Yield Lab

Yield Lab, LLC is an accelerator and venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, with additional offices across Asia, North America, and Europe. The firm specializes in early-stage investments within the agriculture technology sector, focusing on innovative companies that aim to enhance food production and sustainability. Yield Lab primarily invests in startups by providing $100,000 in funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, fostering an environment where new AgTech companies can thrive. Its accelerator programs, which vary in duration from nine to twelve months, offer tailored training and access to a global network of agricultural businesses and experts. Yield Lab also manages regional funds, such as Yield Lab Europe and Yield Lab Asia Pacific, that support high-tech agrifood ventures by investing in promising companies that can significantly disrupt traditional agricultural practices. Through these initiatives, Yield Lab aims to bridge the gap between innovation and successful business outcomes in the agrifood tech industry.

Thomas Adamitis

Managing Director and General Partner

David Bowles

Managing Partner

Chris Danforth

Managing Director

Jeff Peterson

Managing Director and Partner

Thad Simons

Managing Director

Larry Taylor

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Past deals in Food Processing

UMAMI Bioworks

Seed Round in 2022
Umami Meats develops cultured seafood based on a proprietary, low-cost, and sustainable formulation of growth factors.

microTERRA

Seed Round in 2021
microTERRA creates sustainable protein for farmers in LATAM. Protein is the largest cost to farmers, representing 70% of their total spend. By combining hardware and biotech, microTERRA develops microalgae systems that transform wastewater into a sustainable protein and clean water. Our first customers are fish farms. We transform their wastewater into fish feed, onsite, lowering their production costs, producing protein sustainably and cleaning the water.

Ascribe Bioscience

Venture Round in 2021
Ascribe Bioscience develops products that enable farmers to combat crop pathogens without negative impacts on the environment. The company is currently developing a seed treatment product that acts by boosting crops’ natural defenses.

Impetus AG

Seed Round in 2021
Impetus AG is engaged in the development of innovative insect control solutions that prioritize safety, effectiveness, and sustainability. The company specializes in creating bi-specific plant-based proteins designed to protect crops from harmful insects. Utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis technology, Impetus AG's products enhance crop yield by integrating antibodies within plant structures. This approach addresses the challenge of insect resistance that has emerged with existing commercial insect control products, offering farmers durable alternatives that support sustainable agriculture.

Kaffe Bueno

Seed Round in 2020
Kaffe Bueno uses green chemistry and biotechnology to upcycles coffee's post-consumption by-product into ingredients for cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. The company is driven by a mission to unlock coffee's health potential where harmful emissions are minimized and coffee’s by-product usability is maximized. Kafe Bueno is dedicated to transforming the way people perceive coffee; from looking at it as a tool to make it until the end of the day, to look at it as a magical bean with the potential of improving human health by using what lies inside it. Kafe Bueno was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Soborg, Denmark.

PolyNatural

Seed Round in 2020
PolyNatural focuses on innovative research and development in the fruticulture industry, leveraging natural components to create unique, environmentally sustainable products that enhance food quality. Inspired by traditional South American agricultural practices, the company has developed Shel-Life, a 100% natural plant-based emulsion that serves as an edible biopolymer coating for fruits. This coating significantly reduces food waste by minimizing dehydration and microbial growth, distinguishing itself from competitors that typically use synthetic waxes derived from petroleum. By offering solutions that improve the shelf life and overall quality of fresh produce, PolyNatural aims to enhance consumer access to safe and fresh food while promoting sustainability in agribusiness.

Biomass Controls

Seed Round in 2019
Biomass Controls specializes in renewable energy technology that addresses global water and sanitation challenges through innovative solutions. The company focuses on processing and valorizing biogenic waste, including manure, textiles, food, and biosolids, to produce carbon-rich biochar. This process not only improves health and environmental conditions but also enhances quality of life and supports gender equality. Biomass Controls implements decentralized technologies that facilitate remote real-time monitoring and evaluation, contributing to the development of the Smart Sanitation Economy. By harnessing waste streams, the company generates energy, clean water, and biochar products, effectively realizing the vision of a Circular Sanitation Economy while promoting sustainability and carbon sequestration.

Nanoguard Technologies

Series A in 2019
Nanoguard Technologies is developing cold plasma technology for the treatment of grains. Its cold plasma technology facilitates food sanitation technology which is designed to preserve the freshness and wholesomeness of food while improving its safety from food borne illness, providing food growers with a safe, cost efficient, and environmentally friendly tool to manage and reduce mycotoxins. Nanoguard Technologies was founded on 2014 and is headquartered Saint Louis, Missouri.

Foodshed.io

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Foodshed.io is a marketing and distribution platform that connects small-scale farmers within 250 miles of NYC to chefs and supermarkets.

Planetarians

Seed Round in 2019
Planetarians is focused on developing innovative ingredient technology systems to create affordable and healthy plant-based proteins. The company aims to address the growing demand for alternative meats, projected to rise from 2% to 23% of consumption, by utilizing animal feed sources such as sunflower, corn DDGS, and pulses. Their approach skips traditional protein isolation methods, employing a unique process that combines solid-state fermentation and wet extrusion. This method not only enhances the protein quality and umami taste of their products but also reduces costs compared to conventional meat alternatives. Additionally, Planetarians utilizes by-products from vegetable oil extraction and beer fermentation, creating carbon-negative meat alternatives that can fortify various food products with natural protein and fiber.

ImpactVision

Seed Round in 2018
ImpactVision, Inc. is a specialized technology company based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on hyperspectral imaging for the food industry. Founded in 2015, it manufactures advanced imaging cameras integrated with software designed to assess food quality. These systems can be installed on production lines to capture images of food products while simultaneously analyzing them for various quality parameters. The software includes specialized packages such as FoDCam for detecting foreign objects, AvoCam for measuring avocado dry matter, and FishCam for assessing fish quality. Through its innovative use of machine learning and sensor technology, ImpactVision aims to enhance food safety and quality assurance for producers.

Hexafly

Seed Round in 2018
Hexafly is a biotechnology company based in Kells, Ireland, specializing in the sustainable farming of insects to produce materials for various industries, including aquaculture, plant nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. Founded in 2016, the company utilizes Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert food waste into valuable products such as insect oil, protein meals for fish feed, frass for plant nutrition, and chitin, which is used in medicines, cosmetics, and as a food additive. By focusing on a circular economy approach, Hexafly aims to provide sustainable solutions that benefit farmers and contribute to more efficient food systems for animals and plants. The company's products are available for purchase online.

Agribody Technologies

Seed Round in 2017
Agribody Technologies is a agricultural biotechnology company with patented technology that pinpoints and knocks down the gene that causes quick decay in perishable crops, resulting in 3X - 4X longer shelf life, more tolerance to stress, and up to 40% higher yields. CRISPR genome editing is the technical breakthrough enabling our precise novel plant trait development at low cost and high scalability, providing solutions for agricultural crop loss and food waste. We license and co-develop our technology.

PolyNatural

Series A in 2017
PolyNatural focuses on innovative research and development in the fruticulture industry, leveraging natural components to create unique, environmentally sustainable products that enhance food quality. Inspired by traditional South American agricultural practices, the company has developed Shel-Life, a 100% natural plant-based emulsion that serves as an edible biopolymer coating for fruits. This coating significantly reduces food waste by minimizing dehydration and microbial growth, distinguishing itself from competitors that typically use synthetic waxes derived from petroleum. By offering solutions that improve the shelf life and overall quality of fresh produce, PolyNatural aims to enhance consumer access to safe and fresh food while promoting sustainability in agribusiness.

Think.Eat.Live

Seed Round in 2017
Innovative food company focused on transforming the nutritional and sensory value of gluten free foods. We are introducing new, provisionally-patented flours that exponentially increase protein, fiber, vitamins & minerals in baked and natural packaged foods. Our mission at Think.Eat.Live. is to revolutionize the way people eat by providing foods they love, made with natural superfoods, to make them healthier and happier.

Nanoguard Technologies

Seed Round in 2016
Nanoguard Technologies is developing cold plasma technology for the treatment of grains. Its cold plasma technology facilitates food sanitation technology which is designed to preserve the freshness and wholesomeness of food while improving its safety from food borne illness, providing food growers with a safe, cost efficient, and environmentally friendly tool to manage and reduce mycotoxins. Nanoguard Technologies was founded on 2014 and is headquartered Saint Louis, Missouri.
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