Big Idea Ventures
AcceleratorNew York · Pre-Seed–Seed · 15 people tracked
Investment thesis
Big Idea Ventures supports entrepreneurs and innovators addressing global challenges, with a specific focus on food system transformation. The firm provides both capital and deep operational support through its accelerator program, combining $125K in cash and $75K in in-kind services (such as mentorship from food scientists and scaling experts) to help alternative protein and food tech companies overcome early-stage hurdles in product development, production scaling, distribution, and fundraising.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 5, 2026.
Team · 15 people
from the firm's website & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 84 of 178 portfolio companiesFoodTech ×69Biotech ×42Climate Tech ×23Consumer ×16New Materials ×14Direct to Consumer ×11Cleantech ×9Circular Economy ×8
HQs:United States×15United Kingdom×5Singapore×4Spain×2France×2India×2
Portfolio companies · 178 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeBy year:2021 · 32020 · 12018 · 15 dated
BioBlends develops biopreservation products that use volatile organic compounds from beneficial bacteria, combined with bioinformatics and experimental validation, to control preservative-resistant microorganisms and fungal contamination in food.
BiotechCleantechFoodTech
Co-investorsGRIDX
BioBond is a materials technology company developing plant-based, low-VOC adhesives and protective coatings for industries including packaging, construction, automotive, textiles, furniture, marine, and aerospace.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechNew Materials
Co-investorsGeneration Food Rural Partners
BioCloak develops fully biodegradable bio-based encapsulation and coating technologies to replace petroleum-based polymers used for the controlled release of pesticides, fertilizers, and nutrients.
AgTechBiotechNew Materials
Paul Bially(CEO)
Co-investorsGeneration Food Rural Partners
PlantSustain develops biological crop inputs using naturally symbiotic bacteria and fungi to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides, aiming to improve plant health, resilience, and nutrient uptake for farmers.
AgTechBiotechFoodTech
Simon Hill(CEO)
Co-investorsGeneration Food Rural Partners
Pullulo upcycles agricultural waste into plant-based ingredients and natural biomaterials using proprietary technology platforms, targeting applications in beauty, nutrition, and health.
Circular EconomyFoodTechNew Materials
Jonathan Cheng(Founder)
Actual Veggies makes plant-based veggie burger patties from whole vegetables and clean ingredients, sold directly to consumers online.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsAzure Ventures Group
Angie's Tempeh makes handmade organic tempeh in flavors such as soybean, chickpea, buckwheat, and quinoa, along with tempeh chips and specialty products, sold direct to consumers.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech
Nutropy uses precision fermentation with engineered microorganisms to produce animal-free milk proteins (bioidentical casein), which it blends with plant-based fats and lactose-free sugars into a ready-to-use milk solution for cheesemaking.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTechÉvry, FR
Co-investorsBeast VenturesBig Pi Ventures
Another Food develops cell-cultured coffee, producing coffee from cultivated coffee plant cells in a lab rather than growing beans on farms.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Creates whole-muscle cut seafood alternatives including calamari, shrimp, scallops, and tuna.
Chicago, US
Anne Palermo(Executive Officer, Director)Brittany Chibe(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJohnny Ream(Director)
Co-investorsKickstart InnovationStray Dog CapitalSustainable Food VenturesAera VCHyde Park AngelsSUPPLY CHANGE CAPITAL
Bayou Best Foods makes a plant-based shrimp alternative that is vegan, shellfish-free, and free from the top 9 allergens, designed to match the taste and texture of ocean shrimp.
ConsumerFoodTech
Biftek develops a microorganism-based growth medium supplement for cultured meat production, offering a lower-cost alternative to fetal bovine serum.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsStartersHub
Black Sheep Foods develops protein substrates and ingredients for hybrid and plant-based food products, sold to food manufacturers, meat processors, retailers, and plant-based brands as private-label and white-label solutions.
AgTechFoodTechSan Francisco, US
Sunny Kumar(Executive Officer, Director)Ismael Montanez(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardRobert Leclerc(Director)in
Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersJuniperPortfoliaSiddhi CapitalSprint VcUnovis Asset Management+1 more
Bright Biotech produces recombinant proteins, including growth factors, by expressing them in plant chloroplasts.
BiotechLongevityNew Materials
Co-investorsFoodLabs
Co-investorsGarage Capital
Aircassie develops air filtration technology for indoor air quality using light-based methods.
CleantechClimate TechHardwareIoTVirginia Beach, US
Co-investorsLighthouse Network Ventures LlcTechstars
Cosaic develops a food ingredient called Cosaic Neo designed to improve creaminess, mask protein off-notes, provide natural whitening, and replace additives while extending product stability and emulsification.
BiotechFoodTech
Co-investorsBlue Horizon CorporationSustainable Food VenturesKickfund
De Novo Food Labs produces nature-identical bovine lactoferrin (branded NanoFerrin) using precision fermentation instead of dairy extraction, offering customizable iron saturation, purity, and sequence identity per batch.
BiotechFoodTechNew Materials
Co-investorsSiddhi CapitalSustainable Food VenturesUM6P Ventures
KARANA makes plant-forward food products from regeneratively farmed jackfruit, including neutrally flavored minced/ground jackfruit that can be used as a plant-based alternative in ground meat dishes.
AgTechFoodTech
Co-investorsUntroD Capital
Advanced ManufacturingTualatin, US
ROBERT SHINGLER(Director)STEVE R HUNT(Director)ROBERT TOWNSEND(Director)SCOTT HEIM(Executive Officer, Director)SCADDEN JOHN(Executive Officer)W LOWELL MORSE(Director)
Co-investorsBetter CapitalSustainable Food VenturesTechOperators Venture Capital
Extracellular is a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for animal and plant cell technologies in non-health biotech, offering R&D, regulatory support, and scale-up and contract manufacturing services.
BiotechFoodTechNew Materials
Co-investorsFFFNewland SyndicateUnruly CapitalFuture Food Fund
Fattastic Technologies, founded in 2022, develops plant-based fat ingredients for use in food and other applications.
BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTechNew MaterialsBengaluru, IN
Satnam Singh(Cofounder)in
Co-investorsBetter Bite VenturesEntrepreneur First
Food² is a B2B food tech company developing plant-based shellfish products, starting with plant-based shrimp.
Climate TechFoodTechImpact & Social Good
Fybraworks Foods develops technology to produce synthetic (cultured) meat aimed at more sustainable and humane food production.
BiotechFoodTech
Advanced ManufacturingMinneapolis, US
Chenfeng Lu(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Wenjie Liu(Director, Promoter)Huan Xia(Director, Promoter)
Gathered Foods makes plant-based food products, positioning its brands around vegan eating, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningConsumerFoodTechImpact & Social GoodHeath, US
William Chris Kerr(Executive Officer, Director)Chad Sarno(Director)Mark Langley(Executive Officer)Christine A. Mei(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardCourtney Reum(Director)Charles Laue(Director)in
Co-investorsBlue Horizon CorporationSiddhi CapitalStray Dog CapitalUnovis Asset ManagementCPT CapitalNew Crop Capital+2 more
Genesea develops a zero-waste, low-energy biorefinery supply chain that produces food ingredients such as proteins from offshore-cultivated marine macroalgae (seaweed), aiming to provide a sustainable alternative to soy-based ingredients for the food industry.
CleantechFoodTechNew Materials
Alexander Golberg(Professor / Co-founder)
Gourmey produces cultivated meat, with its first product being a lab-grown foie gras aimed at fine-dining chefs and restaurants.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsAir Street CapitalEmblemJoyance PartnersKeen Venture PartnersHeartcore CapitalPoint Nine
Harmony Baby Nutrition develops hypoallergenic, human milk–inspired formula for infants and toddlers with cow's milk protein allergy or sensitivities, using hydrolyzed whey protein, lactose, and HMOs.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Del Afonso(Founder)in
Co-investorsBrincMassVenturesPortfoliaSafar PartnersTheVentureCity
Harvest Moon is developing animal-free dairy products that aim to match conventional dairy while being lactose- and cholesterol-free, lower in sugar, and higher in nutrition.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsOyster Bay Venture Capital
ImpacFat develops stem-cell based omega-3 fish fat technology as a cultivated, sustainable alternative for the food industry.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTechSingapore, SG
Shigeki(Founder & Managing Director)
Co-investorsX-HUB TOKYO Global Startup Accelerator
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Innocent Meat develops an automated "plug-and-produce" system that lets meat processors produce cultured (lab-grown) meat in-house instead of relying on conventional animal agriculture.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsGENIUS Venture Capital
Jellatech uses cellular agriculture to produce functional, native collagen without animals.
BiotechFoodTechNew MaterialsRaleigh, US
Stephanie Michelsen(Executive Officer, Director)Peter Andersen(Director)
BoardRyan Bethencourt(Director)in
Co-investorsBluestein VenturesSiddhi CapitalSustainable Food Ventures
A brand offering kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) milk, with regional storefronts for Japan, Korea, and the rest of the world.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Esencia Foods (now KULT FARM) uses mycelium solid-state fermentation with legumes to make vegan meat, fish, and hybrid meat products such as mince, chunks, and slices with clean labels.
AgTechBiotechClimate TechFoodTechBerlin, DE
Hendrik Kaye(Cofounder)inBruno Scocozza(CTO)in
Co-investorsEntrepreneur First
Central Otago food innovation company producing fruit-forward, allergen-friendly desserts using upcycled orchard produce.
Co-investorsInvest South
Liven develops animal-free protein ingredients using synthetic biology and precision fermentation, growing engineered microorganisms on food-industry side streams and lost food.
BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTech
Fei Luo(Co-founder)Pratish Gawand(Co-founder)
Co-investorsStrategxy Ventures LLC
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Luyef uses biotechnology, including precision fermentation and cell-based methods, to produce animal compounds such as recombinant proteins (bovine myoglobin, collagen, growth factors) and cultivated meat components directly from cell cultures.
BiotechDeep TechFoodTech
Co-investorsGanesha LabSustainable Food Ventures
Santiago
Kris Elliot Blanchard Tapia(Executive Officer, Director)
Lypid develops PhytoFat, a plant-based fat made from plant oils and fiber that reduces fat and calories while retaining rich mouthfeel and flavor.
FoodTech
Co-investorsAVA AngelsGGFGreen Generation FundTet Ventures
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
MeliBio is a California-based biotech company that develops plant-based honey alternatives using proprietary plant-science technology to replace commercial honeybees, addressing food security and supply chain challenges while supporting native pollinator biodiversity.
AgTechBiotechFoodTechSan Francisco, US
Darko Mandich(Co-Founder & CEO)Dr. Aaron Schaller(Co-Founder & CTO)
Co-investorsCollaborative FundJoyance PartnersJuniperSustainable Food VenturesSiddhi Capital
Mewery is a foodtech venture developing cultivated meat with the stated aims of helping animals and the planet and changing how meat is produced and consumed.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Roman Lauš(Founder)
Co-investorsVesna AdvisorsCredo Ventures
MOA Food Tech develops sustainable food ingredients.
BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTechNoáin, ES
Co-investorsBStartupSwanlaab Venture FactoryEICIcos Capital
The Mushroom Meat Co. makes mushroom-based whole-food products designed to mimic meat items like steak tips, ground beef, and pulled pork.
ConsumerFoodTech
Mycosortia produces climate-resilient cocoa alternatives using proprietary microbial consortia and an AI-driven biotransformation process (AuroGenesis) to mimic regional cocoa flavor profiles.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Naturannova uses a computational platform combining AI and bioinformatics to design novel plant-based protein and peptide ingredients that modulate flavor, then produces them via precision fermentation using microorganisms.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechFoodTech
Juan Duarte(CEO)Sebastián Mustafa(CSO)Antonella De Lazzari(CBO)Fabián Gonzalez(CTO)
Co-investorsGRIDX
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
New Wave Biotech offers Bioprocess Foresight, software that simulates downstream bioprocessing scenarios to predict yield, unit economics, and sustainability impact, reducing the number of physical experiments needed.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechSaaS
Co-investorsBlue Horizon Corporation
Nexture Bio develops the Doselet, a plant-based dissolvable nanofiber patch for oral nutraceutical delivery, applied to the inner cheek.
BiotechNew MaterialsWellness & Fitness
Novel Farms produces lab-grown (cultivated) animal-cell ingredients aimed at replicating the protein, flavor, and aroma of conventional animal products for the food industry.
BiotechFoodTech
Co-investorsSocial StartsSustainable Food Ventures
Produces milk proteins identical to those found in cow's milk to create premium French cheeses.
Co-investorsBeast VenturesBig Pi Ventures
Opalia produces cell-based milk made from cow mammary cells cultivated in bioreactors, using a proprietary continuous lactation process to create dairy products without cows.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsSustainable Food VenturesUCeed FundsBoxOne VenturesMaRS
Scalable cell-cultured premium beef that is delicious and sustainable
Co-investorsBrincThe Venture Collective
Orbillion Bio develops cultivated beef using computational optimization and proprietary bioprocess controls to achieve cost-competitive production at scale without genetic modification or expensive growth factors.
Advanced ManufacturingClimate TechSan Francisco, US
Patricia Bubner(Founder)in
Co-investorsAt One VenturesBeresford VenturesEarth Venture CapitalMetaplanetVentureSouqY Combinator+3 more
Norwalk, US
Patricia Trongone(Executive Officer)Gil Kerman(Executive Officer)
Perfat is a Finnish lipid technology company that develops plant-based fats using oleogel technology to replace highly saturated fats like palm oil and dairy butter.
Climate TechFoodTechNew Materials
Jyrki Lee-Korhonen(CEO & Co-founder)
Co-investorsNordic Science Investments
PFx Biotech develops alternative protein products aimed at meeting high nutritional standards and offering health-promoting properties.
BiotechFoodTechHealthtech
Co-investorsBeta Capital
Phyx44 designs novel proteins engineered for food applications using precision fermentation and protein engineering, serving food manufacturers seeking specific taste, texture, and nutritional functionality.
BiotechDeep TechFoodTech
Co-investorsBetter Bite VenturesIdeaspring CapitalAvaana Capital
Kiki is a plant-based milk brand focused on nutritional benefits and low environmental impact through its ingredients, sourcing, and partnerships.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsSpringbankThe Fund
Pleese Foods offers a pizza product, with materials indicating restaurant applications.
ConsumerFoodTech
Retü develops mi-biotics, a clean-label, dairy-free fermented multi-millet probiotic gut shot based on a patented millet matrix, offered in fruit flavors such as mango and lychee.
ConsumerFoodTechWellness & FitnessCoimbatore, IN
Ritu(Founder & Inventor)Lavindra de Silva(Chief Business Officer)in
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Seprify produces functional cellulose-based ingredients from renewable plant resources for industrial applications, offering biodegradable cellulose particles that serve as lower-carbon alternatives to conventional materials such as titanium dioxide.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials
Co-investorsKickfund
Shiok Meats grows shrimp and other seafood through cellular agriculture, cultivating animal tissue in laboratories rather than harvesting from wild or farmed sources.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTechHealthtechSingapore, SG
Ling Ka Yi(Founder)inSandhya Sriram(Founder)in
Co-investorsEntrepreneur FirstSustainable Food VenturesY CombinatorSEEDS Capital
New York, US
Ben Pasternak(Executive Officer, Director)Joseph Schirripa(Director)Samuel Terris(Executive Officer)
BoardAlexis Ohanian(Director)in
Co-investorsK2 GlobalMaC Venture CapitalSummit Peak VenturesToba CapitalRainfall VenturesSeven Seven Six
Smart MCs develops biomaterials for cell bioproduction, including xeno-free extracellular matrix hydrogels, microcarriers, and microfluidic solutions used for tissue modeling, spheroid generation, wound healing, cell sorting, and droplet generation.
BiotechFoodTechNew Materials
Standing Ovation is a French protein company that uses precision fermentation to produce non-animal proteins such as casein (its patented Advanced Casein) and Tertia Protein, a single-cell protein for animal nutrition.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsAstanor VenturesPeakBridge VC
TerraSafe is a material innovation platform developing plastic-free barrier packaging by combining natural materials into advanced packaging formats.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsYoungsville, US
The page lists popular films, TV series, variety shows, anime, and comics along with viewer ratings, presented in Chinese.
Media & Entertainment
The company makes VERY AQUAFABA, a plant-based egg alternative derived from chickpea cooking water, sold in liquid and powder formats for whipping, binding, and emulsifying in meringues, baked goods, sauces, and cocktails.
FoodTech
Co-investorsSustainable Food Ventures
Umami United develops shelf-stable, plant-based egg replacement ingredients for food manufacturers, including a binder product for industrial baking that provides binding, water retention, and shape retention.
FoodTech
Co-investorsBeyond Next Venturesmint VCGenesia Ventures
Wild Earth manufactures plant-based dog food formulated to meet nutritional standards while reducing environmental impact compared to traditional meat-based pet food.
Circular EconomyConsumerFoodTechHealthtech
Co-investorsAt One VenturesBabel VenturesCivilization Ventures Management, LlcMaC Venture CapitalOssian CapitalSimon Capital+2 more
WildBio operates a biobank of primary cell lines derived from African wildlife species, offering cryopreserved cell lines (CellRanch) for use in cultivated meat, biomedical research, cosmetics, and textiles.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Jill Schriewer(CEO/CSO, Director)Morrison Smit(CFO, Director)
Yeastime develops ultrasound-based (bioacoustics) technology to accelerate and improve fermentation processes, offering non-invasive plug-and-play devices and a remote management platform to industrial fermentation customers.
BiotechCleantechFoodTech
Yofi makes plant-based drink alternatives designed to accompany coffee, matcha and hot beverages, with lactose-free and gluten-free (on request) recipes aimed at baristas.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Exits · 2
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioPortfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesEvo · stocktitan.net · Aug 18, 2026
Cassie · muskokaradio.com · Jun 23, 2026
MOA Foodtech · agfundernews.com · Apr 22, 2026
Orbillion Bio · foodnavigator-usa.com · Feb 18, 2026
MeliBio · greenqueen.com.hk · May 28, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Big Idea Ventures made?
- Big Idea Ventures has 113 tracked investments, 2 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO.
- What stage does Big Idea Ventures invest at?
- Big Idea Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Big Idea Ventures's typical check size?
- Big Idea Ventures typically writes checks of $125K – $2.5M.
- What sectors does Big Idea Ventures focus on?
- Big Idea Ventures focuses on AgTech, Biotech, Climate Tech, Direct to Consumer, FoodTech, New Materials.
- Where is Big Idea Ventures located?
- Big Idea Ventures is headquartered in New York, US.
- Does Big Idea Ventures lead rounds?
- Big Idea Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Big Idea Ventures co-invest with?
- Big Idea Ventures most often shares deals with Sustainable Food Ventures, Joyance Partners, Siddhi Capital, among 41 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channelAndrew D. Ive of BIV Interviews Sofia Bonilla from Alt-Pro Advantage on Pet Food Program Experience
Big Idea Ventures
Episode #52 Andrew speaks with Genuine Taste about the future of cultivated meat
Big Idea Ventures
Episode #53: Algrow Biosciences - How to unlock the potential of algal protein for alt-dairy!
Big Idea Ventures
Episode #35: De Novo Dairy - advancements in alternative dairy products!
Big Idea Ventures
Episode#49: Extracellular: channels biology, digitalization & biomanufacturing for cultivated meats!
Big Idea Ventures
Episode #50: Thrilling Foods: Revolutionizing plant-based bacon!
Big Idea Ventures
Co-investors · 25
Blue Horizon Corporation is an investment firm focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable food system, aiming to deliver strong returns for people and the planet.
At One Ventures is a venture capital firm backing technical founders building hardware and physical-technology businesses aimed at displacing existing industries.
Beast invests in early-stage engineering and applied science technology companies across the UK and Continental Europe, with a focus on deep frontier technologies that address health, climate, or societal impact.
Point Nine is an early-stage venture capital firm that has operated for nearly 15 years, emphasizing focus over scale.
Social Starts is a group of early-stage venture funds that applies a data-driven, analytics-based methodology to identify and back promising companies in high-potential segments. Its current fund, Social Starts Health and Happiness, targets startups focused on helping people live longer and better.
Heartcore Capital is an early-stage venture firm backing European founders from inception through Series A, with a dedicated practice investing in Web3 protocols.
Collaborative Fund is a venture capital firm that backs entrepreneurs building category- and culture-defining brands, products, and services across consumer, health, energy, and access-to-capital themes.
Astanor Ventures is an impact-focused investment firm dedicated to transforming the agrifood system by backing innovation across the value chain from 'soil and sea to gut'.
Credo Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on backing founders from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and its global diaspora, active since 2009.
Better Capital is an India-focused early-stage venture investor backing startups across sectors including consumer, mobility, fintech, edtech, ecommerce and gaming.
Air Street Capital is a venture capital firm that backs AI-first companies, typically investing at the earliest stages.
Babel Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on consumer biotech investments, frequently acting as the first VC investor in its portfolio companies.
▶13 more co-investors
New Enterprise Associates (NEA)Alumni VenturesEverywhere VenturesSOSVMayfield FundPartech VenturesPioneerAwesome People VenturesPeak XV PartnersMakers FundEvolution VC PartnersByld VenturesMandi Ventures
Firms observed investing alongside Big Idea Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Big Idea Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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