Paris-based Capagro, the first European independent VC fund dedicated to AgTech and FoodTech, has launched a €200 million fund. The Capagro Agri-Food Innovation Fund II (Capagro II) aims to support the growth of the most promising European startups in these sectors.
Capagro II fund has brought together investors, including Avril Group, LSDH, Terrena, Bel Group, Crédit Agricole Group (IDIA) and Bpifrance with the sectoral experts of Capagro. The VC firm has also welcomed the agricultural cooperative group Euralis, and other institutional and industrial investors and family offices for this fund.
To fund agtech and foodtech startups
Capagro II focuses on high-potential growing startups that provide innovative projects for sustainable agriculture and healthy food in the AgriFoodTech sector. The fund will lead or co-lead rounds ranging from €3 to €10 million. Initially, it aims to invest in almost fifteen European companies.
Similar to its predecessor, the new fund will cover the entire value chain of the agri-food sector, from farm to fork and its approach that integrates the planet, humans and animals. The key sectors for Capagro II are bio-intrants, robotics, specialty ingredients, innovative packaging, alternative proteins, personalised nutrition, new distribution channels and promising emerging sectors, such as carbon farming.
For Tom Espiard-Cignaco, President & Managing Director of Capagro: “The current context reminds us of the urgency of meeting the climate, food, health, social and economic challenges impacting agriculture and food. Innovation in European AgriFoodTech is already providing practical answers to these challenges but also needs financial support at a level proportionate to its potential.”
Like its predecessor, the new fund will cover the entire value chain of the agri-food sector, from farm to fork, with an “ecosystemic” approach that integrates the planet, humans and animals. The key sectors for Capagro II are bio-intrants, robotics, specialty ingredients, innovative packaging, alternative proteins, personalized nutrition, new distribution channels and promising emerging sectors, such as “carbon farming”.
For Tom Espiard-Cignaco, President & Managing Director of Capagro: “The current context reminds us of the urgency of meeting the climate, food, health, social and economic challenges impacting agriculture and food. Innovation in European AgriFoodTech is already providing practical answers to these challenges but also needs financial support at a level proportionate to its potential.”
Initial investment is in Cuure
Launched in April 2014 by Jean-Baptiste Cuisinier and Pedro Torrado, Capagro has pioneered a sector-based and independent approach that brings out the best ofits scientific and business expertise. The fund leverages its unique network of industrial partners from the agri-food value chain to benefit its portfolio companies.
Already, this fund has led the investment in Cuure, a European leader in personalised nutrition and health operating on the promising market of food supplements. Cuure was founded by Hugo Facchin and Jules Marcilhacy in 2019 with the ambition of improving everyone’s health through an innovative, holistic and personalized experience, combining science and technology.
For Hugo Facchin, co-founder and CEO of Cuure: “This new investment will allow us to share our vision of health with as many people as possible – easy to access, holistic and tailored to everyone’s needs. We are also actively working on the internationalisation of the Cuure experience, which is already available in several European countries, including Italy, Germany and Spain. Our ambition is to make Cuure an internationally recognised health and well-being reflex, the European leader in personalised health.”
