Press & Perspectives
Robots on a farm: Niqo brings AI tech to Indian farmers
Bengaluru-based Niqo Robotics is set to penetrate precision spraying with its AI-backed robots. The company says it lowers farming costs with its pay-per-use leasing model.
Vytelle Announces Expansion Plans to Melbourne, Australia with its Twenty-First Global Bovine In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory
Vytelle, the fastest-growing in vitro fertilization (IVF) company, proudly announces its plans to open its third Australian-based laboratory and 21st globally, to be strategically located in the Melbourne region.
Agriculture Robotics Startup Niqo Robotics Raises $13 Million in Series B Funding | CNBC TV18
Bengaluru-based agriculture robotics startup, Niqo Robotics, has secured $13 million in Series B funding led by Bidra Innovation Ventures.
Niqo Robotics raises $13 Mn to scale AI-powered agricultural spot spraying technology
Niqo Robotics, an agricultural robotics startup based in Bengaluru, India, has closed US$13 million in Series B funding led by Bidra Innovation Ventures. The round also saw significant investments from new investor Fulcrum Global Capital and existing investor Omnivore. This brings Niqo’s total fundraising to US$21 million.
Fulcrum Global Capital May 2024 Quarterly Newsletter
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Portfolio Company Highlights
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What we’ve been reading
Vytelle Expands Presence in Nebraska Region with the Opening of its 17th Global Laboratory, Ushering in a New Level of Accessibility to Hormone-Free in vitro Fertilization (IVF) for Cattle Producers
Vytelle, the fastest-growing in vitro fertilization (IVF) company, proudly announces the opening of its 8th US-based and 17th global laboratory, strategically located in the heart of Nebraska. This expansion further signifies Vytelle’s commitment to providing innovative reproductive solutions and unparalleled access to hormone-free IVF for beef and dairy producers.
Rantizo Raises More than $6 million to Scale Automation Orchestration
Leaps, being the corporate venture capital arm of Bayer, furthering their investment and Fulcrum Global Capital, being an innovative investment group that has a notable portfolio of drone spraying company Precision.ai and automation company Sabanto.
Sabanto Releases Fendt 700 Vario Tractor Support
Sabanto, Inc. announces Fendt 700 Vario tractor compatibility for Steward™, a cutting-edge technology platform that transforms tractors to work autonomously.
Weed-Killing AI Drones May Be the Future of Farming
Combating weeds in a sustainable way is more urgent than ever.
Vytelle Closes $20MM in Series B Funding to Accelerate Genetic Progress in Cattle
Vytelle, a precision livestock company, has raised $20MM in Series B funding to accelerate genetic progress in cattle.
2022 Year in Review
2022 was a busy and fruitful year for Fulcrum Global Capital. External forces such as geopolitical issues, market volatility, severe weather, and supply chain issues have impacted both the agriculture and financial landscape.
Are You Setting Your Sights on Selling or Being Sold?
For a startup, the goal is to either obtain capital or get acquired.
Bioplastics: The ‘Best Kept Secret’ in Kansas
“There’s a great future in plastics.” Or so Benjamin Braddock, the protagonist in the classic movie “The Graduate,” was told in the late 1960s.
Sabanto Releases Autonomy Kit For Kubota M5 Tractors
Sabanto has announced an autonomy retrofit kit for Kubota’s line of M5 tractors.
John Deere announces its 2023 Startup Collaborators
Deere & Company has released the names of eight companies chosen for its 2023 Startup Collaborator program.
How Farmers Can Invest in AgTech
Despite market volatility and a slowdown in venture capital activity in 2022, the ag tech space remains a hotbed for investment, innovation, and opportunity.
Axiota® Animal Health and Resilient Biotics Enter Multi-Product Agreement
Axiota® Animal Health and Resilient Biotics enter multi-product agreement to co-develop new BRD technology and create a leading development platform for microbial products in cattle.
Vytelle Expands Global Network Of Bovine In Vitro Fertilisation Laboratories With Opening In Hamilton, New Zealand
Vytelle is progressing on a five-year plan, initiated at the conclusion of their Series A funding to provide accessible hormone-free bovine in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to producers across the globe. Part of the five-year plan, included doubling the laboratory capacity to produce bovine embryos through in vitro fertilisation. Announced today, Vytelle’s opening a laboratory in Hamilton, New Zealand.
UPL’s Post-Harvest solutions ssubsidiary, Decco Post Harves, acquires Telesense to strengthen offering to combat food waste
UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, today announced that its post-harvest business, DECCO, through a subsidiary has acquired the business of TeleSense, the world’s leading provider of remote monitoring solutions for crop storage and transportation, to advance its mission to reduce food waste and support food supply chain sustainability. TeleSense will join DECCO in the OpenAg® network, a platform pioneered by UPL, committed to Reimagining Sustainability for global agriculture.
Sabanto Raises $17M Series A To Drive Autonomy Into Agriculture
warming farm autonomy company Sabanto, Inc. today announced it has closed an oversubscribed $17M Series A funding round led by leading agtech venture firm Fulcrum Global Capital, with participation from DCVC Bio, Hico Capital, Yara Growth Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, Johnsonville Ventures, and Trimble Ventures. John Peryam, co-founder and partner at Fulcrum, joins Sabanto's board of directors.
Bayer expands existing investment to acquire majority share in sustainable lower carbon oilseed producer CoverCress Inc.
Investment delivers on Bayer’s commitments to sustainability and may help decarbonize agriculture and reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizer with combined expertise of existing investors, Bunge and Chevron / Growers to gain new revenue streams through potential commercialization of oilseed crop for renewable fuels and livestock feed with ecosystem benefits of a cover crop / Advancing existing Bayer ownership in CoverCress Inc., a Leaps by Bayer portfolio company since 2015, underscores the value of nurturing and supporting breakthrough innovations that can create positive benefits for humanity.
Vytelle Expands Network Of Bovine In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories
Vytelle is progressing on a five-year plan to provide accessible hormone-free bovine in vitro fertilization (IVF) to producers across the globe. Part of the five-year plan, initiated at the conclusion of their Series A Funding, promised to double the laboratory capacity to produce bovine embryos through in vitro fertilization.
Startup developing crop improvement technology raises $7.1M
Plastomics, a St. Louis-based biotechnology startup, plans to advance its crop improvement technology after raising $7.1 million from investors.
Local investment firm Lewis & Clark AgriFood led Plastomics’ Series A financing. Several new backers of the startup invested in the deal, including Fulcrum Global Capital.
Vytelle raises $13m Series A funding to help farmers pick the cream of the cattle crop
Precision livestock platform Vytelle has closed $13.2 million in Series A funding for its technology that lets livestock producers speed up genetic advancement in cattle. Co-leading the round were private equity firm Open Prairie, through its Rural Opportunities Fund, and ag VC firm Fulcrum Global Capital.
Fulcrum herds oversubscribed $13.2M round for KC cattle tech startup with KCRise Fund, iiM in the corral
A Kansas City-based precision livestock company will use its fresh Series A funding harvest to accelerate genetic progress and sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, its top executive announced Tuesday.
“Our mission is clear, and we are grateful for the support of our investors who join us on our journey to ensure meat and milk are viable food choices for future generations,” said Kerryann Kocher, CEO of Vytelle.
Vytelle Closes Oversubscribed Series A
Vytelle, a precision livestock company, is pleased to announce the closure of an oversubscribed Series A funding worth USD $13.2MM. Private equity firm Open Prairie, through the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, and Kansas-based Ag-tech VC, Fulcrum Global Capital co-led the round.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 267 featuring Resilient Biotics and Fulcrum Global Capital. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Directly.
P&P Optica gets Series B funding to bring hyperspectral imaging to the meat industry
Covid-19 has raised serious questions about the safety, efficiency, and overall efficacy of meat processing. From labor shortages to infected workers to empty store shelves, the pandemic has only highlighted the many ways in which the industry is due for a technological update.
Precision AI secures $20M financing led by At One Ventures and BDC Capital
Precision AI has raised $20 million in seed equity and grant funding led by At One Ventures and BDC Capital, with participation from Fulcrum Global Capital and Golden Opportunities Fund. Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and Protein Industries Canada provided the non-dilutive grant funding.
CoverCress nets $8m from Bunge, REG; touts ‘buy-in from entire supply chain’
Cover crops are a big deal these days as farmers see benefits for soil health and cash crop yields. This has created a booming market for cover crop varieties that are well-suited to different geographies or climates, or that can pinpoint specific problems with the soil. St Louis-based CoverCress is one of several startups trying to up the ante by offering cover crops that can double up as cash crops, giving farmers the best of both worlds.
Heavy metals in baby food: Why innovation is the answer to food safety challenges
Last month, a US Congressional committee issued a report on dangerous levels of heavy metals — including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury — in baby food.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 247 featuring WeedOUT and Fulcrum Global Capital. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or Stiticher.
Resilient Biotics raises $7.1m from Elanco, others to create livestock microbiome medicines
North Carolina-based biotech startup Resilient Biotics has raised $7.1 million in a Series A round co-led by Berkeley Catalyst Fund and Fulcrum Global Capital.
India’s UPL partners with grain monitoring startup TeleSense to reduce food waste
Indian agribusiness firm UPL is collaborating with US agtech startup TeleSense to implement the latter’s grain monitoring technology in its post-harvest storage and transport operations.
Venture Capital and its Critical Role in Livestock Production and Animal Health | Kevin Lockett
What role does venture capital play with livestock production and animal health? Kevin Lockett discusses it on the Popular Pig Podcast.
Venture Capital and its Critical Role in Livestock Production and Animal Health | Kevin Lockett
What role does venture capital play with livestock production and animal health? Kevin Lockett discusses it on the Popular Pig Podcast.
Our experience launching an agtech fund in the midst of a global pandemic
With each funding announcement since Covid-19 hit, AFN has asked founders what the experience of raising money during a pandemic was like.
It’s a question that has yielded varying answers depending on company stage, geography, and other factors.
Given that we completed the final close of our first venture fund just a few months before the full onset of Covid-19 in the US, we decided to share our experience launching an agrifood investment vehicle in the midst of a global pandemic.
Venture Investing in Animal Health
“If we can’t get to a strong ROI for the producer very quickly, it’s an easy pass for us.”
👆🏼 a nugget that the partners from Fulcrum Global Capital, a global food & ag venture capital firm, shared in a conversation on venture investing in animal health
Venture investing in animal health with Fulcrum Global Capital
With Janette Barnard of Prime Future
WeedOut Weeds
Enter WeedOUT. Scientists for this Israeli firm hit Palmer amaranth where it starts – its pollen. “We wanted to bring a biological solution to tackle the herbicide-resistance problem,” says Efrat Lidor Nili, cofounder and co-CEO of WeedOUT. “We use the reproduction system of the weed against itself.”
WeedOUT closes Series A at $4.2m; appoints former Monsanto M&A chief
Israeli bio-herbicide maker WeedOUT has completed the final close of its Series A round, raising $4.22 million in total across two tranches.
The second and final close, as revealed by AFN, raised $1.22 million and featured Kansas-based agritech VC Fulcrum Global Capital.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 229 featuring NanoGuard and Fulcrum Global Capital. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Grain monitoring startup TeleSense closes $10.2m Series B to ramp up sales
US grain storage startup TeleSense has closed a $10.2 million Series B round led by existing investor Finistere Ventures.
New investors in the startup included Fulcrum Global Capital, UPL, Artesian Venture Partners, and Mindset Ventures. Existing shareholders including Rabobank’s Food & Agri Innovation Fund also joined the round.
Step aside, alt-protein: Bioplastics are the real agrifoodtech opportunity
Despite 'reduce, reuse, recycle' drives, single use of petroleum-based plastic has grown 5x since 1980 - with a mere 5% recycled. Plastic pollution remains a problem in need of a solution.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 224 featuring Green Dot Bioplastics and Fulcrum Global Capital.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 217 featuring MicroGen Biotech and Fulcrum Global Capital. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2020 Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) Global Finals Brings Together Highly Innovative Startups Tackling the World’s Biggest Challenges
2020 Global Finals was truly one for the ages, with the competition held virtually amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The finals event kicked off in April 2020 with more than 2,400 world-changing startups from 87 countries showcasing their technologies at a time when their innovations and ideas have never mattered more. The field of outstanding candidates was ultimately narrowed to seven remarkable Category Winners, which went on to compete in the Global Finals on July 15th.
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 213 featuring CoverCress and Fulcrum Global Capital Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2020 (Samsung Extreme Tech Challenge) GLOBAL FINALISTS
We are proud to announce that Green Dot Bioplastics and Microgen Biotech (Talam Biotech), both competed in this year’s Samsung XTC (the biggest startup competition addressing global challenges) on the theme “Pitch for Hope”.
Green Dot Bioplastics - Finalist in the Clean Tech Category
Microgen Biotech (Talam Biotech) - Global winner in the AgTech Category
Future of Agriculture podcast episode 208 featuring P&P Optica and Fulcrum Global Capital
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
MicroGen Biotech (Talam Biotech) raises $3.8M Series A financing from US and European Agtech investors to improve soil health and food safety globally
MicroGen Biotech (Talam Biotech) provides a patented, cost effective, safe and scalable solution to reduce heavy metal in food, increase soil health to enhance crop yields and clean soil pollution in industrial sites.
Agri-foodtech VCs assess Covid-19’s impact on the sector and portfolios
As we all “shelter in place” and “socially distance” ourselves, we are learning a lot about what we can live without. And what we can’t.
EXCLUSIVE: MicroGen (Talam Biotech) Biotech raises $3.8m Series A to take heavy metals out of food
There are two kinds of heavy metal in this world. One involves a lot of face paint and loud guitars. The other involves a not-so-leather-clad list of things like iron, copper, zinc, and aluminum.
Fulcrum Global Capital Closes $36M agri-foodtech fund and four investments
From their office in Kansas City, Missouri, Kevin Lockett, Duane Cantrell and John Peryam sit in the heart of US livestock country and on the frontline of global food production disruption.
Green Dot Bioplastics Qualifies for XTC Finals
Green Dot Bioplastics was selected as one of 30 worldwide finalists in the Extreme Tech Challenge which is the World’s largest startup competition for companies addressing global challenges.
The present and future of food tech investment opportunity
P&P Optica was featured as a leading food processing and grading technology in a recent Techcrunch article.
Western is awarded $10 million for agriculture research
The CoverCress efforts to develop pennycress as a cash crop are getting a $10 million boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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