Döhler Ventures extends investments in tech-savvy nutrition start-ups

30 Apr 2021 --- Early-stage venture capital firm Döhler Ventures and StartLife will extend their running strategic partnership for another three years to bring mass impact to food and nutrition start-ups. Döhler Ventures is the investment branch of the Döhler Group.

The partnership supports budding businesses that develop nutritious food ingredients through innovative technologies. Examples include The Gutsy Captain, which develops kombucha and kefir for gut health and Re:Nourish, which produces healthy grab-and-go soups in a heatable bottle.

“Döhler Ventures provides start-ups in-depth industry insights and warm connections to relevant parties in their network,” says Lin Zhu, investor relations manager of StartLife.

“At StartLife, all these parties come together, which makes it a great platform for all parties involved, including us,” comments Rodrigo Hortega de Velasco, venture manager at Döhler Ventures.

It begins with a seed
Start-ups are a driving force in developing much-needed innovative technologies that help develop safe and nutritious food in a sustainable way for the growing world population.

Döhler commits to partnerships for the long run, including investing in start-ups and collaborating with StartLife.But to make a true impact, start-ups need investors for their beliefs and corporates to realize true change, notes StartLife.

Döhler commits to partnerships for the long run. “That counts for the start-ups we invest in as well as our strategic partnership with StartLife,” says Hortega de Velasco.

“We are pleased with the high-quality and relevant start-ups that StartLife has introduced us to. In addition, we highly appreciate the added value of being part of the StartLife ecosystem and firmly support the ecosystem’s further growth,” he adds.

Döhler will be exploring partnership and investment opportunities with some of these start-ups, notes Hortega de Velasco.

“We look forward to meeting and supporting more promising agri-food start-ups in the years to come with StartLife at our side.”

Investing in start-ups
Industry is turning to start-ups for the next bright ideas that can help meet future food demands.

Sente Foundry recently launched a start-up program in partnership with Griffith Foods, Yıldız Holding and Ingredion called FoodTech: Health & Wellness. The companies will seek international start-ups for investments and pilot opportunities across the food value chain.

Meanwhile, business matchmaking company Nutrify India is providing industry knowledge and financial opportunities to “deserving start-ups and mid-sized nutraceutical companies” looking to enter India’s burgeoning nutraceutical industry.

In February, FoodIngredientsFirst reported that agri-food-tech start-ups raised US$26.1 billion in 2020, according to the venture capital firm AgFunder.

Edited Missy Green

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