Foodtech investment company Big Idea Ventures has made a first close for its New Protein Fund II (NPF II) based on the performance of New Protein Fund I (NPF I).
With its second alternative protein fund, New Protein Fund II, Big Idea Ventures will continue to invest in the best alternative protein and ingredients startups around the world, consolidating their position as the global leader in alternative protein technologies.
The fund made its first close in May and aims to close the targeted $75 million within the next 12 months.
AAK, a multi-oil ingredient house specialized in plant-based vegetable oils and fats, and Bühler, a solution partner for the food processing industry, have joined other investors for the initial funding round. Both companies also invested in Big Idea Ventures’ first fund.
Big Idea Ventures is expanding its investment portfolio by including companies that focus on alternative ingredients and impactful food. It also will maintain its current investment thesis in alternative protein innovators by investing in the best plant-based, cell-based and fermentation-enabled alternative protein companies around the world.
More innovators
Founder Andrew D. Ive said: “With NPF I, we found and worked with companies we believe will become leaders in the alternative protein category. NPF II enables us to bring even more innovators with fantastic innovations and teams in our portfolio. Our mission is to solve the world’s biggest challenges by supporting the world’s best entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers.”
Big Idea Ventures was the first global fund dedicated towards the development and expansion of alternative protein companies and within a few years, quickly became the most active investor in the foodtech category. Numerous noteworthy businesses can be found in NPF’s portfolio, such as French startup Gourmey, which secured €48 million in Series A funding, constituting the largest round ever closed in the world last year. Another great example is Black Sheep Foods, which received $12.3 million in Series A funding.
NPF II will invest in early-stage startups around the world both through its accelerator program and direct investments. The Big Idea Ventures accelerator program is an intensive five-month program run out of the firm’s Paris, Singapore, and New York offices. The program assists companies in overcoming obstacles to effectively scaling a startup. This is accomplished by providing assistance from internal and external experts, corporate investors, and a broad network of mentors.
“It has truly been a pleasure to provide support to our diverse range of portfolio companies. Through NPF II, we envision working with the leading innovators with ground breaking technologies across alternative meat, seafood, dairy and ingredients,” Ive said.
With this latest close, Big Idea Ventures now has more than $100 million assets under management.
Jim Cornall is editor of Future Food Today and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
