Sadot Kibbutzim, a coop bringing together more than 185 Kibbutzim with an agricultural output of more than $3 billion exported to over 100 countries, is an investor.
FLORA Ventures has launched an $80 million fund to invest in sustainable AgriFood tech start-ups in Israel and Europe. It is the largest Israeli-based AgriFood venture capital firm and the biggest new VC fund in Israel for 2023. The fund focuses on early-stage start-ups that aim to create a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient AgriFood system and supports their global scaling efforts.
The uniqueness of FLORA Ventures lies in its collaboration with Israeli Kibbutzim, the pioneers of innovative agriculture, as anchor investors and partners. Co-founders Gil Horsky and Esther Barak-Landes, with their expertise in the agriFood ecosystem and venture investing, secured funding in just four months by addressing technology gaps related to food security, digitization, sustainable agriculture, and food as medicine. (Prepared Foods)
FLORA Ventures has already received commitments of $50 million, with top-tier strategic partners like Sadot Kibbutzim, Haifa Group, and Harel Group. These partners offer the fund’s portfolio access to agricultural land, production capabilities, and financial support.
The fund’s establishment was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the climate crisis, which emphasized the need for accelerated innovation in the $8 trillion agriFood industry.
FLORA Ventures’ first investment is in Arrakis Bio, an Israeli start-up working on revolutionary animal-free human collagen and gelatin technology.
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