In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Danone plans to acquire a majority stake in Kate Farms, a plant-based nutrition shake brand.
- Beyond Meat announced that it raised $100 million in debt and equity funding from Unprocessed Foods, a plant-based nonprofit.
- Hoofprint Biome, an agtech startup company, raised $15 million in its Series A round.
- Laxey, an Icelandic salmon farmer, raised 130 million Euros in equity and debt financing.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is Ankur Capital.
- Ankur Capital is an India-based early-stage venture capital fund that focuses on sectors such as agritech, food, healthcare, financial, logistics, retail, and education, among others.
- The size of Ankur's investments range from $500K to $5 million.
- As an Ankur portfolio company, startups get access to Ankur's network of operational experts, who can help founders grow their businesses.
- Some of the portfolio companies include:
- Krishify
- Vegrow
- Captain Fresh
- String Bio
- Cropin
- IBISA
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Rustic Crust Selling New Hampshire Production Facility
- Functional Probiotic Soda Startup Raises $15 Million
- Archer Prepares for Second Manufacturing Plant
- Bush Brothers Relocates to State-of-the-Art Headquarters, Distribution Facility
- Fieldin & ARAG Partner to Bring Precision Spraying to Permanent Crop Growers
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally NorCal
AI in CPG – Sales, Marketing, and the Customer Journey
Wednesday, May 21 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Join Naturally NorCal for their second event in their AI in CPG series to learn how AI can help you understand your customers, build your brand, and drive deeper consumer engagement.
In this workshop-style session, they will explore real-world use cases showing how brands are using AI to deepen customer relationships, boost brand visibility, and streamline sales efforts. You'll learn about leveraging AI-powered analytics, predictive marketing, chatbots, lead scoring, and automation tools to better understand their customers, scale their messaging, and personalize engagement at every step.
The aim is to leave you with actionable ideas to integrate AI into your consumer-facing strategies.
Naturally New England
Naturally Rising: Second Annual Pitch Slam
Thursday, May 22 | 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Farm Fresh Rhode Island, 10 Sims Avenue, Providence, RI
Get ready for a night of innovation and community at Naturally New England's Second Annual Pitch Slam Competition.
What to Expect:
- Watch emerging brands pitch their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of industry experts for a chance to shine in the natural products space.
- Explore Naturally New England's Brand Showcase, featuring innovative products and companies shaping the future of natural CPG.
Naturally Colorado
May Networking Collision
Wednesday, May 28 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: Junction Food & Drink, 2000 South Colorado Blvd Denver, CO
This month's Networking Collision is all about intentional connection. Expect structured opportunities to engage, network, and spark meaningful conversations—all in a relaxed environment with great food and drinks..