FoodLabs

What does it take to embed real impact into venture capital practices? Over the past year we have worked together with four leading impact-driven VC funds: ETF Partners, SET Ventures, Sofinnova Partners and Astanor to answer this question 🤔. The result is a practical, actionable handbook 📖 for impact practitioners for linking impact to carried interest. Here’s what you’ll find inside: 📈 Practical guidance for implementing the #EIF’s Gamma Model to link impact to carried interest. 🧩 Real case studies that provide pragmatic steps for VCs seeking to embed impact accountability into their practices. ♻️ Commonality and coherence across diverse approaches to impact accountability. This project has been conducted in close collaboration with European Investment Fund (EIF) and supported by European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Commission and the InvestEU Advisory Hub. If you’re ready to make a commitment to impact part of your fund strategy, then this could be the resource for you. 📘 Learn more and get the handbook send us a mail: pr@foodlabs.com

As part of the Singapore International Agri-Food Week, we teamed up with Clay Capital, AgFunder, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and The Trendlines Group to host an evening for operators, founders, and investors to connect. Till Hoelzer (FoodLabs) took the stage alongside Keith Loo (Trendlines), John F. Diener (Vertical Oceans), Bambang Cahyo Susilo (Eratani), and Christopher Yap (EDB) to discuss the unique opportunities Southeast Asia offers to transformative startups and forward-thinking investors. The region offers immense opportunities ⚡ driven by a rapid population growth and high demand for innovative solutions. At FoodLabs, we see tremendous potential and are excited to partner with visionary entrepreneurs shaping the future of consumer, agriculture, food and climate. So, if you’re a 💥 soon-to-be founder, thinking about becoming a founder or already an early-stage founder, and looking to build for the 700 million people in SEA, we want to hear 🧏♀️ from you!

Proud to support the journey of Foodji from the very beginning as it secures €25 million in hybrid financing from P Capital Partners (PCP), becoming the first🥇company in Europe to do so. This innovative funding approach will allow Foodji to scale its impact by closing the catering gap for mid-sized enterprises with its smart food vending machines 🎰 , which provide fresh meals around the clock. Since its market launch in 2019, Foodji has positioned itself as a game-changer in food-tech. Addressing an unmet need, their solution targets the estimated 90% of mid-sized companies 🏭 in Germany and Europe that currently lack workplace catering options. PCP Growth’s hybrid financing model enables promising companies like Foodji to access early-stage debt capital without additional equity dilution—a departure from traditional venture debt structures. This flexibility not only empowers founders but also strengthens their ability to deploy capital strategically and maintain ownership while fueling expansion. The commitment of €25 million follows Foodji's successful $23 million Series A round in 2023, led by Movendo Capital and DLF Venture. Additional participants included Triple Point, Kraut Capital, and existing investor FoodLabs. As early supporters 👍 and users of Foodji’s solution, we are excited to see them leverage this financing to further scale and innovate. Congratulations to the team and the founders – Felix Munte, Moritz Munte, Daniel von Canal, Nicolas Luig, Oliver Friedmann – for breaking new ground and pushing the boundaries of workplace food solutions in Europe.

Ready for Slush 2024? Meet Jonathan, Simon, and Adrian there! Our team will be participating in Slush 2024 in Helsinki 🇫🇮 . At FoodLabs, we’re dedicated to connecting with founders and innovators who are shaping the future of 🍔 food and 👨🌾 agriculture or working on solutions that promote a more sustainable and resilient 🌍 world. Slush provides a unique space to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore impactful solutions from Europe and beyond. If you’re attending and would like to connect, we’d love to hear from you. See you at Slush 2024!

Klim has secured $22 million in Series A funding to support 👨🌾 farmers in transitioning to climate-resilient regenerative agriculture. Our journey with Klim began when founder Robert approached FoodLabs with a clear vision: to build a company that would create meaningful impact for farmers and the environment. Impressed by our team's expertise and shared commitment, Rob joined us as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Leveraging our platform and resources, he diligently validated his concept, leading to the establishment of Klim. We are proud to work closely with Klim and its team to this day. The accompanying 📸 photo was taken during the Klim team’s visit to FoodLabs. At FoodLabs, we recognized Klim's potential to disrupt traditional agricultural practices and drive meaningful change. This partnership underscores our dedication to nurturing innovative ideas that transform industries and foster a more sustainable future. Today, Klim’s digital platform empowers over 3,500 farmers, managing more than 700,000 hectares – equivalent to 5% of 🇩🇪 Germany’s farmland. Collaborations with industry leaders such as Nestlé and Kaufland further affirm the significance of their solutions. The Series A funding will facilitate international expansion, enhance platform capabilities, and introduce new financial services to accelerate farmers’ transition to regenerative practices. This funding round, led by BNP Paribas and joined by prominent investors – including Earthshot Ventures, Rabobank, AgFunder, Norinchukin Bank, Achmea Innovation Fund, Ananda Impact Ventures, and Elevator Ventures (the venture capital arm of Raiffeisen Bank International AG) – positions Klim as a global leader in advancing regenerative agriculture. We look forward to continuing our support for Klim and its founders – Robert Gerlach, Nina Mannheimer, and Adiv M. – alongside early advisors and investors, including Andreas Berger, Green Generation Fund, Edaphon, Ponderosa Ventures, Blue Impact and others, as they drive transformative change across the global 🌍 agricultural landscape.

🌍🚀 We just raised our Series A - $22M to scale regenerative agriculture globally! 🚀🌍 Big news for Klim! We’ve closed a record-breaking Series A, led by BNP Paribas alongside other visionary US and EU investors including AgFunder, Earthshot Ventures, Elevator Ventures, Edaphon, kopa ventures and Rabobank, fueling our mission to transition the food industry towards #RegenerativeAgriculture and feed the planet securely & sustainably. This milestone is a tribute to the pioneering farmers and food industry partners such as Nestlé, Kaufland, ARYZTA and many others who are making the regenerative transformation of our food system happen today. Thank you for being on the frontlines of this agricultural transformation!  Most importantly, I’d like to thank the entire Klim team who relentlessly drive our purpose forward with such dedication and professionalism - it’s an absolute joy to work with you! Nina Mannheimer, Felix Jonathan Jakobsen, Adiv M., Lutz Wildermann, Heino Meerkatt and Andreas Berger What's next? With this funding, we’ll expand globally, enhance our platform, and build new financial tools to ensure farmers get the support they need to transition successfully. This is about accelerating real, measurable #impact —scaling regenerative agriculture to transform how food is grown, sourced, and enjoyed around the world. Klim is hiring! If you're passionate about building a resilient food system and transformative change, join us. We’re looking for smart, driven people to help us shape the future of agriculture. Check out our open roles here: https://lnkd.in/e6jQrUZp Finally, I’d like to thank all the amazing partners and investors who believed in us and supported us along the way - without you, it would not have been possible! Ananda Impact Ventures FoodLabs Achmea Innovation Fund Benedikt Bösel Christophe MAIRE Bernd Klosterkemper Dr. Thomas Gäbert Matthias von Bechtolsheim Matt Logan Ponderosa Ventures Evi Steyer Dr. Manon Sarah Littek Janna Ensthaler Pierre-Louis Christiane Quinten Eggink Lawrence Leuschner Gemüsering Stuttgart GmbH Patrick Noller Green Generation Fund Philip Werkmann Matthieu Soulé Alex Wouters

🇯🇵 We’re looking for co-founders to launch a Next-Gen Functional Beverage venture in Japan! We’re on a mission to transform Japan's beverage landscape. Our goal is to create the next generation of functional drinks that not only taste great but also deliver genuine health benefits and reduce environmental impact. We’re excited to hit the ground running in Japan.  Check out the link below for more info, and apply now!

🆕 Exciting News: Adrian Friederich is joining the FoodLabs team. With years of experience at leading international funds, Adrian is bringing his passion and expertise in agrifood innovation to FoodLabs. His decision to join speaks volumes – a professional with countless opportunities choosing to help reshape the future of the food system at FoodLabs. Together we are going beyond the usual playbook. 🍔 This isn’t about another plant-based burger; 🧪 it’s about breakthroughs across biotech, agtech, and bold consumer brands that redefine how we produce and consume food. Our goal? 💯 Partnering with founders who aim to create category-defining ventures from day one. Founders need more than just capital; they need a village – an ecosystem that stretches even beyond Ag- and FoodTech. Our growing powerhouse of industry and research connections provides the support, tools, and partnerships necessary for startups to thrive. From seed stage to standout successes, Adrian’s expertise will fuel these journeys. With a proven track record of nurturing idea-stage startups to scale-ups like Formo, HOLY, Klim or Infinite Roots®, we’re proud of what we’ve built – and we’re only getting started. Welcome, Adrian! Let’s build the future of food together.

At Norrsken Impact/Week in Barcelona, we took a closer look at how biotech is gradually reshaping the future of the food industry. Till Hoelzer from FoodLabs led a powerful conversation with Zac Austin of Pacifico Biolabs and Francis Field of Searo Labs, diving into the theme: "Biotech breakthroughs creating the food industry of tomorrow." It was a showcase of what’s possible when innovation meets necessity. Pacifico Biolabs shared insights into their fermentation solutions, designed to deliver sustainable nutrition with minimal environmental impact. Meanwhile, Searo Labs spotlighted their cutting-edge technology that turns seaweed into a broad range of plastic alternatives, embracing a circular economy. With global food demands expected to rise by 70% by 2050, these conversations were a stark reminder of the urgent need for transformative solutions. It’s clear that biotech is not just an industry trend; it's the pathway to a sustainable, scalable future in food production.

🥗 On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting a #FoodTech Dinner in Berlin in collaboration with Dr. Christian Nagel, Dr. Marie-Thérèse Buttlar, and Timon S. from Earlybird Venture Capital. The evening brought together a group of founders, operators and investors, with conversations ranging from the latest biotech advances to emerging trends in agriculture and consumer behaviour. It was a great opportunity to network with other industry experts who are shaping the future of FoodTech. We‘re excited to see what collaborations will emerge and look forward to the next edition! Nicolaus Norden Florian Breiner