Exciting news for cultivated pet food! The UK's Meatly has received regulatory clearance to produce and sell cultivated meat for pet food, marking the first approval of its kind in the UK. Additionally, Umami Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food Company are set to launch one of the world’s first cultivated fish cat treats in Singapore and San Francisco early next year. These advancements represent significant milestones in the growing field of sustainable and innovative pet nutrition. Read more about these developments here: https://lnkd.in/egX_xMDG https://lnkd.in/eNjGNcHT #cultivatedmeat #petfood
Lever VC
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Lever VC backs the entrepreneurs creating the future of protein.
About us
Lever VC is a leading FoodTech and AgTech specialist venture capital firm, investing globally in entrepreneurs creating the future of protein. Lever VC’s USD 80 Million Fund I has invested since 2019 in over thirty leading companies spanning alternative proteins, crop genetics, machinery, functional ingredients, pet, plant-based dairy and meat alternatives, packaged meals, bars/powders/supplements, cell cultivation, fermentation, and sector service providers. Lever VC's Fund II is continuing to invest broadly across these categories as well as into technologies in the animal protein sector that improve sustainability and welfare, in areas including feed inputs, machinery, genetics, disease detection, and similar. Lever VC invests globally, with a portfolio spanning North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the GCC. Lever VC’s Fund I has consistently remained a top-decile performer for its vintage year (per Pitchbook industry benchmarks). Lever VC’s Fund II held a first close in early 2024 and is currently open to new investment. Over the years Lever VC has established a reputation as a top value-add investor in the FoodTech, AgTech, and future of protein space, closely supporting portfolio companies in areas including strategy, sales, fundraising, media, and more. This reputation as well as its sector expertise (including the expertise of its in-house scientific and technical team) provide added advantages to the Fund for deal origination, due diligence, market intelligence, and supporting its portfolio companies. Lever VC’s founding partners have been active investors in the alternative protein, animal protein, and broad FoodTech/AgTech categories for the past decade, backing a range of major winners across these categories in the US, Europe, and Asia and deploying over half a billion in capital (including investments made outside of Lever VC) across over 90 deals, with stellar exits and IRRs.
- Website
-
https://www.levervc.com
External link for Lever VC
- Industry
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- New York City
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2017
- Specialties
- plant-based, plant protein, plant-based meat, plant-based dairy, alternative protein, cultivated meat, venture capital, precision fermentation, future of protein, sustainability, investment, startups, animal ag tech, crop tech, animal health tech, synthetic biology, climate, food and ag, innovation, sustainable animal protein, aquaculture, poultry, and livestock
Locations
-
Primary
New York City, US
-
Hong Kong, HK
Employees at Lever VC
-
Ramzi Schumann
Food | Alternative Proteins | Food Tech | Ag Tech | VC | Private Equity | Investments | Sustainability | Mentor | Consulting | Responsible Global…
-
Nick Cooney
Managing Partner, Lever VC
-
James Caffyn
Partner, Lever VC
-
Laura Correa Ocampo
MBA Candidate at Columbia Business School
Updates
-
Tesco has announced a partnership with Grosvenor Farms, one of its key UK dairy suppliers, to trial a methane-reducing feed supplement for dairy cows. Grosvenor Farms, known for its low carbon footprint, has added Bovaer, a supplement supplied by dsm-firmenich, to the diet of 400 cows. Bovaer has been shown to reduce methane emissions by up to 30%, and if implemented across all of Grosvenor Farms, it could lead to an overall reduction in farm greenhouse gas emissions of up to 12%. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/e8UNV-Sy
Tesco announces methane-reducing feed trial for dairy cows
thegrocer.co.uk
-
The UK government's annual Agriculture in the United Kingdom report revealed a 3.7% decrease in meat production last year, marking the first decline in over a decade. This shift presents increased opportunities for plant-based and alternative proteins. Government data also shows a 14% drop in per capita meat consumption from 2012 to 2022, reaching its lowest level since the 1970s, with red meat consumption particularly affected. Factors such as rising prices, animal welfare concerns, sustainability, and health considerations are influencing consumer choices. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eaxXqcYj
Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2023
gov.uk
-
The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub has secured approximately $51 million in federal funding from the US Economic Development Administration as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program. This grant will support significant infrastructure expansions, positioning Central Illinois as a global leader in biomanufacturing and promoting economic growth, job creation, and national security. The expansion will enable consortium members to increase their fermentation capacity and accelerate fermentation development. Read more about iFAB here: https://lnkd.in/eNBTjxhd
$51 Million Federal Grant for Precision Fermentation Hub to Drive Innovation, Growth, and Job Creation in Illinois
https://vegconomist.com
-
Lever VC's portfolio company, The Better Meat Co., has received the FDA's 'no questions' letter, affirming the GRAS status of its Rhiza mycoprotein, marking a significant milestone for its expansion in the biomass fermentation sector. This approval includes a USDA evaluation, making Rhiza mycoprotein the first mycoprotein approved as a meat enhancer. Rhiza mycoprotein can now be used in dairy analogs, meat analogs, and as a meat enhancer, with no risk of mycotoxins or common food allergens, paving the way for broader applications and market growth. Read more about this exciting milestone here: https://lnkd.in/eVBQzxk2
The Better Meat Co. receives GRAS no questions letter from FDA for Rhiza mycoprotein
https://agfundernews.com
-
The alternative protein job market in North America is growing steadily, with consistent job openings and an increase in monthly postings from ~350 to ~400 since June 2023, according to Alt Protein Careers. As of last week, food science roles made up 16% of open positions, while marketing, sales, and business development roles comprised 30%. This trend indicates continued growth and demand for labor in the alternative protein space. Read more about this trend here: https://lnkd.in/g6Xxuk2z
State of the Alt Protein Job Market—July 2024
altproteinpartners.com
-
A recent study published in Foods has explored Gen Z consumers' attitudes towards adopting plant-based diets, surveying over 500 university students across Greece, India, and the UK. Findings reveal a notable 46.5% of Indian students are open to transitioning to plant-based diets, while 51.5% of all of the respondents believe anyone can easily adopt a plant-based diet. These results highlight evolving dietary preferences among the younger demographic. Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/eRCFHmaY #GenZ #plantbased #Students
Gen Z’s Willingness to Adopt Plant-Based Diets: Empirical Evidence from Greece, India, and the UK
mdpi.com
-
A recent study published in Foods has explored Gen Z consumers' attitudes towards adopting plant-based diets, surveying over 500 university students across Greece, India, and the UK. Findings reveal a notable 46.5% of Indian students are open to transitioning to plant-based diets, while 51.5% of all of the respondents believe anyone can easily adopt a plant-based diet. These results highlight evolving dietary preferences among the younger demographic. Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/eRCFHmaY #GenZ #plantbased #Students
Gen Z’s Willingness to Adopt Plant-Based Diets: Empirical Evidence from Greece, India, and the UK
mdpi.com
-
Eleven Dutch supermarkets are committing to significantly increase their plant-based protein offerings, aiming for 50% by 2025 and 60% by 2030. This initiative, covering over 90% of the Netherlands' market share, includes leaders like Albert Heijn, which has already made strides, reaching 44.1% plant-based proteins in 2023. Read more about this commitment here: https://lnkd.in/exBKZXTu #plantbased #dutch #supermarkets
11 Dutch Supermarkets Commit to Selling 60% Plant-Based Proteins by 2030
https://vegconomist.com
-
Lever VC's portfolio company Blackbird Foods has expanded its plant-based wings lineup with two new flavors: Texas BBQ and Thai Chili. Featuring seitan-based meat-style interiors and hand-battered crispy exteriors, these new offerings aim to provide flavorful clean-label alternatives to traditional wings. Blackbird Foods continues to grow its sales with its products on-shelf in Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Target. Learn more about Blackbird here: https://lnkd.in/gX-fThGk
Blackbird Foods Expands Plant-Based Wings Range With Two “Mouth-Watering” Flavors
https://vegconomist.com