In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Chef Robotics, an AI-Robotic systems for meal assembly in food manufacturing plants, announced that it raised $43.1 million in its Series A round.
- Ecovtive, an alternative protein emerging brand, raised $11 million in its latest funding round.
- Vestaron, an agtech company that develops peptide-based crop protection solutions, raised $20 million in its recent funding round.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is 1st Course Capital.
- 1st Course Capital ("1CC") is an early stage venture capital firm that was founded in 2019 and is based in Redwood City, California.
- 1CC seeks to create a significant positive impact on human health and the health of our planet and communities.
- Portfolio companies include:
- BlueCart
- FarmShelf
- Gooder Foods
- Kosterina
- Over The Top Foods
- Tori
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- CraftMark Bakery Sold in Private Equity Deal
- Private Equity Firm Acquires MSI Express
- Fresh Del Monte Acquires Avocado Oil Supplier
- Bauducco Foods breaks Ground for New Facility in Florida
- Aleph Farms Raises $29 Million, Modifies Core Tech to Cut Costs
- Verley Unveils 'World's 1st' Functionalized Recombinant Dairy Proteins
- Differential Bio Emerges from Stealth to De-risk Bioprocess Scaleup
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally NorCal
Marketing Forum: April Meeting
Friday, April 10 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT
Connect, collaborate, and grow with Naturally NorCal's Forums-peer networking groups designed to bring together professionals in similar roles for meaningful connections, fresh insights, and actionable solutions to shared challenges.
This session is for paid members of Naturally NorCal (formerly Naturally Bay Area & Naturally North Bay) who are CPG-focused Marketing professionals, as well as CEOs & Founders working in these areas. To join this or any Forum, please fill out this form.
Naturally New England
Spring Meet-Up at Standing Stone Wines
Thursday, April 10 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Standing Stone Wines, 33 Main Street, Winooski, VT
Join Naturally New England for an exclusive spring meet-up at Standing Stone Wines, a woman-owned wine shop in Vermont. Connect with fellow founders, industry professionals, and community members over a curated wine-tasting experience, light bites, and great conversation.
Naturally Los Angeles
Chaos to Control: Stopping Rogue Sellers and Setting Up for Amazon Success
Thursday, April 10 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, 3rd Street Promenade 1316, Santa Monica, CA
Join Naturally Los Angeles for an insightful panel discussion on navigating the complexities of eCommerce and Amazon marketplace success.
Sponsored by Brandtrace, this event brings together industry experts and brand leaders who have faced the challenges of unauthorized sellers, price erosion, and loss of brand control online. Our distinguished panelists include Garrett Thompson, CEO of Brandtrace, and Cas Sanderson, Brand Director & Head of Innovation at Cartograph, alongside brand founders who will share firsthand experiences and strategies for overcoming these hurdles.
Gain valuable insights on how to protect your brand, take control of your online presence, and implement effective strategies for sustainable growth in the Amazon ecosystem. Whether you're struggling with rogue sellers or looking to optimize your eCommerce strategy, this discussion will provide actionable takeaways to help you navigate the digital marketplace with confidence.
Naturally New England
Heirloom Fire Industry Leaders Dinner
Saturday, April 12 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Heirloom Fire, 2089 State Road, Richmond, MA
Join Naturally New England for a rare and exclusive dining experience hosted by celebrity chef James Gop. This intimate dinner is designed for a select group of industry leaders, providing a rare opportunity to enjoy firsthand what makes Chef Gop's culinary creations so extraordinary. In an atmosphere of understated elegance, guests will savor an exquisite multi-course tasting menu, meticulously curated to highlight the finest seasonal ingredients, expertly prepared to perfection.
Naturally Colorado
Morning Meetup: Nature Hike
Friday, April 18 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. MT
Location: Sanitas Valley Trail, Sunshine Canyon Dr., Boulder, CO
Join Naturally Colorado for a relaxed morning meetup at Sanitas Valley Trail in Boulder! Hit the trails before the summer frenzy and take a walk with friends new and old. Please look for Naturally Colorado's lovely host leading this event, John Simmons.
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Online Workshop: Unlock Global Growth
Monday, April 21 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Expanding into international markets can be a game-changer for food and beverage brands. Join Naturally New England and Food Export USA – Northeast for an exclusive online workshop designed to help small businesses maximize their export marketing budgets, identify top global prospects, and connect with international buyers.
Learn how to access USDA-backed resources, including funding that reimburses up to 50% of eligible international marketing expenses. Experts will guide you through the application process, provide export education insights, and connect you with key support networks to fuel your global expansion. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock new growth for your brand!