In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- First Water, a salmon farming startup, has raised $43 million in its latest funding round, facilitating its efforts to develop a system that supports seafood production while minimizing environmental impact.
- INTAKE, a B2C and B2B food innovation company founded in 2013, has raised $13.5 billion in Series C funding to accelerate its alternative protein business.
- AgroStar, an agritech startup based in India, raised $6.7 million in its latest funding round, led by Accel India.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is PNC Group.
- PINC is Paulig's (a Finland-based, family-owned food and beverage company) venture capital arm for early stage investments in the future of food.
- PINC's primary investment focus includes the following:
- Pre-seed & seed
- Scalable to 10-50+ MEUR within 5-10 years
- Nordics but open to Europe
- High degree of innovation in Taste, Health, Sustainability or Availability
- PINC's portfolio includes the following:
- OlsAro – Agtech startup securing wheat supply through AI-enabled crop-breeding
- WIN WIN – producer of the world’s first cocoa-free alternative to chocolate
- Melt & Marble – next generation of plant-based fat
- Kaffe Bueno – upcycling of coffee waste into high value ingredients
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- National Farmers Union and Open Prairie Launch $25 Million Farmers Capital Fund for Future of Ag
- Cal-Maine buys Echo Lake Foods
- Salad Giant Taylor Farms Acquires AI Weeding Startup FarmWise
- AgBoost Secures $500K Investment and Signs Licensing Agreement with Australian Animal Health Company
- Heritable Agriculture Partners with CIV and Paul J. Mastronardi to Launch AI-Driven Strawberry Breeding Program
UPCOMING EVENTS
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!
Naturally Colorado
Denver Urban Gardens Volunteer Day
Wednesday, April 23 or Friday, April 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MT
Location: Hinkley High School Community Garden, 1250 Chambers Rd., Aurora, CO
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Denver Urban Gardens! During the workday(s) at the Hinkley High School Community Garden we will be rebuilding some plots and raised beds within the garden.
Please register for the morning of the 23rd OR 25th on the DUG website.
Please wear:
- Closed toed shoes
- Clothes you don't mind getting dirty
- Layers/sun protection
Please bring a reusable water bottle and anything else you may need. DUG will provide all of the needed tools, supplies and light snacks. Please arrive with ample time to find parking and check in, we will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Naturally NorCal
Showcase Your Brand with Naturally NorCal at UNFI Spark Tabletop Show
Thursday, April 24 | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Hyatt Regency Downtown Sacramento
This is an exclusive opportunity for members who do not currently have products in UNFI but are interested in seeking future distribution with them.
Naturally NorCal has been invited to bring a select group of our members to UNFI's Spark Table Top Show — a rare opportunity to get your brand in front of key retail buyers and UNFI decision-makers. If your products aren't yet set up in UNFI's Rocklin warehouse, this is your chance to sample, connect, and spark conversations that could open doors to future distribution.
Whether you're an emerging brand ready to scale or an innovator looking for the right moment to get noticed — this event was made for you.
Naturally San Diego
Naturally Rising Pitch Slam
Thursday, April 24 | 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Building 177, 2875 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA
On April 24th, five finalists will go head-to-head in this shark-tank-style live showing of Southern California's most promising group of natural products brands.
Naturally San Diego's in-person Naturally Rising (formerly Pitch Slam) will give natural products entrepreneurs the stage to pitch their up-and-coming companies to a panel of experts and audience members, ultimately winning a suite of prizes from our local San Diego community to help propel their industry growth!
Naturally San Diego
Naturally Rising Pitch Slam After Party
Thursday, April 24 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PT
Location: THE LOT Liberty Station, 2620 Truxtun Rd, San Diego, CA
Hang out with your Naturally San Diego friends after Naturally Rising Pitch Slam. We'll gather at The LOT in Liberty Station, across the street from the Naturally Rising Pitch Slam venue. No-host bar. No tickets required.
Naturally Minnesota
Beyond the Trends: Unpacking Expo West Insights for the CPG Landscape
Friday, April 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CT
Location: CBX Worldwide, LLC, 520 Nicollet Mall, Unit 1000, Minneapolis, MN
Join Naturally Minnesota and the CBX strategy team for a Friday morning coffee chat on 4/25 as they take you beyond the surface of Expo West. The team walked the show, captured key moments, and saw over 3,000 brands. It's not just about trends like design, products, and ingredients—they will dive into what these trends truly mean for the CPG landscape and beyond. The team is excited to showcase their insights and findings and share what these could mean for businesses.
Naturally New England
Members Exclusive Online Workshop: Building Your Financial Model
Tuesday, April 29 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
A well-structured financial model is key to making strategic decisions, securing funding, and driving sustainable growth. In this members-only interactive workshop, participants will walk through the fundamentals of setting up a financial model, covering key components, common challenges, and best practices. Attendees will receive a financial model template to customize for their own business, with ample time for Q&A to ensure you leave with a clear roadmap for building out your model.
Speaker:
- Preeti Bingham, Founder of High Beam Consulting
Naturally Seattle
Raising Money for Early Stage CPG Companies
Tuesday, April 29 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Venture Mechanics Startup Launchpad, NE 21st Street 14110, Bellevue, WA
Calling all emerging CPG founders! Join Naturally Seattle for an evening of expert insight, candid advice, and real-world experience focused on what it takes to fund your early stage CPG company.
- Learn from investors and seasoned CEOS about raising money for CPG companies
- Get a step by step guide to building your business plan for a successful raise
- Engage in open dialogue about the evolving investment landscape
- Network with the local CPG investment community
With a special innovation showcase featuring Naturally Seattle member brands, this is the perfect opportunity to build connections, gain expert guidance, and learn how to turn your funding dreams into reality.
Naturally Minnesota
CPG Resource Round Up 2025
Wednesday, April 30 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT
Location: Neighborhood Development Center, 625 University Ave W, St Paul, MN
Join Naturally Minnesota for a unique networking opportunity that connects local food entrepreneurs with expert resource providers, offering essential connections and knowledge crucial for building and sustaining your business.
Who should attend? This event is tailored for early-stage founders in the CPG space—whether you have an idea, are pre-revenue, sell at farmers markets, or have minimal retail presence.
Prepare by bringing your business questions. Think about areas like licensing, regulation, food safety, product development, packaging, labeling, marketing, finances, and more. The more specific your questions, the more valuable your interactions with our resource providers will be.
What to bring? Just yourself, though bringing note-taking materials and something to collect resources like business cards is recommended. If you have product samples or mockups of packaging, bring them along for feedback.