The sustainable food venture capital fund plans to begin fundraising in Q4
Blue Horizon Ventures has announced the close of its flagship venture capital fund with a total of €183 million, and Michael Kleindl, co-founder and managing partner, has revealed fundraising plans are under way to launch a second fund before in Q4.
“The global capital, accelerated by the global Covid-19 pandemic, moves towards impact at great speed. This allows more and more entrepreneurs to start their ventures in the food sector. We are delighted to have reached the final close for our first flagship fund,” he said.
Kleindl explained that Blue Horizon Ventures I attracted limited partners the world over, ranging from private investors, including single and multi-family offices, to corporates and institutional investors.
The list of LPs features key players in the food and drink supply chain and the investment community. The European Investment Fund EIF, Wire Group’s Private Markets Funds, Givaudan, Group Bimbo, Sigma, B8Ventures, and Korys/Colruyt Group have capital committed in the fund.
“In total, more than 100 different investors from around 20 nationalities subscribed to the fund,” said Kleindl.
The future of food
Kleindl noted the mission of the fund is to generate value for investors by supporting and promoting a positive global impact on the environment, human health and animal welfare. All this while achieving financial performance and market-rate returns.
The focus is on investments into alternative proteins, synthetic biology, cellular agriculture, smart packaging and food waste.
The overwhelming interest and final fund size combined with our pace and quality of portfolio building reflect the enormous potential of our investment thesis: Financial performance paired with an attractive risk-return profile and tangible impact.”
Blue Horizon Ventures: A multidisciplinary team
Blue Horizon Ventures capitalises on a long-lasting industry access and network. It has developed partnerships with many like-minded, mission-aligned co-investors and innovation hubs, including incubators, accelerators and universities.
It invests across the globe with a stage agnostic approach, and typically from ticket sizes as low as €300,000 of up to €25 million over the lifetime of a company.
Kleindl explained that the expertise of Blue Horizon Ventures is based on a diverse team with a multidisciplinary skillset. At the firm, bioscientists, food engineers, nutrition and retail experts work together with finance and venture capital specialists.
In an exclusive interview with NutritionInvestor, Mariana Gonzalez, a Blue Horizon Ventures’ founding member, comments on the fund’s investment thesis and how the team works with portfolio companies.
Blue Horizon Ventures has already made 16 investments and committed about €80 million in capital in less than 18 months since the launch of its first fund.
