The agricultural technology sector is experiencing a reset.
Last quarter, our analysis of Crunchbase data shows 162 AgTech startups raised a total of $1.8B, writes market analyst Kyle Welborn at CropLife. That represents a 2% decline in funding and a 14% decline in deals from Q4 2024.
Despite the downturn, AgTech remains critical for global food security. Climate change, labor shortages, and the need to feed 10 billion people by 2050 drive demand for innovation.
Investors are shifting focus. They want proven technologies with real farmer adoption. They prioritize profitability over growth. They seek solutions that address climate resilience.
This guide provides comprehensive profiles of active AgTech investors in 2025. You'll find their investment criteria, portfolio companies, recent activity, and contact information.
Understanding who invests in agricultural technology helps founders target the right partners. Let's start with the fundamentals.
Agricultural technology encompasses digital tools, hardware, biotechnology, and data platforms that improve farming efficiency and sustainability. The sector includes precision agriculture, farm management software, robotics, alternative proteins, and supply chain optimization.
AgTech differs from traditional agriculture investing. While traditional investors focus on land, commodities, and established agribusinesses, AgTech investors seek scalable technology solutions. They invest in software platforms, IoT devices, AI applications, and biotech innovations.
The global AgTech market faces headwinds. Rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have cooled investor enthusiasm. Yet structural drivers remain strong.
Climate change creates urgency for resilient farming systems. Labor shortages demand automation solutions. Environmental regulations push sustainable practices. These factors create long-term opportunities despite short-term volatility.
AgTech investments typically fall into several categories:
Precision agriculture: GPS-guided equipment, drones, sensors, and data analytics that optimize field operations.
Farm management software: Digital platforms for planning, monitoring, and analyzing farm operations.
Robotics and automation: Autonomous tractors, harvesting robots, and automated greenhouses.
Biotechnology: Gene editing, biologicals, and novel crop protection methods.
Supply chain technology: Traceability systems, marketplaces, and logistics platforms.
Alternative proteins: Plant-based meat, cultivated meat, and fermentation technologies.
You've developed breakthrough technology. Field trials show promising results. Farmers express interest.
But investors ignore your emails.
Stop sending PDF pitch decks. They vanish in inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Partners can't track which slides matter.
Use trackable links instead. Know when investors open your deck. See time spent per slide. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Share secure links. Track pitch deck engagement. No more guessing if investors saw your work.
Pioneer in AgTech venture capital with a global portfolio spanning AI, robotics, and biotechnology.
Investment focus: Food and agriculture technology across the value chain
Investment range: Seed to Series B, typically $500K-$5M
Notable investments: Inari, Plenty, Bear Flag Robotics, MycoWorks
Recent activity: Dr. Rob Leclerc, partner at AgFunder, is expecting to see "more capital light business models and more incorporation of AI" going forward, but cautions that, "Food and ag will continue to suffer until we see begin to see enormous exits."
Contact: agfunder.com
Rob Leclerc, AgFunder's founding partner, shared on LinkedIn this February: "The intersection of AI and agriculture is where we'll see the most transformative changes. But founders need to show real deployment, not just talk about AI capabilities."
Chicago-based multi-stage investor focused on food, agriculture, and oceans.
Investment focus: Sustainable food systems, alternative proteins, farm technology
Investment range: Venture to growth equity, $1M-$50M+
Notable investments: Apeel Sciences, Atomo Coffee, Arable
Recent news: S2G Ventures, a Chicago, IL-based multi-stage investment firm focused on the food & agriculture, oceans, and energy sectors, changed its name to S2G Investments. The firm manages $2.5 billion in committed capital.
Contact: s2ginvestments.com
Sanjeev Krishnan, managing partner at S2G, recently testified before the U.S. Senate about AI in agriculture. He emphasized: "These technologies offer a unique toolkit to rapidly accelerate breakthrough solutions and significant per-acre value generation."
India's leading AgTech investor pioneering smallholder farmer solutions.
Investment focus: Indian startups in agriculture, food systems, climate resilience
Investment range: Seed to Series A, $1M-$5M
Notable investments: DeHaat, Arya, Stellapps, AgNext
Portfolio impact: It has pioneered agritech investing in India, backing companies through three funds that are collectively involved with over 12m smallholder farmers and that have created $3.1bn of economic value.
Contact: omnivore.vc
Mark Kahn, managing partner at Omnivore, posted on Twitter in August: "The notion that a country that produces more engineers than any other isn't capable of developing technology solutions is patronisingly colonial at best. Indian AgTech is built to last."
The firm announced the first close of its third fund with $150 million, focusing on agrifood life sciences, rural fintech, and climate-smart agriculture.
Growth-stage investor building next-generation agriculture and food companies.
Investment focus: Disruptive agriculture and food technology
Investment range: Series A to growth equity
Notable investments: Food and agriculture companies with proven traction
Approach: Hands-on support including strategy, recruitment, and fundraising
Contact: cultiviansbx.com
Global investment firm focused on transforming food and agriculture.
Investment focus: Technology companies transforming food and agriculture value chains
Investment range: Growth equity, typically $10M+
Notable investments: Digital agriculture, biotechnology, sustainable farming
Geographic reach: Global with offices in Europe and North America
Contact: anterracapital.com
European AgTech specialist investing in smart agriculture solutions.
Investment focus: European AgTech and FoodTech startups
Investment range: Seed to growth, €500K-€10M
Notable investments: Smart agriculture and sustainable technologies
Founded: 2014 in Paris, France
Contact: capagro.fr
Corporate venture arm of global agriculture company Syngenta.
Investment focus: Digital agriculture, biotechnology, sustainable farming
Investment range: Various stages aligned with strategic goals
Unique approach: Spins out technologies from Syngenta's R&D pipeline
Strategic value: Access to global agriculture expertise and networks
Contact: syngenta-ventures.com
Innovation capital platform of Wilbur-Ellis focused on AgTech.
Investment focus: Agricultural technology and sustainability
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Strategic advantage: Leverage from 100+ year agriculture company
Portfolio support: Commercial partnerships and market access
Contact: cavalloventures.com
US-based fund investing in scalable food and agriculture innovations.
Investment focus: Innovations across the agriculture value chain
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Geographic focus: North America with global reach
Sector expertise: Deep agriculture industry knowledge
Contact: acreventurepartners.com
Early-stage investor backing food, agriculture, and climate companies.
Investment focus: Cultural shifts and new consumer preferences
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Investment philosophy: Systems thinking approach
Portfolio support: Operational expertise and network access
Contact: supplychange.fund
Corporate venture capital arm of Bayer focused on breakthrough innovations.
Investment focus: Life sciences solutions for health and agriculture
Investment range: Series A and beyond
Recent interest: Sara Olson, Senior Director of Venture Investments Agriculture at Leaps by Bayer, explored epigenetics as a transformative tool to address climate variability.
Contact: leaps.bayer.com
Global investor focused on plant-based and alternative protein innovation.
Investment focus: Alternative proteins, sustainable food systems
Investment range: Pre-seed to seed, $25K-$250K through accelerator
Accelerator programs: New York and Singapore locations
Portfolio companies: 100+ alternative protein startups
Contact: bigideaventures.com
Specialist AgTech venture capital firm investing in foundational technologies.
Investment focus: Early-stage agricultural technologies
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Sector expertise: Precision agriculture and farm automation
Value-add: Deep technical expertise and industry connections
Contact: r7partners.com
European impact investor focused on sustainable food and agriculture.
Investment focus: Sustainable agrifood value chain
Investment range: Series A to growth
Impact approach: Regenerative agriculture and circular economy
Geographic focus: Europe with global outlook
Contact: astanorventures.com
Science-first investor backed by David Friedberg.
Investment focus: Deep science platforms in food and agriculture
Investment approach: Building companies from scratch
Technology areas: Computational biology, AI, novel materials
Unique model: Venture studio and investment hybrid
Contact: tpb.co
Several investors shared insights about 2025 trends. Stephan Dolezalek sees promise in companies moving toward profitability: "Some of the big winners will come from currently disfavored categories. Survivors with little competition will have the edge."
The shift toward AI integration dominates discussions. Investors seek startups that use AI to solve real problems, not just add AI labels to existing products.
Global AgTech investor with presence across three continents.
Investment focus: Technology enhancing sustainability and productivity
Investment range: Seed to growth equity
Geographic presence: Silicon Valley, San Diego, Dublin, Tel Aviv
Portfolio approach: Hands-on operational support
Contact: finistere.com
Strategic investor from agricultural sciences company FMC Corporation.
Investment focus: Sustainable agriculture solutions
Investment areas: Biologicals, digital tools, novel chemistries
Strategic value: Access to global R&D and commercial networks
Recent focus: Vipula Shukla called for disruption in crop protection: "For too long, this sector has relied on recycled or reformulated older modes-of-action."
Contact: fmcventures.com
Growth equity firm focused on agribusiness value chains.
Investment focus: Sustainable food and agribusiness in Latin America
Investment range: Growth equity, $20M+
Regional expertise: Deep knowledge of Latin American markets
Value creation: Operational improvements and international expansion
Contact: aqua-capital.com
Investment firm targeting scalable agriculture solutions.
Investment focus: Impact at scale across agriculture sectors
Investment philosophy: Stephan Dolezalek, Managing Partner at Grosvenor Food & AgTech, highlighted the need for proven technologies that resonate with customers and can be scaled effectively.
Approach: Technology-agnostic, problem-focused
Contact: grosvenor.com
Impact investor supporting healthy food systems.
Investment focus: Sustainable food and agriculture
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Impact mission: Healthy ecosystems and communities
Geographic reach: Global with European roots
Contact: pymwymic.com
AgTech investors evaluate different metrics than typical tech VCs. They want to see:
Field trial data: Real-world validation with farmers, not just lab results.
Unit economics: Clear path to profitability at farm level.
Adoption metrics: Evidence of farmer willingness to pay and use the technology.
Climate impact: Quantifiable sustainability benefits.
Scalability plan: How the technology works across different geographies and farm types.
Timing matters in agriculture. Understand seasonal cycles and budget planning periods. Build relationships at industry events like World Agri-Tech, not just through cold emails.
Leverage farmer networks for warm introductions. A recommendation from a successful pilot customer carries more weight than any pitch deck.
Track investor engagement with your materials. Know which slides they spend time on. Use this data to refine your pitch.
USDA programs: SBIR grants for agricultural innovation
EU Horizon Europe: Funding for sustainable agriculture research
National programs: Country-specific agricultural innovation funds
Major agriculture companies run investment programs:
The Yield Lab: Global AgTech accelerator network
THRIVE: Silicon Valley AgTech accelerator
Techstars Farm to Fork: Food and agriculture program
Plug and Play AgTech: Corporate partnership platform
Recent funding successes show what investors seek:
Monarch Tractor ($133M Series C): Autonomous electric tractors with 400 machines deployed globally.
Carbon Robotics ($70M Series D): AI-powered weeding technology with over 100 units in the field.
LeapScholar, MagicSchool, and Campus captured nearly half of Q1 2025 AgTech funding, showing investor preference for proven, scalable solutions.
AgTech founders face unique challenges when fundraising. Long development cycles. Seasonal deployment windows. Complex stakeholder ecosystems.
Ellty helps you navigate these challenges:
No more wondering if that partner actually reviewed your field trial results. Know exactly who's interested and focus your efforts accordingly.
What makes AgTech different from other tech investments?
AgTech requires longer development cycles, field validation, and understanding of agricultural economics. Investors need patience for biological timelines and seasonal deployment.
How much funding do AgTech startups typically raise?
Seed rounds range from $500K-$3M. Series A rounds typically raise $5-15M. Growth rounds can exceed $50M for proven technologies.
Which AgTech sectors attract the most investment?
Currently, AI-powered solutions, robotics, and climate adaptation technologies see the most activity. Alternative proteins have cooled after earlier hype.
Do I need farmer customers before approaching investors?
Yes. Pilot programs with paying farmers validate market demand better than any projection.
How important is sustainability in AgTech pitches?
Critical. Investors want quantifiable environmental benefits alongside financial returns.