Big Idea Ventures Invests in Six Startups, Three from Latin America, to Drive Global Food Innovation

Big Idea Ventures, a global leader in food-tech, agri-tech, and materials science investments, has announced six new investments through its Global Food Innovation Fund II (GFIF II). The latest cohort includes companies from around the world, including three from Latin America, each developing innovative solutions across a range of sectors such as fermentation-based fatty acids, protein-based flavors, microbiome and gut health, and cultivated meat.

This new fund builds on the success of BIV’s previous New Protein Fund I, which supported ventures focusing on proteins, fats, ingredients, sweeteners, and flavorings. Backed by major food corporations like AAK and Buhler, GFIF II aims to address global challenges in food security and sustainability.

“We are excited to welcome this diverse group of companies into our portfolio. The founders behind these startups are some of the most innovative minds in the food industry, and we’re excited to be working with them and our fund investors. We look forward to collaborating with them to help usher in the next generation of food solutions, from sustainable fats to microbiome-driven health products. I encourage investors, corporate leaders, and partners to reach out to the founders of the companies that most excite them and find out more about the innovative technologies and applications they are developing,” said Andrew D. Ive, Founder and Managing General Partner of Big Idea Ventures.

The companies included in the latest investment round are:

• BiomeMega (Australia): Developing sustainable omega fatty acids derived from probiotic bacteria, with applications in food, animal nutrition, and cosmeceuticals.
• Future Biome (Argentina & Uruguay): Creating precision prebiotics to address microbiome-related health issues, such as chronic inflammation, by customizing fungal prebiotics for individual needs.
• MEATOSYS (Germany): Providing farmers with a system for producing cultivated meat on-site using cells from their own animals, which are then sold to the processing industry.
• Nalca Biotech (Chile): Innovating in precision fermentation with modular and continuous production lines, designed for efficiency and scalability over traditional batch-based systems.
• NanoInGreen (Argentina & Chile): Developing probiotic-based ingredients with high absorption rates, starting with an iron substitute and expanding to include vitamins, minerals, and natural preservatives.
• Renew Food (United Kingdom): Specializing in protein-based flavor ingredients, including a heme protein designed to give plant-based meats a more authentic taste.