Sprout
AcceleratorPalmerston North · Pre-Seed–Seed · 18 people tracked
Also known as Sprout Agritech Accelerator · Sprout Financial Llc
Investment thesis
Sprout backs bold early-stage founders across the agrifood value chain, aiming to transform breakthrough science and ideas into globally scalable startups. It positions itself as an ecosystem catalyst, connecting startups to industry, local to global markets, capital to innovation, and knowledge to action. Through offerings such as Germinate, the Sprout Accelerator, partnerships, and investment, the firm provides early-stage funding and hands-on venture support to help founders build teams and navigate growth. Sprout emphasizes the critical role of global agrifood systems in feeding the world, supporting livelihoods, and sustaining the environment.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 18 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 12 of 15 portfolio companiesAgTech ×6Biotech ×6AI & Machine Learning ×3FoodTech ×3SaaS ×3Climate Tech ×2Consumer ×2Circular Economy ×1
HQs:New Zealand×5
Portfolio companies · 15 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeAIMER offers farm management software focused on pasture and paddock management, aimed at helping farmers save time and improve productivity.
AgTechSaaS
Co-investorsNZVCPacific Channel
Appetise is a meal-planning app that generates recipes and smart shopping lists, letting users shop for ingredients online or in-store at their local supermarket.
ConsumerFoodTechMarketplacesRetail TechSaaS
Elise(Co-Founder)Toby(Co-Founder)
Co-investorsArc AngelsBlack Sheep CapitalIcehouse VenturesNZVCTen13OIF Ventures
Bontia Bio is a synthetic biology company that uses proprietary fermentation technology to create natural bioactive compounds for animal health and agriculture, with its first product targeting fleas and ticks in companion animals.
AgTechBiotechHealthtechWellington, NZ
Co-investorsBooster Innovation Fund
Forever Harvest is a cellular horticulture company that grows fruit and nut cells in controlled environments, developing plant cell lines and growth media to produce custom fruit and nut ingredients for industry partners.
AgTechBiotechFoodTech
Jan Grant(Co-founder & CSO)Mick Riley(Co-founder & CEO)
POP-Labs makes POP-Topper, a daily powdered food-topper supplement for dogs formulated with superfood ingredients to reduce inflammation and support joint, heart, gut, immune, skin, and cognitive health.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsNZ Growth Capital Partners
Rocketspark is a website builder offering drag-and-drop editing, design templates, and custom web design packages, along with an AI content tool called Flint.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaSCambridge, NZ
Sapro-Tech develops biopolymer-based textiles, including a patent-pending leather alternative made from fungi (mycelium) and plant materials that is biodegradable, plastic-free, and animal-free.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials
Co-investorsCreative HQ — The Incubator
Scentian Bio combines synthetic biology and AI to develop biosensors based on synthesized insect odorant receptors, creating a digital sense of smell and taste that can detect and measure the concentration of thousands of compounds.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep Tech
Andrew Králíček(Founder & Chief Technology Officer)Jonathan Good(Chief Executive Officer)Colm Carraher(Chief Scientific Officer)Nikki Lorigan(Chief Financial Officer)
Co-investorsBooster Innovation FundDYDX CapitalToyota Ventures
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesAppetise · bandt.com.au · Feb 20, 2026
Fund performance · per public LP disclosures · 5
as of Sep 2025| Fund | Vintage | Committed | Net IRR | TVPI | DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprout Capital IX, L.P.LPs: Washington State Investment Board, Michigan Municipal Employees' Retirement System, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation | 2000 | — | 5.7% | 1.40x | 1.42x |
| Sprout VIII, L.P.LPs: Washington State Investment Board | 1998 | — | -0.9% | 0.90x | 0.94x |
| Sprout Capital VII, L.P.LPs: Washington State Investment Board, Michigan Municipal Employees' Retirement System | 1995 | — | 21.5% | 2.70x | 2.67x |
| Sprout Growth II, L.P.LPs: North Carolina Retirement Systems | 1993 | — | 15.4% | 1.98x | 1.98x |
| Sprout Capital VI, L.P.LPs: North Carolina Retirement Systems | 1989 | — | 18.5% | 2.16x | 2.16x |
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 Sprout made?
- Sprout has 15 tracked investments.
- What stage does Sprout invest at?
- Sprout invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does Sprout focus on?
- Sprout focuses on AgTech, Biotech, Cleantech, Deep Tech, Fintech, FoodTech, IoT, Marketplaces, Robotics.
- Where is Sprout located?
- Sprout is headquartered in Palmerston North, NZ.
- Who does Sprout co-invest with?
- Sprout most often shares deals with Booster Innovation Fund, NZVC, DYDX Capital, among 10 tracked co-investors.
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