reach a broader audience.

THIS

Series A in 2021
THIS is a plant-based meat brand that specializes in creating alternative meat products designed to appeal to meat lovers. The company focuses on developing items made from plant-based ingredients that are fortified with essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and iron. By doing so, THIS aims to provide consumers with the sensory experience of traditional meat while ensuring that no animals are harmed in the process. The brand's offerings cater to those seeking satisfying meat alternatives, promoting a sustainable and ethical dietary choice.

Marvelous Foods

Seed Round in 2021
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.

CellX

Seed Round in 2021
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.

The New

Seed Round in 2021
The New is a Brazilian food technology company that produces plant-based meats as an alternative to animal-based products. Their range includes burgers, chicken tenders, and salmon fillets, crafted from ingredients like pea protein, coconut oil, and beetroot, making them gluten-free and free from added sugars.

CellX

Pre Seed Round in 2020
CellX is focused on developing innovative food products through the fermentation of morel mycelium to create mushroom protein. Their offerings include ingredient solutions for savory snacks, protein powders, and meat alternatives. In addition to its proprietary products, CellX licenses existing intellectual property to expedite the commercialization of cultivated meat. The company also employs advanced technologies such as suspension cell lines and serum-free media, achieving high cell density and cost-effective media production on a large scale. Committed to sustainable development, CellX aims to provide environmentally friendly and healthy animal protein alternatives through its cell-cultivated meat products.

GROUNDED

Seed Round in 2020
Grounded is a London-based food and beverage company founded in 2016, specializing in the production of healthy natural drinks. The company focuses on creating low-sugar and plant-based beverages, including protein milkshakes made from coconut milk. Grounded uses only raw ingredients sourced from nature, ensuring that its products provide a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional drinks. The packaging is environmentally friendly, utilizing materials derived from plants, which aligns with the company's commitment to sustainability while catering to health-conscious consumers.

Marvelous Foods

Seed Round in 2019
Marvelous Foods is a plant-based snack food start-up that specializes in producing and retailing dairy-free coconut yogurt, known as yeyo yogurt. The company aims to nourish consumers and the planet by providing healthy, delicious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional dairy products. By focusing on gut-healing and allergy-friendly options, Marvelous Foods caters to individuals seeking natural and diet-inclusive food solutions. The brand originated by sharing yogurt with friends, neighbors, and local eateries that appreciated wholesome, sustainable food choices.
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