Berlin VC FoodLabs Secures €105m for Agri Innovation
Christophe Maire (Founding Partner) and Patrick Noller (General Partner, Managing Director) of FoodLabs - © FoodLabs
Berlin-based venture capital firm FoodLabs has closed its third fund at €105 million, positioning itself to accelerate innovation in Europe's food and agriculture sector. According to Tech Funding News, the fund will support startups working at the intersection of food, health, and climate.
Founded in 2016 by Christophe F. Maire, FoodLabs operates as both a company builder and early-stage investor. The firm targets three main areas: agriculture technology, food security, and health innovation. Its portfolio already includes companies like Formo, which produces animal-free cheese through precision fermentation, and Klim, a regenerative agriculture platform.
The new fund plans to invest in 25 to 30 European startups, with initial cheques ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. FoodLabs focuses on deeptech ventures emerging from research labs, particularly those combining scientific innovation with commercial viability.
Recent investments showcase the fund's approach. Spanish company Voltrac develops autonomous electric tractors, while Aardaia revives climate-resistant heritage crops forgotten for decades. BYVIDA, a Berlin-based nutritional supplement brand, addresses hair health through science-backed nutrition.
FoodLabs distinguishes itself through its hybrid model, offering portfolio companies more than just capital. The team helps founders test concepts, refine technology, and establish partnerships with manufacturers and research institutions.
The fund attracts diverse backing from industry players including Nestlé, Red Bull, Bitburger Holding, REWE Group, Henkel, and Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, Germany's development bank for rural industries. This industrial support enables FoodLabs to connect lab innovations with manufacturing capabilities and distribution channels.
With agriculture generating roughly a third of global emissions and food insecurity rising across Europe, FoodLabs aims to transform what remains a largely analogue industry into a healthier, more resilient system.
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