Paine Schwartz Partners
Private equityNew York · Growth · 57 people tracked
Investment thesis
The firm invests in food and agribusiness, operating on the conviction that value creation and sustainability are complementary. Its team specializes in the food and agriculture sector and seeks to drive positive outcomes from a sustainability standpoint, integrating these goals across the firm and its portfolio. The investment thesis centers on the growth and value-creation potential of businesses that help solve global challenges such as food security, climate, and nutrition. The firm frames this focus as naturally aligned with several UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 57 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 18 of 35 portfolio companiesAgTech ×11FoodTech ×8Biotech ×6Consumer ×3Logistics & Supply Chain ×3New Materials ×3Cleantech ×2Enterprise Software ×2
HQs:United States×6Australia×1
Investments · 35 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 22023 · 13 dated
San Diego, US
Jeffrey Church(Executive Officer, Director)Eric Ethans(Director)
BoardDuane Primozich(Director)inSanjeev Mehra(New Director)Rick Hess(Resigning Director)Julian Steinberg(Resigning Director)
Co-investorsBIGR Ventures
Hendrix Genetics is a multi-species animal breeding and genetics company running breeding programs for laying hens, turkeys, traditional poultry, swine, salmon, shrimp, and trout.
AgTechBiotechFoodTech
Co-investorsAccess Venture PartnersAdit Ventures Management, LlcAgilitas Private EquityAlba Infra PartnersALIVE Israel HealthTech FundAlkemi Growth Capital+73 more
AgBiTech develops science-based biological insecticides using Baculovirus/NPV technology to control major crop pests, including insecticide-resistant worms, for row crop farmers.
AgTechBiotechClimate Tech
Mark Kinkema(Vice President of Production)
AgroFresh provides near- and post-harvest quality and freshness products, services, and digital platforms for the fresh produce supply chain, serving growers, packers, and retailers.
AgTechFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainPhiladelphia, US
Mark Zettler(Executive Officer)Stanley Howell(President)Stuart Gleichenhaus(Interim Chief Financial Officer)
BoardMark Ein(Director)Stephen Trevor(Director, Promoter)Macauley Whiting(Director)
Axiota Animal Health develops science-backed nutrition and health products for cattle, serving feedlots, cow/calf and stocker operations, and dairies.
AgTechBiotech
Chex Finer Foods is a specialty and natural food distributor that sources unique brands and provides retailers with category expertise, market insights, and distribution support.
B2B MarketplacesFoodTechLogistics & Supply Chain
Costa Group is an Australian fresh produce company that grows and supplies avocados, berries, bananas, citrus, grapes, mushrooms, and tomatoes to markets in Australia and internationally.
AgTechFoodTech
Crisp is a Dutch online supermarket that sells fresh food ordered through an app and delivered across the Netherlands, buying directly from farmers, bakers, fishers and other producers to shorten the supply chain.
ConsumerE-commerceFoodTechMiami, US
Are Traasdahl(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Eric Klaassen(Founder)inDag Liodden(Director)Tom Peeters(Founder)
BoardRick Heitzmann(Director)
Co-investorsFirstMark CapitalKeen Venture PartnersTarget GlobalBlue Cloud VenturesPrologisWellington Management
Elemental Enzymes develops enzyme, peptide, and biochemistry-based "bio-amplifier" products aimed at improving soil health and plant growth for agricultural growers.
AgTechBiotechNew Materials
Brian Thompson(Executive Officer)
FoodChain ID provides food safety certification, laboratory testing, regulatory compliance software, and product development tools for food and beverage companies.
Enterprise SoftwareFoodTechSaaS
Co-investorsInverness
HGS produces humic substance-based agricultural biologicals in liquid, granule, and low-use-rate powder formulations designed for growers to tank mix or apply to soil.
AgTechNew Materials
Kynetec conducts market research and data analytics for the agriculture and animal health industries, drawing on surveys of farmers, veterinarians, pet owners, and key opinion leaders.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningData & Infrastructure
Lucky Beverage Company produces beverages with a focus on authentic storytelling and resilience-oriented branding.
Consumer
Co-investors359 CapitalDMG VenturesImaginary Venture CapitalInvestBevMaveronBrand Foundry Ventures+4 more
Lyons Magnus manufactures food products and ingredients for the foodservice and ingredient industries, serving restaurant and food brands in the United States.
Advanced ManufacturingConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsTruelink CapitalWP Global Partners
Rivulis provides micro irrigation solutions, including drip and sub-surface drip irrigation systems, for row, field, orchard, and vineyard crops.
AgTechCleantech
Co-investorsFIMI Opportunity Funds
Scanbio develops supply chain management solutions focused on business efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Circular EconomyEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply Chain
Sterilex develops antimicrobial sanitation chemicals for biofilm removal and microbial control, serving industries such as food processing, animal health, life sciences, and water treatment.
BiotechCleantechFoodTechHunt Valley, US
Co-investorsSun Capital Partners
Verdesian Life Sciences develops nutrient use efficiency (NUE) technologies—including fertilizer enhancers, biologicals, biostimulants, and seed treatments—that help crops absorb and use nutrients more effectively to improve yield, soil health, and return on input.
AgTechBiotechNew Materials
Co-investorsAea Investors
Verisem is a global producer and breeder of vegetable, legume, and herb seeds, with in-house contracted production.
AgTech
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioSuja LifeNASDAQ: SUJA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesLyons · 4ni.co.uk · Aug 6, 2026
Crisp · alleywatch.com · Dec 19, 2025
Lucky Energy · finsmes.com · Nov 12, 2025
Fund performance · per public LP disclosures · 4
as of Dec 2025| Fund | Vintage | Committed | Net IRR | TVPI | DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund VILPs: Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, Minnesota State Board of Investment, District of Columbia Retirement Board +1 more | 2022 | — | 9.9% | 1.20x | 0.11x |
| PAINE SCHWARTZ FOOD CHAIN FUND V LPLPs: Minnesota State Board of Investment, Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island, Maine Public Employees Retirement System +2 more | 2019 | — | 15.9% | 1.51x | 0.43x |
| Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund V PELPs: Maine Public Employees Retirement System | 2018 | — | — | 1.06x | 0.08x |
| Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund IV, L.P.LPs: Minnesota State Board of Investment, Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island | 2015 | — | 6.3% | 1.42x | 0.50x |
Source: public limited-partner disclosures (CalPERS, CalSTRS). Net IRR / TVPI / DPI as reported by the limited partner; a fund's early-year IRR is an interim estimate (J-curve).
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Paine Schwartz Partners made?
- Paine Schwartz Partners has 33 tracked investments.
- What stage does Paine Schwartz Partners invest at?
- Paine Schwartz Partners invests at the Growth stage.
- What is Paine Schwartz Partners's typical check size?
- Paine Schwartz Partners typically writes checks of $50M – $300M.
- What sectors does Paine Schwartz Partners focus on?
- Paine Schwartz Partners focuses on AgTech, FoodTech.
- Where is Paine Schwartz Partners located?
- Paine Schwartz Partners is headquartered in New York, US.
- Does Paine Schwartz Partners lead rounds?
- Yes, Paine Schwartz Partners leads investment rounds.
- Who does Paine Schwartz Partners co-invest with?
- Paine Schwartz Partners most often shares deals with Aea Investors, FIMI Opportunity Funds, Inverness, among 6 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamLeaders on a Mission - Dexter Paine, Chairman & Co-Founder of Paine Schwartz Partners, Episode 3 - YouTube
Leaders on a Mission · Dexter Paine
Images
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