Notable fundraises this week came from Indian B2B trading platform Udaan, Swiss climate-forecasting startup Jua, and Japan-based “hot chain” foodservice startup Wada FoodTech, best known for its automated bento vending machines.
Elsewhere, Israeli plant-based manufacturer Meala teamed up with DSM-Firmenich to launch texturizing protein for meat alternatives, while Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare launched a global pet food innovation program.
Startup funding
🇮🇳 Indian B2B firm Udaan raises $114m series G Tech In Asia
🇬🇧 Treefera raises $30m to bring more transparency to the supply chain’s ‘first mile’ with AI AgFunderNews
🇨🇭 Jua raises $11m to scale Earth simulation platform for energy and climate forecasting Tech.eu
🇯🇵 Wada FoodTech raises $5m to scale up hot-chain decentralized foodservice platform, transforming the foodservice industry Access Newswire
🇫🇷 Kumulus Water raises $3.5m for atmospheric water generators that turn air into water Tech.eu
🇧🇷🇯🇵 Japanese gov’t agency JICA invests in Brazilian digital banking platform Agrolend AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Silicon Ranch makes strategic investment in Swap Robotics Business Wire
M&A, IPOs & partnerships
🇫🇮🇧🇷 Enifer partners with ethanol giant FS for mycoprotein production in Brazil AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Grocery platform Misfits Market acquires The Rounds to further its mission of reducing food waste TechCrunch
🇺🇸 Amyris and Ingredion wind down real sweet joint venture PR Newswire
🇺🇸 Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare launch 2025 global pet food innovation program in collaboration with AAK, Bühler, and Givaudan Globe Newswire
🇮🇱🇳🇱 Meala teams up with DSM-Firmenich to launch texturizing protein for meat alternatives FoodBev Media
🇧🇪🇺🇸 AmphiStar and Kensing announce strategic partnership to bring upcycled biosurfactants to the North American personal care market Cosmetics Business
🇳🇱 Harvest House adopts Source.ag’s AI-powered forecasting tool Fruitnet
🇺🇸 Kubota partners with Agtonomy to advance autonomous operations on M5N tractors for specialty crop growers PR Newswire
Funds, grants & accelerators
🇫🇮 Nordic Foodtech VC announces first close of second fund at $45m: ‘We’re not hunting for unicorns’ AgFunderNews
🇨🇦 FCC Capital announces $2bn investment into ag and food innovation Cision Newswire
🇨🇦 Protein Industries Canada targets supply chain resilience with $15m in genomics and AI funding Vegconomist
🇺🇸 Planteer Capital raises $54 million maiden fund VC Wire
🇺🇸 CC Facility awards $1.1m in grants to scale climate investment opportunities in Africa and Asia CC Facility
🇬🇧 Nomad Foods unveils Future Foods Lab to fast-track startup innovation through venture clienting Nomad Foods
People moves
🇺🇸 Aldi US names new CEO Grocery Dive
🇺🇸 Robert E. Jones joins Culinary Institute Of America Morning Star
🇺🇸 Pivot Bio appoints Daryl Allen as Vice President of Sales Pivot Bio
Other News
🇦🇹 Arkeon Bio formally files for insolvency LinkedIn
🇺🇸 FDA clears Wildtype’s cell-cultivated salmon for US debut AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Perfect Day urges court to toss deceptive marketing lawsuit over animal-free dairy AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Peter Rahal, David Protein, sued over ‘bait & switch’ scheme to monopolize Epogee’s fat replacer AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Mondelēz International expands sustainable futures portfolio aiming to accelerate scalable climate and community initiatives Mondelez International
🇺🇸 Liberation Labs is now Liberation Bioindustries Globe Newwire
🇺🇸 Microsoft purchases 60,000 soil carbon credits from sustainable farming solutions provider Indigo ESG Today
🇺🇸 FDA launches agency-wide AI tool to optimize performance for the American people US Food and Drug Administration
🇫🇷 Bel Group to discontinue plant-based cheese brand Nurishh Just Food
🇺🇸 DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats settle with New York City over fee caps Reuters
🇮🇳 Cyberattack hits Indian grocery delivery startup KiranaPro, data exposed Tech In Asia
