25 Plant-Based Investors Who Closed Deals in the Last Two Years

If you're building a plant-based company, here are 25 investors who closed deals between 2023 and 2025. Funding dropped 64% in 2024 for plant-based, but fermentation companies pulled in 43% more capital. Some of these investors pivoted hard toward B2B ingredients.

Quick list

Picking the right investor

Most investors won't fit your company. Here's what actually matters.

Experience: Check if they've backed companies at your stage before. Dead portfolio companies are a red flag. Look at their exits, not just their websites.

Network: Co-investors matter more than individual firms. If they can't bring in follow-on funding, you're stuck. Ask their portfolio companies about intro quality.

Alignment: Plant-based purists and pragmatists don't mix well. Some funds won't touch anything with fermentation. Others only want B2B ingredients now. Figure out where they actually deploy capital.

Track record: Beyond Meat went public, but most don't. Check how many Series B rounds their portfolio companies raised. If they all died at Series A, there's your answer.

Communication: Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your financial projections. If they skip your unit economics, that's useful information.

Value-add: Most investors promise intros to retailers and co-manufacturers. Ask for three specific examples from their last deal. Generic promises mean nothing.

How to approach them

Identify potential investors: Look at who funded your competitors' last three rounds. Check Crunchbase for co-investors. Don't waste time on funds that haven't deployed capital since 2022.

Craft a compelling pitch: Lead with unit economics, not mission. Most investors are tired of sustainability claims without profitability paths. Show your CAC payback period in months, not theory.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on. If they skip your bioreactor data or manufacturing costs, adjust your follow-up.

Utilize your network: Warm intros close 10x more than cold emails. Find the second-degree connections on LinkedIn. Ask your angels to make intros, not your lawyers.

Attend networking events: Future Food-Tech, Good Food Conference, and AFN summits actually work. Skip the panels, focus on the hallway conversations. Investors remember founders who ask good questions.

Engage on online platforms: LinkedIn works better than Twitter for B2B. Comment on investor posts about deals, not platitudes. Show you understand their thesis. Don't pitch in DMs.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your financial model, cap table, and supply agreements before they ask. It speeds up the process. Investors notice when you're organized.

Set up introductory meetings: Lead with traction metrics, not vision. Revenue growth rates, retention curves, and margin expansion matter. Vision gets you the meeting. Numbers get you the term sheet.

Why this matters now

Plant-based funding dropped 64% in 2024, but fermentation grew 43%. The market corrected from 2021's hype. Companies that raised at crazy valuations are doing down rounds now.

Investors shifted toward B2B ingredients that replace animal proteins at lower cost. Consumer brands need stronger unit economics than two years ago. Profitability timelines matter more than market size claims. Most funds want to see positive contribution margin before Series A.

Investor profiles

Lever VC

Early-stage alternative protein specialist with consistent deal flow since 2018.

• Recent Deals: Gavan Technologies $8M Series A (December 2024), Oobli seed round (January 2025), Mush Foods and HerdDogg (2024)
• LinkedIn: Lever VC LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based proteins, fermentation, cultivated meat, food tech
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York City, United States
• Website: levervc.com

Big Idea Ventures

Global food tech accelerator and investor with 130+ portfolio companies.

• Recent Deals: PlantBaby seed (February 2025), CASSIE investment (2024), six GFIF II investments (October 2024), Uproot acquisition by Califia Farms (August 2024)
• LinkedIn: Big Idea Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: alternative proteins, food tech, agri-tech, materials science
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Location: New York City, United States
• Website: bigideaventures.com

Unovis Asset Management

Alternative protein leader managing New Crop Capital Trust and NCAP Fund II.

• Recent Deals: Novameat $19.4M Series A (September 2024), Heura €40M Series B (February 2024), 43 companies total since 2016
• LinkedIn: Unovis Asset Management LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based, fermentation, cultivated proteins, alternative dairy
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, United States / Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Website: unovis.vc

S2G Ventures

Multi-stage firm focused on food, agriculture, oceans, and energy sectors.

• Recent Deals: US agrifoodtech saw $6.6B in 2024 (up 14%), invested in Kuehnle AgroSystems, Mara Renewables $12.5M (2024)
• LinkedIn: S2G Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food systems, sustainable agriculture, oceans, alternative proteins
• Stage Focus: Seed, Venture, Growth equity
• Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Website: s2ginvestments.com

Five Seasons Ventures

Pan-European consumer brands fund specializing in food tech investments.

• Recent Deals: THIS £20M Series C (June 2024), KoRo €35M Series C (November 2024), ARTAH £2.85M (October 2024)
• LinkedIn: Five Seasons Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based, healthy snacking, food tech, sustainable food
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Paris, France / London, UK
• Website: fiveseasons.vc

PowerPlant Ventures

Growth equity firm investing $15M-$40M in plant-centric consumer brands.

• Recent Deals: Operates $330M Fund III (closed September 2022), invested in Miyoko's Creamery, Liquid Death, Partake Brewing, SYSTM Foods
• LinkedIn: PowerPlant Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based food, beverages, consumer wellness, sustainability
• Stage Focus: Growth stage ($10M-$75M revenue)
• Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
• Website: Contact via LinkedIn

Veg Capital

UK family fund providing Angel to Series A capital for animal-free food companies.

• Recent Deals: Portfolio includes Hooked Foods, Shicken, Mighty Pea, Mummy Meegz, investments £50K-£250K range
• LinkedIn: Veg Capital LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based meat, dairy, eggs, seafood replacements
• Stage Focus: Angel, Seed, Series A
• Location: Loughborough, UK
• Website: vegcapital.co.uk

AgFunder

Leading agrifoodtech investor and research platform tracking global deals.

• Recent Deals: Tracked $828M in innovative food in H1 2024, portfolio spans 85K subscribers, invests seed to Series B
• LinkedIn: AgFunder LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food tech, ag biotech, innovative food, sustainable agriculture
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Silicon Valley, United States
• Website: agfunder.com

Creadev

French family office and investment firm backing sustainable food businesses.

• Recent Deals: Led Nxtfood €49M (2024), company tripled revenue that year with ACCRO brand
• LinkedIn: Search "Creadev" on LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: sustainable food, plant-based proteins, food tech
• Stage Focus: Growth stage
• Location: France
• Website: Contact via LinkedIn

Roquette

Plant-based ingredient manufacturer with strategic investment arm.

• Recent Deals: Co-led Nxtfood €49M (2024) for European expansion of wheat and pea protein products
• LinkedIn: Roquette LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based ingredients, pea protein, wheat protein
• Stage Focus: Growth stage, Strategic investments
• Location: France
• Website: roquette.com

Novo Holdings

Danish investment firm backing life science and biotech with food tech focus.

• Recent Deals: Co-led MATR Foods €40M (2024), largest Danish food tech round, also invested in cultivated meat companies
• LinkedIn: Novo Holdings LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: fermentation, alternative proteins, food tech, biotech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Website: novoholdings.dk

European Investment Bank

EU development bank providing venture debt and grants to food tech.

• Recent Deals: €20M venture debt to MATR Foods (2024), $36M to Formo (2025), backs alternative protein scale-up
• LinkedIn: European Investment Bank LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: sustainable food, alternative proteins, climate tech
• Stage Focus: Venture debt, Growth stage
• Location: Luxembourg
• Website: eib.org

CPT Capital

Seed-stage investor focused on food tech and sustainable solutions.

• Recent Deals: Led Asterix Foods $4.2M seed (2024), co-led Rebellyous Foods $6M Series A (2020)
• LinkedIn: Search "CPT Capital" on LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food tech, biotech, sustainable food systems
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: United States
• Website: Contact via LinkedIn

Rhapsody Venture Partners

Early-stage VC backing food innovation and health tech companies.

• Recent Deals: Led Lasso $6.5M (2024) for SpinTech food processing, clean-label protein products
• LinkedIn: Rhapsody Venture Partners LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food tech, health tech, sustainable food
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: United States
• Website: rhapsodyventurepartners.com

Coefficient Capital

Consumer-focused fund investing in food, beverage, and wellness brands.

• Recent Deals: Led KoRo €35M Series C (November 2024), healthy snack brand expanding in Europe
• LinkedIn: Coefficient Capital LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food, beverage, wellness, consumer brands
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: United States
• Website: coefficientcapital.com

Sofinnova Partners

European biotech and life sciences investor expanding into food tech.

• Recent Deals: Led Novameat $19.4M oversubscribed Series A (September 2024) for 3D-printed plant-based meat
• LinkedIn: Sofinnova Partners LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: biotech, life sciences, food tech, fermentation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: Paris, France
• Website: sofinnovapartners.com

Forbion

Dutch VC firm managing BioEconomy Fund for sustainable food investments.

• Recent Deals: Co-led Novameat Series A via BioEconomy Fund (September 2024) for fermented meat alternatives
• LinkedIn: Forbion LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: biotech, bioeconomy, sustainable food, life sciences
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Website: forbion.com

MoreVC

Israeli VC firm backing deep tech and food innovation companies.

• Recent Deals: Led Gavan $8M Series A (December 2024) for Fatrix plant-based butter replacement
• LinkedIn: MoreVC LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: deep tech, food tech, biotech, sustainable innovation
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Website: more.vc

EIT Food

European innovation community supporting sustainable food system transformation.

• Recent Deals: Co-invested in Gavan Series A (2024), Meatable $8.4M (2023), grants to food tech startups
• LinkedIn: EIT Food LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food innovation, sustainable food, alternative proteins
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Grants
• Location: Europe-wide
• Website: eitfood.eu

DarkBoot Group

Private equity firm focused on sustainable food and biotech investments.

• Recent Deals: Supported Gavan's incubation and co-invested in $8M Series A (2024)
• LinkedIn: Search "DarkBoot Group" on LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: sustainable food, biotech, plant-based ingredients
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Growth
• Location: Israel
• Website: Contact via LinkedIn

General Atlantic

Global growth equity firm with consumer and tech focus expanding into food.

• Recent Deals: Invested in Butternut Box £280M round (September 2023), pet food with plant-based options
• LinkedIn: General Atlantic LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: consumer, technology, growth companies
• Stage Focus: Growth equity, Late stage
• Location: New York City, United States
• Website: generalatlantic.com

Planet First Partners

UK-based impact investor focused on plant-based and sustainable businesses.

• Recent Deals: Led THIS £20M Series C equity (June 2024) for plant-based meat expansion
• LinkedIn: Planet First Partners LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based, sustainable food, impact investing
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: London, UK
• Website: planetfirstpartners.com

Upfield

Plant-based food company with venture arm investing in category adjacencies.

• Recent Deals: Co-invested in Heura €40M Series B (February 2024), plant-based meat expansion
• LinkedIn: Upfield LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: plant-based food, dairy alternatives, strategic investments
• Stage Focus: Series B, Growth, Strategic
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Website: upfield.com

ICL

Specialty minerals company investing in alternative protein supply chain.

• Recent Deals: Additional investment in Plantible Foods Series B (2024), plant-based protein from lemna
• LinkedIn: ICL LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: ingredients, alternative proteins, sustainable agriculture
• Stage Focus: Series B, Growth, Strategic
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Website: icl-group.com

Grok Ventures

Australian investment firm backing technology and sustainable food companies.

• Recent Deals: Co-invested in Asterix Foods $4.2M seed (2024) for plant cell culture proteins
• LinkedIn: Grok Ventures LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: technology, food tech, sustainable innovation
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Australia
• Website: grokventures.com

Final thoughts

These 25 investors closed deals between 2023 and 2025, but that doesn't mean they'll fund your company. Most passed on hundreds of deals to make the few you see listed. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links so you know who's actually interested. Track which investors open your financials vs. your mission slide.

The market shifted from consumer brands to B2B ingredients. Investors want to see paths to profitability, not just market size. Fermentation companies raised more than plant-based meat in 2025 because unit economics worked better. If you're building a consumer brand, you need retention curves and contribution margin before most of these funds will take your call. If you're building ingredients, focus on price parity with animal proteins and supply chain integration. That's what closed deals last year.