Sprout Living’s Post

🌱 Lettuce Grow Secures $7M to Revolutionize Fresh Food Systems Lettuce Grow, a SoGal Ventures Fund I portfolio company, has raised over $7 million from institutional and retail investors, fueling its mission to make fresh, sustainable produce accessible to all. With expansion into retail with one of the largest national retailers, strong customer loyalty (46-month average retention), and measurable environmental impact, the company is poised for 10X revenue growth within three years. Lettuce Grow’s 140,000+ growers have already made a significant environmental impact, saving over 200 million gallons of water, reducing millions of pounds of CO2 emissions, and upcycling 200,000 pounds of plastic. With sustainability and innovation at its core, Lettuce Grow aims to redefine the fresh food ecosystem for generations to come. Excited to see what’s next! #startup #sustainability #hydroponics #healthylifestyle #healthyfood #wellness #bcorp #foodtech #urbangarden

Chipotle Mexican Grill doubles its Cultivate Next venture fund to $100M, fueling sustainability and innovation in food tech. Key investments include meati™, Zero Acre Farms and Plantible, driving solutions in agriculture, supply chains, and automation. #foodtech #plantbased #futureoffood

From Seed to Series A: PROJECT EADEN Raises €15M When we first partnered with PROJECT EADEN, we saw more than just a food tech startup – we saw a breakthrough in engineering and sustainability. Today, as they close an oversubscribed €15M Series A, their vision of ultra-realistic plant-based meats is becoming a market reality. This round, led by Planet A Ventures, REWE Group, DTCF | DeepTech & Climate Fonds, Happiness Capital | Certified B Corp, and AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance, alongside returning investors Creandum and our team at FoodLabs, will fuel Project Eaden’s European retail launch – starting with REWE supermarkets in Germany in mid-2025. 🌍 Why this matters: - Climate impact: 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock farming. - Scalability: Their proprietary fiber-spinning technology, inspired by the textile industry, is cheap, versatile, and highly scalable across different meat types. - Consumer-first innovation: Unlike other meat alternatives, Project Eaden’s products match real meat in taste, texture, and nutrition, making the switch effortless. Their first retail product – ultra-realistic #ham – is just the beginning. The team is pushing the boundaries of plant-based whole cuts, backed by Michelin chefs, butchers, and retail buyers. Huge congratulations to Jan Wilmking, Dr. David Schmelzeisen, and the entire PROJECT EADEN team for redefining the future of meat. Proud to have been #seed investor on this journey. Excited for what’s next.

What if your weekend grocery run was replaced with a freshly harvested basket at your door? 🥕🍅 Meet farmit, one of the standout startups nurtured by SEE UP. Co-founded by young visionaries Sava and Lazar, #farmit offers a unique experience: rent your garden, choose the veggies you want to grow, and enjoy weekly deliveries of fresh vegetables. It’s an effortless and innovative way to make healthy eating part of your daily routine. By connecting consumers directly with farmers, farmit ensures a steady income for small producers, helping their hard work find a guaranteed market. This approach not only reduces food waste but also fosters a sustainable agricultural ecosystem. It's a win-win: Consumers get the freshest, home-grown produce, while local farmers receive the consistent support they need to succeed. We're eager to see #farmit take root and cultivate its presence across Europe, with SEE UP nurturing the journey forward. Learn more: www.farmit.rs #SEEUP #Farmit

💰 Chipotle Mexican Grill has doubled its Cultivate Next venture fund to $100M, targeting early-stage investments in food tech The fund focuses on early-stage investments to address key challenges in agriculture, restaurant technology, automation, and supply chain efficiencies. It aligns with Chipotle’s strategy to grow its operations and reach a target of 7,000 restaurants across North America. The fund, established in 2022, has already backed companies like meati™ (mycelium-based protein), Zero Acre Farms (sustainable oils), and Plantible (duckweed-based proteins). According to Chipotle's chief customer and technology officer, Curt Garner, the fund's expansion signals confidence in the selected companies’ potential to enhance experiences for restaurant teams, farmers, and suppliers. Christian Gammill ✉️ Hungry for more updates on the intersection of biotech and agrifood to build a climate-friendly food system? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

AI innovations, acquisitions & sustainability news in Europe 🌍 1️⃣ Purina (Switzerland) opened applications for the 6th cohort of Unleashed (2025), an accelerator program for pet care startups. It aims to champion 10 disruptive pet industry startups worldwide. They are focusing on companies using technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), that are scalable and sustainable. ♻️🎨 2️⃣ The Nutriment Company (Sweden) has acquired PETMAN (Germany, raw pet food; 3rd acquisition) and Pet Treats Wholesale (UK, dog treats/chews; 4th acquisition). 🐶 3️⃣ Partner in Pet Food (PPF) (Hungary) is partnering with Brenmiller Energy, a provider of thermal energy storage solutions, to utilize low-carbon steam in its operations. 🌱 Brenmiller will design, build, own, and operate a 30 MWh bGen™ ZERO system (est. $5M) near PPF’s plant. 🔎 Understanding trends helps businesses stay competitive globally and align with key players driving transformation. 💡 #BSMpartners #nothingisimpossible #BSMeurope #petfoodindustry #AIinnovation #petindustryacquisitions

$25,000 was up for grabs last week as part of the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge from AgriNovus Indiana. This year’s winner is Gripp, a mobile software startup created by CEO Tracey Wiedmeyer and Chief Product Officer Jenkin Lee. “They've built a platform to help farmers with keeping track of things like maintenance records, preventative maintenance timing, helping with employee management and labor management. They can keep up to date and on track with the labor burden, help with understanding what's going on on-farm, and eventually that will drive return on value for the farmer,” says Geoff Zentz, Senior Director of Innovation for AgriNovus Indiana.

🌍 Exciting News in the World of Agriculture! 🌱 We are thrilled to announce our vision for Seedsfy to become the world's largest seed-related e-commerce platform! Imagine a single destination where all seed companies—from local growers to global suppliers—come together to connect, collaborate, and thrive. With Seedsfy, we aim to streamline the seed purchasing process, making it easier for farmers, gardeners, and agricultural businesses to access a vast variety of seeds with just a few clicks. Our platform will not only enhance convenience but also foster innovation and sustainability in agriculture by bringing diverse seed options under one roof. The potential impact is immense! By uniting all seed companies on one platform, we can facilitate better resource sharing, knowledge exchange, and ultimately contribute to food security worldwide. Join us on this journey as we transform how seeds are traded globally. Together, we can cultivate a thriving agricultural community that benefits everyone involved. Are you ready to be part of this revolutionary change? Let’s sow the seeds of success together! 🌱💪 #Seedsfy #Ecommerce #AgricultureInnovation #SustainableFarming

FarMart FarMart, the SaaS-based food supply platform, secures INR 24 crore funding from ResponsAbility Investments, highlighting its commitment to revolutionizing agriculture sustainably. Founded in 2015 by Alekh Sanghera, Mehtab Singh Hans and Lokesh Singh , FarMart bridges the gap between farmers and food businesses, serving over 2,000 manufacturers across six countries. With a focus on sustainability, FarMart optimizes supply chain logistics to reduce food loss and waste. Despite challenges, including FY23 losses, FarMart's resilience and impressive revenue showcase its potential. With ResponsAbility Investments' backing, FarMart aims to expand its impact, driving positive change in the agritech sector and building a more resilient and environmentally conscious food supply chain. #FarMart #AgricultureTechnology #Sustainability #Funding #ResponsAbilityInvestments #SupplyChainLogistics #FoodWasteReduction #AgritechInnovation #Resilience #FutureExpansion #EnvironmentalConsciousness #FoodSecurity #startup55

Agtech Terrantic Clinches $3.5M for Digitized Supply Chain in Oversubscribed Seed Round Seattle-based agtech startup Terrantic, which is digitizing the ag supply chain, has secured $3.5 million in a seed round that was oversubscribed. Led by Supply Change Capital, the round extended other backers including York IE and VITALIZE Venture Capital as well as Array Ventures, the latter of which is an existing investor. Terrantic, which specializes in supply chain data, will direct the proceeds toward advancing its mission to help growers and producers slash food waste while bolstering yields by enhancing supply chain operations, resulting in better quality products from farm to table. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.phubs.li/Q02LxPvW0