In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Ansā, a Tel Aviv-based builder of micro coffee roasters, has raised $9 million to roll out its technology to the US market. Unlike traditional coffee roasters, which use gas to heat the roaster chambers, the Ansā e23 micro roaster uses radio waves.
- GroGuru, a San Diego-based startup focused on water management for commercial farmers, raised a $2.3 million Series A round. The round was co-led by Cove Fund and Impact Venture Capital.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Minerva Foods.
- Minerva Foods is one of the leaders in the production and sale of fresh beef and its byproducts, live cattle exports and beef processing in South America. Besides Brazil, Minerva Foods has productive units in Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia and Uruguay.
- Some of the highly recognized Minerva Foods brands include:
- Estância 92, a Brazilian brand
- Minerva Angus, a Brazilian brand
- Frigomerc, a Paraguayan brand
- Cabaña Las Lilas, an Argentine brand
- Pul, an Uruguaian brand
- Minerva Foods in Brazil rolled out a venture-capital fund called MF92 in August 2020.
- MF92 made its first investment of $4 million in San-Francisco based Clara Foods, a maker of plant-based protein ingredients for food and beverage products.
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Agtech Startup Eiwa, Fresh Off Funding Round, Inks Licensing Deal
- Flavor and Ingredients Provider IFF Struggles as Consumers Cut Back On Spending
- Meatable Raises $35 Million as it Aims to Boost Production and Lower Costs (Netherlands/UK)
- Ansā’s RF-Powered Countertop Coffee Roaster Attracts $9 Million in Fresh Funding
- GroGuru Closes $2.3 Million Financing Round
- Conscious™ Foods, a Pairwise brand, Partners with Food Broker RSquared Fresh Solutions in Retail Channel
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Bay Area
Quick Bites: Building a Meaningful Community Through Social Platforms
(Members Only)
Wednesday, August 23 | 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. PT
Join Naturally Bay Area for an info-packed session on Building Meaningful Community Through Social Media. You will hear how three natural brands have leveraged micro & macro influencers, video content, and SMS messaging to engage their fans and build passionate brand advocates.
Speakers:
- Shay Daviau, Influencer Marketing Manager at DeeBee's Organics
- Caitlin Heinz, Director of Content at Just Date
- Mary Tarczynski, Principal, Client Solutions Lead at Parabolic
- Paul Voge, Co-Founder + CEO of Aura Bora
Naturally Boulder
Networking Collision Series at Oskar Blues
Wednesday, August 23 | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Oskar Blues, 1555 Hover St., Longmont, CO
This is the latest installment of Naturally Boulder's Collision Series of Networking Events – a low-key, relaxed series of no-registration-required connection opportunities where you'll run into old friends and connect with new contacts. Wear green if you can to help spot each other. This is a free event; pre-registration is available but not required. Refreshments will available to purchase at the venue on your own tab. Cheers to an impactful summer!
Naturally San Diego
Marketing Challenges and Breakthroughs for CPG Brands: Panel Discussion (Members Only)
Wednesday, August 23 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Location: Red Door Interactive HQ Campus, 2436 Market St., San Diego, CA
Join Naturally San Diego for a special Marketing-focused happy hour presented by Red Door Interactive.
In this session, Reid Carr, CEO & Executive Creative Director at Red Door Interactive, will interview a panel that includes Cynthia Herrera, CEO at Sun Bum, Maggie Mariscal, Director of Consumer Insights at Chosen Foods, and Karen Torrico, Brand Manager, Magic Soaps & International at Dr. Bronner's, to explore their brand breakthroughs and challenges. This interactive event will include Q&A, so come ready to be inspired and learn from some of the best in the industry.
Naturally Los Angeles
Retailer Fireside with Neil Stern, CEO of Good Food Holdings
Wednesday, August 23 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Botanic Tonics LLC, Nebraska Ave. 3122, Santa Monica, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles for their first Retailer Fireside. You won't want to miss out on this TED-type discussion with CEO of Good Food Holdings Neil Stern. Good Food Holdings is the holding company for retailers we all know and love like Bristol Farms, New Seasons Market, Metropolitan Market, Lazy Acres Market.
Speaker:
- Neil Stern, CEO of Good Food Holdings
Naturally San Diego
August Coffee + Convos
Friday, August 25 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PT
Location: Pitaya Foods, 5076 Santa Fe Street (SUITE F) San Diego CA
Join your fellow San Diego natural products community members for an in-person meet up on Friday, August 25th at 9 AM. This is your chance to meet, mingle and talk shop with one another while enjoying your morning coffee....and some delicious Pitaya Foods acai bowls.
Naturally Los Angeles
Naturally LA Coffee Chat
Friday, August 25 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT
Location: Lucky's Coffee Roasters, East Foothill Boulevard 665, Claremont, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles to sip a little coffee and talk a lot of CPG. Will Iyawe-Parsons is helping to host the NLA Coffee Chat Series. Come, grab a coffee and have a good time with some good brew!