Ponderosa Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2021 that focuses on investing in pre-seed and seed-stage companies in the food, agriculture, and ocean sectors. The firm aims to drive significant changes within these industries to address critical issues related to climate, biodiversity, water, and human health. Ponderosa Ventures typically invests between $100,000 and $750,000 in its portfolio companies and maintains an efficient investment process, with an average decision timeframe of 15 days. By concentrating on transformative ventures, the firm supports the development of innovative solutions that can contribute to sustainable practices in these vital sectors.
Hoofprint Biome is a biotechnology company that develops probiotics and natural enzymes to enhance the sustainability of ruminant livestock production. Their products improve cattle health and digestive care by reducing methane emissions, thereby enabling the livestock industry to adopt more sustainable practices through microbiome engineering.
CroBio
Seed Round in 2024
CroBio Ltd is an agricultural biotechnology company based in Macclesfield, United Kingdom, founded in 2019 by experts in microbiology and engineering. The company focuses on developing environmentally sustainable solutions to combat global agricultural drought. Its technology leverages genetically engineered root-associated bacteria that produce a sponge-like biomaterial, facilitating biologically active water retention in soil. This innovative approach aims to improve soil health and enhance water management in agricultural practices.
Peptobiotics
Series A in 2024
Peptobiotics is a biotechnology startup focused on enhancing livestock health and productivity through innovative disease prevention solutions. The company specializes in developing recombinant custom peptides using synthetic biology microorganisms as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. By providing farmers with effective tools to promote growth and protect animals from pathogens, Peptobiotics aims to foster a more humane and sustainable agricultural system. Its approach not only addresses the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance but also supports farmers in maintaining healthy livestock, leading to improved agricultural outcomes without the use of conventional antibiotics.
Umaro
Seed Round in 2024
Umaro Foods focuses on creating a sustainable plant-based protein derived from ocean-farmed seaweed. The company aims to provide a nutritious protein alternative while promoting the humane treatment of animals and environmental sustainability. Its innovative products include crispy, crunchy, and umami-flavored bacon alternatives, designed to appeal to consumers looking for healthier and more ethical food options. By collaborating with seaweed farmers, Umaro Foods seeks to establish a more productive and scalable protein source that surpasses traditional soy production, contributing to a thriving planet.
OKIPA
Seed Round in 2024
OKIPA is an agricultural chemical manufacturing company.
Ant Robotics
Venture Round in 2024
Ant Robotics is a mobile robotics company focused on developing autonomous systems for agriculture. By utilizing image recognition and deep learning algorithms, the company provides open-source robotic platforms that assist farmers in identifying and removing harmful weeds from their crops. This technology aims to enhance efficiency in farming practices, ultimately helping to improve crop yields and reduce the reliance on chemical herbicides.
CarbonFarm
Seed Round in 2023
CarbonFarm is a company focused on enabling regenerative agriculture for farmers while supporting corporations in their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions. By utilizing satellite data and artificial intelligence, CarbonFarm provides transparency in the carbon credit market. The company aims to democratize access to carbon credits by monitoring agricultural practices and estimating emissions remotely. This approach allows rice farmers to accurately quantify their emissions, facilitating funding for their transition to sustainable farming practices. Through its innovative technology, CarbonFarm seeks to create a win-win scenario for both farmers and corporations committed to environmental sustainability.
Hoofprint Biome
Pre Seed Round in 2023
Hoofprint Biome is a biotechnology company that develops probiotics and natural enzymes to enhance the sustainability of ruminant livestock production. Their products improve cattle health and digestive care by reducing methane emissions, thereby enabling the livestock industry to adopt more sustainable practices through microbiome engineering.
Adapt AgTech
Seed Round in 2023
Adapt AgTech provides a turn-key opportunity for container farming of edible and gourmet mushrooms. Adapt opens the door for new entrants to the farming industry and creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs while advancing access to a sustainable food supply.Adapt AgTech provides a turn-key opportunity for container farming.
Klim
Seed Round in 2022
Klim enables farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture at scale by providing them financial support, knowledge, documentation tools, and a community via our digital companion for farmers. Klim-verified carbon removal credits, generated by Klim farmers, help companies to transition to net zero by offsetting their carbon emissions locally and with maximum impact and transparency.
Neolithics
Seed Round in 2022
Neolithics focuses on enhancing quality control for fresh produce through automation and artificial intelligence. The company has developed a software solution that enables users to detect, classify, and sort crops efficiently, thereby maximizing utilization and minimizing waste. By implementing this technology, customers can increase inventory value, reduce distribution costs, and improve food safety. Neolithics aims to streamline the quality control process, decreasing the reliance on manual inspection and sorting, which ultimately leads to cost savings and greater transparency in inventory management.
Muddy Machines
Seed Round in 2022
Muddy Machines develops autonomous robots aimed at assisting farms with labor-intensive crops by automating fieldwork. The company initially focuses on its green asparagus harvest technology while planning to expand its capabilities to other crops. Additionally, Muddy Machines is exploring the use of its robotic platform for other labor-intensive tasks, such as weeding and precision applications. The robots utilize computer vision and machine learning to assess crop maturity and perform selective harvesting, ensuring that crops are picked with care to minimize damage. This innovation enables farmers to increase local produce yields and maintain the freshness of their crops.
Feedvax
Seed Round in 2022
Feedvax is an Argentine company founded in 2018 that specializes in developing oral vaccines for farmed fish, aiming to enhance animal production sustainably. The company has created a platform that delivers in-feed vaccines, beginning with a product targeting streptococcosis in tilapia, a widely farmed fish species. Feedvax's innovative approach allows for easy administration of vaccines through feed, providing an effective and environmentally safe alternative to antibiotics. This method not only protects fish from disease but also minimizes stress and potential contamination, offering a practical solution for fish producers seeking greater efficiency in aquaculture.
Savefruit
Seed Round in 2022
Savefruit specializes in post-harvest technologies aimed at extending the shelf life of various fruits, including bananas, mangoes, tomatoes, apples, papayas, and avocados. The company's innovative product, delivered as a fine powder in a sealed bag, effectively delays the ripening process while preserving the texture, firmness, color, odor, flavor, and nutritional properties of the fruit. By validating and testing each formulation individually, Savefruit addresses the critical issue of fruit waste, enabling producers to maintain the quality of their yields and contribute to food sustainability.
Aquanzo
Pre Seed Round in 2022
Aquanzo is a business focused on farming marine zooplankton on land, utilizing agricultural byproducts to create a sustainable and efficient production process. The company aims to domesticate zooplankton as a natural and optimal feed source for fish and shrimp, addressing the growing demand for marine proteins in the aquafeed industry. By leveraging advanced technologies, Aquanzo produces nutritious and environmentally friendly ingredients that minimize the ecological impact associated with traditional ocean harvesting. This innovative approach enables clients to enhance their aquaculture practices while preserving ocean ecosystems.
Umaro
Seed Round in 2022
Umaro Foods focuses on creating a sustainable plant-based protein derived from ocean-farmed seaweed. The company aims to provide a nutritious protein alternative while promoting the humane treatment of animals and environmental sustainability. Its innovative products include crispy, crunchy, and umami-flavored bacon alternatives, designed to appeal to consumers looking for healthier and more ethical food options. By collaborating with seaweed farmers, Umaro Foods seeks to establish a more productive and scalable protein source that surpasses traditional soy production, contributing to a thriving planet.
Heartee
Seed Round in 2022
Heartee specializes in the production of gourmet mushrooms through innovative solar-powered container farms. The company provides a turn-key solution for the cultivation of edible and gourmet mushroom varieties, offering fourteen different types to its customers. By leveraging sustainable farming practices, Heartee enables clients to access fresh mushrooms while promoting environmentally friendly agricultural methods.
Peptobiotics
Seed Round in 2021
Peptobiotics is a biotechnology startup focused on enhancing livestock health and productivity through innovative disease prevention solutions. The company specializes in developing recombinant custom peptides using synthetic biology microorganisms as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. By providing farmers with effective tools to promote growth and protect animals from pathogens, Peptobiotics aims to foster a more humane and sustainable agricultural system. Its approach not only addresses the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance but also supports farmers in maintaining healthy livestock, leading to improved agricultural outcomes without the use of conventional antibiotics.
Ascribe Bioscience
Venture Round in 2021
Ascribe Bioscience is a company focused on developing environmentally friendly crop protection products that help farmers combat pathogens affecting their crops. Founded in 2017 and based in Ithaca, New York, the company is currently working on a seed treatment product designed to enhance crops' natural defenses against diseases such as Rhizoctonia. By researching the interactions between microbes and plants at the molecular level, Ascribe Bioscience identifies the signaling molecules that activate plants' innate immunity. This innovative approach aims to improve both the quality and productivity of agricultural yields while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
Verdi Expeditions
Verdi Expeditions is a scalable platform for agricultural automation and tailored plant health.
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