Invest-NL and StartLife spur growth of impact-driven agrifood start-ups

Dutch impact investor Invest-NL and start-up accelerator StartLife today announced a strategic partnership that will facilitate the development and high growth of start-ups and scale-ups that focus on aid the transition towards a sustainable, climate-neutral food system. The partners will co-develop new initiatives that will support and enhance a flourishing entrepreneurial climate for impact-driven entrepreneurs.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the agrifood chain currently consumes 30% of the world's available energy. Alternative proteins, precision farming and circular food technologies offer huge opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the food chain. But getting these technologies ready for large scale commercial application is not an easy feat, making them unattractive for most investors. As a result, emerging technologies loose traction early on and few solutions reach their full potential.

Fast lane to transformation

Invest-NL was established by the Dutch Government in 2020 to enhance the possibilities to finance societal transitions. In its investment strategy supporting start-ups and scale-ups who contribute to the sustainability and energy transition are at the center piece, especially those that are deemed too risky by other investors. ”We increase the willingness of other investors to invest by for instance removing critical obstacles to scaling up and growth”, explainsLiz Duijves, Investment Associate at Invest-NL.

“Our partnership with StartLife allows us to build on its 12 years of experience in the start-up scene and its large, global community of start-ups, corporates and investors in the food and agriculture sector,” said Duijves. “They are in close contact with many early-stage agrifoodtech start-ups, know what obstacles hinder the implementation of new technologies and have good insights on what’s needed to overcome these hurdles. We believe that this partnership will provide a fast lane to make the transformation of our food system better financeable.”

Opening up new opportunities

Jan Meiling, Managing Director of StartLife: “Together we will facilitate growth and open up opportunities by creating meaningful projects and supporting a flourishing agrifood ecosystem. We have already committed to enhance existing initiatives, like the international F&A Next summit and the Fast Lane program for food & ag pioneers, and will jointly represent the Dutch agrifood ecosystem abroad. We are also working towards a new and unique venture building program that is set to launch in 2023, designed to build ventures from scratch.”

Start-ups and scale-ups with specific needs for scaling their sustainable (agrifood) technologies are invited to contact StartLife.