🦊/Investors

Sustainable Food Ventures

Venture capital

Seattle · Pre-Seed–Series A · 2 people tracked

Find your way into Sustainable Food Ventures

1,431 people in our graph share verified history with the Sustainable Food Ventures team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Anthony Philippakisunlockedknows Ryan Bethencourt · together at Yale University (overlapped)
×2knows the team · via University of California, Berkeley
×3knows the team · via University of Cambridge
knows the team · via TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology
×2knows the team · via Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals
knows the team · via Stockholm University
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Investment thesis

SFV invests at the early stage in food and biotech startups, with a track record of backing sustainable and alternative food companies including cultivated meat, plant-based, and bio-based ingredient ventures. The firm's approach draws on its Managing Partner's experience as an accelerator program director and prolific early-stage investor across the food-tech and biotech ecosystem, having been an early backer of companies pioneering new approaches to protein and food production.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Series A
HQ
Seattle, North Carolina, US
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2017
Tracked investments
66
Acquisitions
2

Team · 2 people

from the firm's website

Founder mafia

3 people who came through Sustainable Food Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 45 of 66 portfolio companies

FoodTech ×40Consumer ×22Biotech ×20Direct to Consumer ×11Climate Tech ×6Wellness & Fitness ×6AgTech ×5AI & Machine Learning ×4

HQs:United States×14Chile×1United Kingdom×1Ghana×1Indonesia×1India×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 21 portfolio companies
62%
solo founders
13 of 21 mapped founding teams
37%
repeat founders
of 19 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×132 founders×8

Where their founders studiedfrom 20 founders with education data

Princeton University ×2Rutgers University ×2

What their founders studiedfrom 20 founders with field-of-study data

Life Sciences ×7Business & Management ×5Humanities ×3Politics & Policy ×3Engineering ×2Medicine ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 19 founders with career history

Evo Foods ×2SourceGreenPackaging.com ×2

7 founders hold a PhD · 3 hold an MBA (of 20 with degree data)

Investments · 66 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2025 · 12022 · 22021 · 42018 · 18 dated

AcreMadeacremade.comin

AcreMade Substitute is a plant-based egg substitute powder that enables allergen-free cooking and baking for both home and food service use.

ConsumerFoodTech

Anotherfoodanotherfood.coin

Another Food develops cell-cultured coffee, producing coffee from cultivated coffee plant cells in a lab rather than growing beans on farms.

BiotechClimate TechFoodTech

Stéphane Chéen(CEO)

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

AquaCultured Foodsaquaculturedfoods.comin

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)in

Co-investorsKickstart InnovationService Provider CapitalStray Dog CapitalAera VCBig Idea VenturesHyde Park Angels+1 more

Atlantic Fishatlanticfish.coSep 2025

Atlantic Fish develops bioengineering solutions, likely focusing on cellular agriculture or aquaculture applications based on team expertise in cell line development and bioprocess engineering.

BiotechClimate TechFoodTechWashington, Dc, US

Doug Grant(CEO)Trevor Ham(Chief Science Officer)inFrederick Douglas Grant(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsAlwyn CapitalIDEA NC

Blackbird Foodsblackbirdfoods.comin

Blackbird Foods makes plant-based foods including seitan, crispy tofu, battered wings, and frozen pizza, sold direct to consumers via shipping.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechLong Island City, US

Emanuel Storch(Executive Officer, Director)inYaqi Gao Grover(Director)Craig Cochran(Director)Mark Mebus(Director)

BoardNick Cooney(Director)in

Co-investorsLever VCWefunder

Caculturedcacultured.comin

California Cultured uses plant cell culture technology to produce cocoa and chocolate without traditional farming, aiming to address sustainability and ethical concerns in cocoa supply.

AgTechBiotechClimate TechFoodTech

Alan Perlstein(CEO)inHarrison Yoon(Co-Founder)inDebbie Neumann(COO)inSteven Stearns(Head of Strategy)in

Co-investorsAble PartnersAgronomicsBlue Horizon CorporationJuniperStray Dog Capital

Cultivatedcultivated.bioin

Cultivated develops Cosaic Neo, a multipurpose food ingredient that combines texture, nutrition, and clean-label properties for beverage and food manufacturers.

BiotechFoodTech

Co-investorsBig Idea VenturesBlue Horizon CorporationAgronomicsInvest-NLKickfund

De Novo Foodlabsdenovofoodlabs.comin

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 MaterialsDurham, US

Jean Louwrens(Founder)in

Co-investorsBig Idea VenturesSiddhi CapitalUM6P VenturesJoyful Ventures

Demolishfoodsdemolishfoods.comin

Demolish Foods develops plant-based meat alternatives designed to match the appearance, cooking behavior, texture, and taste of traditional meat, with a focus on improved nutrition such as high protein, low fat, and low sodium.

ConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsAlwyn Capital

Eggegg.liveinApr 2021

Egg offers synchronous "LIVE" training sessions and an AI-driven platform that assembles and guides teams to work on real business challenges, automate recurring tasks with AI agents, and measure team cooperation in real time.

AI & Machine LearningEdTechFuture of Work

Co-investorsAIR CapitalBetter CapitalBloom8Kale UnitedMcWin Capital PartnersSOSV+1 more

Evoevofoods.inJun 2018

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 CapitalBig Idea VenturesEast VenturesTechOperators Venture Capital

FARMLESSfarmless.com

Farmless uses fermentation with microbes and renewable energy to produce proteins without relying on agricultural land.

BiotechClimate TechFoodTech

Co-investorsReventVorwerk VenturesWorld FundHV Capital

FORKS OVER KNIVESforksoverknives.com

Forks Over Knives is a media and content brand focused on whole-food, plant-based living, offering recipes, health articles, a magazine, and a documentary film.

ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentWellness & Fitness

Co-investorsGATHER VENTURES

Geltorgeltor.comin𝕏

Geltor uses a proprietary biodesign and precision fermentation platform to create and commercially produce novel protein ingredients, including collagens, for beauty and personal care formulators.

BiotechFoodTechNew MaterialsWellness & Fitness

Alexander Lorestani(Founder)inNick Ouzounov(Co-founder)in

Co-investorsAgronomicsAlwyn CapitalArgonautic VenturesBaruch Future VenturesBlue Horizon CorporationCavallo Ventures+14 more

Goodmylkgoodmylk.coSep 2021

Goodmylk makes plant-based milk products, including almond milk, formulated without preservatives or gums.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Brooke Rewa(Founder)

Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Connetic VenturesGreen Circle Foodtech VenturesHalogen Ventures Management Company LlcRareBreed VenturesThe Artemis Fund

Goodmylkgoodmylk.inSep 2021

Nourish You promotes quick, superfood-based smoothies and health products, encouraging a community-driven approach to nutrition through campaigns like its smoothie challenge.

ConsumerFoodTechWellness & Fitness

Grainlyfoodsgrainlyfoods.com

Grainly Foods is a Swedish food producer that makes dehydrated, plant-based meals packaged in compostable pouches, with recipes inspired by Nordic cuisine.

Circular EconomyConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechImpact & Social GoodDurham, US

Liudas

High Time Foodshightimefoods.comin

High Time Foods produces traditional Indian snacks (tikki, samosa, momo) formulated with increased protein content, addressing nutritional accessibility for the Indian market.

FoodTechHealthtechWellness & FitnessCambridge, US

Co-investorsTBD AngelsTechstarsAvaana CapitalBabel Ventures

Hoxton Farmshoxtonfarms.comin𝕏

Hoxton Farms grows cultivated fat, a biomanufactured ingredient for food companies to use in plant-based and alternative meat products.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechFoodTechLondon, GB

Vítor Espírito Santo(Chief Scientific Officer)in

Co-investorsBackedCollaborative FundEarth Venture CapitalFine Structures VenturesForm VenturesGlobal Brain+4 more

Incrediblespoonincrediblespoon.com

Incredible Spoon makes edible, biodegradable spoons made from a blend of wheat, oats, corn, chickpeas, and brown rice, intended as a replacement for disposable utensils with warm meals or cold treats.

Circular EconomyConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

Jellatechjellatech.cominApr 2021 · $2M

Jellatech uses cellular agriculture to produce functional, native collagen without animals.

BiotechFoodTechNew MaterialsRaleigh, US

Stephanie Michelsen(Executive Officer, Director)inPeter Andersen(Director)

BoardRyan Bethencourt(Director)in

Co-investorsBig Idea VenturesBluestein VenturesbyFoundersSiddhi Capital

Kynda Biotechkyndatech.comin

KYNDA is a B2B technology company that uses submerged fungal fermentation to upcycle food and agricultural sidestreams into protein-rich mycelium ingredients.

BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTech

Daniel MacGowan von HolsteininFranziskus Schnabel(COO)in

Co-investorsEnjoyventure ManagementFoodLabs

Luyefluyef.comin

Luyef develops precision fermentation and cell-based technologies to produce animal-derived products for food, biomedicine, and cosmetics without factory farming or environmental impact.

BiotechDeep TechFoodTechImpact & Social Good

Co-investorsGanesha LabBig Idea Ventures

Matifoodsmatifoods.euin

Mati makes plant-based meat alternatives such as a chicken substitute made from mycelium (mushroom root structure) grown through fermentation, high in protein and fiber.

BiotechConsumerFoodTech

Meatless Kingdommeatlesskingdom.com

Meatless Kingdom is a food technology company that makes mushroom- and plant-based meat alternatives, using shiitake mushrooms and soy to create halal- and vegan-friendly products modeled on Indonesian dishes.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

MeliBiomelibio.comacquired by FoodYoung Labs

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-investorsBig Idea VenturesCollaborative FundJoyance PartnersJuniperAstanor VenturesBabel Ventures+1 more

Mergulomergulo.com

Mergulo produces a plant-based butter alternative designed to replicate the taste and functionality of traditional dairy butter while offering environmental and health benefits.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Mairi Hilleary(Founder)in

Mogalemeatmogalemeat.com

This site is an affiliate review and guide hub for "Tower Rush," an online crash/casino game by Galaxsys, targeting real-money gamblers in the Philippines.

GamingMedia & Entertainment

Mushlovemushlove.co

Mushlove is a mushroom-focused brand centered on fungi and their benefits for individuals and communities.

ConsumerWellness & Fitness

Myodenovomyodenovo.comDec 2022

Myodenovo cultivates lab-grown meat, using scaffolds and bioreactors to produce premium cuts such as filet mignon without slaughtering animals.

BiotechFoodTechRaleigh, US

George Engelmayr(President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director)

Newbreedmeatsnewbreedmeats.com

New Breed makes plant-based meat alternatives from a blend of pea, brown rice, and algae, positioned as a lower-saturated-fat protein source.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

Newform Foodsnewformfoods.comin

Newform Foods is a South African food technology company focused on food and biotech research, including cultivated meat and agri-innovation.

AgTechBiotechFoodTech

Co-investorsAnza CapitalBrincMadica

Novel Farmsnovelfarms.coin

Novel Farms develops proprietary cell lines and growth media for cultivated meat and biopharmaceutical applications, offering serum-free and low-serum chicken cell cultures along with porcine fibroblasts sourced from heritage breeds.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechFoodTechBerkeley, US

Michelle Lu(Founder & Chief Executive Officer)Nadja Heine(Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer)

Co-investorsSocial StartsBig Idea Ventures

Opaliafoodsopaliafoods.comin𝕏

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-investorsUCeed FundsBig Idea VenturesBoxOne VenturesMaRS

Peruvianveefperuvianveef.comin

Peruvian Veef is a plant-based food company offering seitan and other meat alternatives for direct consumer purchase.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech

Planeatplaneat.pl

Planeat is a Polish online store offering meal and diet catering, ordered and delivered through its e-commerce shop.

ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech

Prose Foodsprosefoods.comin

Reimagining how we source, produce and experience food

Dylan Nugent(Founder)in

Co-investorsJuniperNext VenturesOverwater Ventures Llc

Renegadefoodsrenegadefoods.com

Renegade Foods makes plant-based artisan vegan salami in a range of European-inspired flavors, sold as sliced products and individual salami sticks.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsNew Climate Ventures

Retufoodsretufoods.comin

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)Dr. Ritu Chhatwal(Founder, Retü Foods · Inventor of mi-biotics™)inLavindra de Silva(Chief Business Officer)in

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

Shiok Meatsshiokmeats.comin𝕏Acquired

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-investorsBig Idea VenturesEntrepreneur FirstY CombinatorAndreessen HorowitzSEEDS Capital

Sobofoodssobofoods.comin

Sobo Foods makes frozen Asian-American comfort foods such as dumplings, using ingredients like avocado oil and bone broth and offering higher protein content than conventional options.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Eric Ji Sun Wu(Founder)in

Co-investorsMontage Ventures

Talmondfoodstalmondfoods.comin𝕏

Talmond GmbH develops processing and distribution channels for tropical almonds grown by smallholder farmers in West Africa through sustainable agroforestry systems that build climate resilience and income diversification.

AgTechConsumerFoodTechImpact & Social GoodAccra, GH

The Not Companynotco.com

Chilean food technology company that uses machine learning to reformulate animal-based foods such as mayonnaise, milk and burgers from plants.

Karim Pichara(Founder)in

Co-investorsThe CraftoryCleveland AvenueHumboldtMAYA Capital VenturesTrousdale Ventures

Thrilling Foodsthrillingfoods.com

Thrilling Foods makes plant-based bacon that is salt-cured and smoked to mimic the taste and texture of pork bacon, marketed to vegan and health-conscious consumers.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures

Tourlamitourlami.comin

Tourlami is a plant-based ingredients company that makes plant-based butter for professional use, aimed at foodservice and pastry professionals such as bakers.

ConsumerFoodTech

Susannah Schoolman(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsCapital InnovatorsEvolution VC Partners

Umami Bioworksumamibioworks.comin

Umami Bioworks develops cultivated seafood using cell biology and bioprocess engineering technologies.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechFoodTech

Mihir Pershad(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsAera VCAqua SparkBetter Bite VenturesBrincMindshift CapitalThe Yield Lab Asia Pacific+2 more

Umaro Foodsumarofoods.cominJan 2022 · $3M

Transforming the food system using seaweed, a highly sustainable protein source.

Albany, US

Beth Zotter(Executive Officer, Director)inAmanda Stiles(Director)in

Co-investorsClear Current CapitalISVJuniperAgFunderAlexandriaIMPACT SCIENCE VENTURES+1 more

Upside Foodsupsidefoods.comin

Upside Foods produces cultivated meat using cell-based technology.

BiotechFoodTechSan Francisco, US

Uma Valeti(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsAlwyn CapitalCPT CapitalDentsu VenturesFifty YearsFuture VenturesJoyance Partners+10 more

Veggievictoryveggievictory.comin

Veggie Victory is a Nigerian plant-based food company offering Afro-vegan versions of traditional dishes and Vchunks, a locally manufactured 100% plant-based meat alternative sold across more than 12 Nigerian states.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Bola Adeyanju(Co-Founder)Hakeem Jimo(Co-Founder)in

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Collagen and gelatin cell harvestingCultivated poultry fats and flavorsCultivated production with genomicsHoney reimaginedInfinitefoodsLibre FoodsLoki FoodsLovelydayfoodsMeattheendPlant-derived proteinsPlug and play bioreactorsPowfoodsPropelfoodsRestorative Foods companySundaysupperSustainable dry mealsTiamat Sciences

Exits · 2

2 acquisitions · showing 1

MeliBioacq. by FoodYoung Labs

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Sustainable Food Ventures made?
Sustainable Food Ventures has 66 tracked investments, 2 of which have exited, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does Sustainable Food Ventures invest at?
Sustainable Food Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does Sustainable Food Ventures focus on?
Sustainable Food Ventures focuses on AgTech, Biotech, Climate Tech, FoodTech, Impact & Social Good.
Where is Sustainable Food Ventures located?
Sustainable Food Ventures is headquartered in Seattle, US.
Who does Sustainable Food Ventures co-invest with?
Sustainable Food Ventures most often shares deals with Big Idea Ventures, Juniper, Alwyn Capital, among 73 tracked co-investors.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Sustainable Food Ventures Webinar with Mariliis Holm and Ryan Bethencourt

The Chapel Hill Alt. Protein Project · Mariliis Holm

Images

Sustainable Food Ventures photo

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