FoodLabs

Congratulations to Sebastian Schmidt, Niclas Kern, and Adam Khenissi on securing their funding round for Deutsche Sanierungsberatung (dsb) 🚀 The market for sustainable home renovation is massive – buildings currently account for over 30% of CO₂ emissions in Germany. The opportunity for impact is huge. dsb is developing a digital-first platform to help homeowners modernize their houses efficiently and sustainably – covering everything from insulation to heat pumps and solar panels. Unlike traditional providers, the company acts as an independent advisor, guiding homeowners through the best renovation options while connecting them with local craftsmen to ensure high-quality execution. With €3.6M in fresh funding, led by Vireo Ventures and IBB Ventures, the company is set to expand its digital planning technology and scale rapidly. Thanks, Andreas M. and WirtschaftsWoche, for covering this success story.

🍄 Big moves in food innovation: Kynda raises €3M to scale next-gen #protein production Proud to back 🍄 Franziskus Schnabel, 🍄Daniel MacGowan von Holstein and their team on the mission to build a smarter, more sustainable food system. The €3M Seed Round – led by EnjoyVenture, with support from PHW Group - the company behind WIESENHOF Geflügel-Kontor GmbH – and Clima Now – fuels their vision of turning side streams into high-value protein. 🚀 #New facility near Hamburg comes online – scaling to 70,000L fermentation capacity this year. 💡 #Fermentation at its best: Kynda’s biomass fermentation tech upcycles food-industry side streams into cost-effective, high-quality protein for food, feed & ingredients. 🔄 #Circular by design: Their proprietary bioreactors enable industry players to repurpose their own by-products, closing the loop. 🤝 #Powerful partnerships: Backing from PHW Group accelerates scale-up and unlocks new growth potential in alternative proteins. Game-changers for sustainable protein. More to come.

🚀 Passionate about PR, branding & storytelling in #VC? We’re looking for a Brand, PR & Communications Manager to join our FoodLabs core team. You’ll own our PR & communications strategy, secure top-tier media coverage, and position FoodLabs as a leading foodtech investor in Europe. From bold content & social engagement to global events & portfolio support, you’ll drive visibility and amplify the success of our startups. If you’re a creative thinker who understands what drives founders, VCs, and LPs – and how to speak their language – we want to hear from you. 📍 Based in Berlin, reporting to Thilo Teboho Winter. Ready to take FoodLabs to the next level? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dSDH5eSW Kerstin Sandow Franziska Schildbach Patrick Noller Thilo Teboho Winter Till Hoelzer Nicolaus Norden Julius Strauss Darius Zarrabian Florian Breiner Ann-Cathrin Schulz Jonathan Uthe-Spencker Adrian Friederich Lukas Jaworski

🚀 Visiting Analyst Internship – Climate, Biotech & Food Interested in climate tech, biotech, and food innovation? Want to see how venture capital works from the inside? At FoodLabs, we invest in early-stage startups tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re looking for a Visiting Analyst to join our team in Berlin for 4-6 months in Summer or Autumn 2025. What you'll do: 🔍 Spot and research emerging trends & groundbreaking startups 📊 Analyze markets, technologies, and potential investments 🤝 Work closely with experienced investors and founders Who should apply? 💡 You have a technical background and a STEM degree, in anything from robotics to chemical engineering 🧐 You’re analytical, curious, and eager to learn ⚡ You thrive in fast-paced, high-impact environments Apply via the link in the comments. Reach out to Kerstin Sandow in case you have questions. #Internship #VentureCapital #ClimateTech #Biotech #FoodTech #Berlin

🚀 Visiting Analyst Internship – Climate, Biotech & Food Interested in climate tech, biotech, and food innovation? Want to see how venture capital works from the inside? At FoodLabs, we invest in early-stage startups tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re looking for a Visiting Analyst to join our team in Berlin for 4-6 months in Summer or Autumn 2025. What you'll do: 🔍 Spot and research emerging trends & groundbreaking startups 📊 Analyze markets, technologies, and potential investments 🤝 Work closely with experienced investors and founders Who should apply? 💡 You have a technical background and a STEM degree, in anything from robotics to chemical engineering 🧐 You’re analytical, curious, and eager to learn ⚡ You thrive in fast-paced, high-impact environments Apply via the link in the comments. Reach out to Kerstin Sandow in case you have questions. #Internship #VentureCapital #ClimateTech #Biotech #FoodTech #Berlin

Nail Your Pitch Deck in 2025 – Live Session with Deck Doctors & FoodLabs Your pitch deck is your first handshake with investors – let’s make it count. We’re teaming up with Deck Doctors to host an exclusive online session for founders: 📅 Thursday, February 27, 2025 🕔 5-6 PM CET 🔗 Sign up 👇 – Link in first comment What’s on the agenda? - How to craft a compelling deck that gets investors’ attention in the first 60 seconds. - Real insights from 250+ pitch decks, shared by Alex Flynn, co-founder of Deck Doctors. - US vs. Europe: Why European startups need to step up their storytelling game. Inside the investor’s mind: Ann-Cathrin Schulz from FoodLabs shares what makes a deck stand out to VCs and Alex Flynn from Deck Doctors his insights based on building 250+ pitch decks. 🚀 This session focuses on Planetary & Human Health startups, but insights apply to all ambitious founders looking to refine their pitch. ⚡ No recordings – join live or miss out. 👇 What’s your biggest pitch deck challenge? Drop it in the comments – we will try to cover it in the session.

Nail Your Pitch Deck in 2025 – Live Session with Deck Doctors & FoodLabs Your pitch deck is your first handshake with investors – let’s make it count. We’re teaming up with Deck Doctors to host an exclusive online session for founders: 📅 Thursday, February 27, 2025 🕔 5-6 PM CET 🔗 Sign up 👇 – Link in first comment What’s on the agenda? - How to craft a compelling deck that gets investors’ attention in the first 60 seconds. - Real insights from 250+ pitch decks, shared by Alex Flynn, co-founder of Deck Doctors. - US vs. Europe: Why European startups need to step up their storytelling game. Inside the investor’s mind: Ann-Cathrin Schulz from FoodLabs shares what makes a deck stand out to VCs and Alex Flynn from Deck Doctors his insights based on building 250+ pitch decks. 🚀 This session focuses on Planetary & Human Health startups, but insights apply to all ambitious founders looking to refine their pitch. ⚡ No recordings – join live or miss out. 👇 What’s your biggest pitch deck challenge? Drop it in the comments – we will try to cover it in the session.

🍴 At FoodLabs, we are passionate about supporting the next wave of food tech startups tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges. Last week, we had the pleasure of joining a panel at the Hasso Plattner Institute / HPI Engine to discuss how technology is reshaping food supply chains and delivery. Great conversation on "Rethinking Food Tech: Innovation in Supply Chain & Delivery" with: 🚀 Daniel Khachab (Choco) 🚀 Oliver Merkel (Flink) 🚀 Till Hoelzer (FoodLabs) #takeaways: 📈 #Food Tech is full of untapped potential. With food as one of humanity’s core needs, there’s no shortage of opportunities for founders. 🌍 #Sustainability vs. reality. The food industry drives 26% of global CO₂ emissions, yet consumer habits don’t always match sustainability ambitions—an ongoing challenge for startups. 🎯 #Teams matter. As Till Hoelzer shared, strong teams can pivot, adapt, and ultimately define a startup’s success. 👩💻 #Tech’s evolving role. The best engineers today aren’t just coders—they’re curious problem-solvers who thrive in fast-changing environments. Thanks to Ignite, William Brandt & Matvey Sivachinski for organizing, and everyone who joined. Also, credit to Tom McCaughey for the great photo.

What’s Next in AgTech? 🚀🌾 Agri-food innovation is moving fast. At FoodLabs, we’re constantly scanning for the next breakthrough solutions shaping the future of food and agriculture. Adrian Friederich recently sat down with FoodHack to share the technologies our team is excited about – driving sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in global food production.💡 The 3 technologies we’re looking to back next: 👉 Biology’s Fast Lane – AI-driven metabolic modeling, high-throughput screening, and strain optimization are accelerating bio-based product development, cutting timelines and costs for functional ingredients, probiotics, and sustainable compounds. 👉 Adapting to a Hotter, Harsher World – Extreme weather is already causing $100B+ in insured losses annually, and future food production won’t look the same. We need climate-resilient crops, smart farming practices, and supply chain innovations to build a more secure food system. 👉 Enabling Affordable Bio-Scale-Up – Scaling synthetic biology has been a major bottleneck in the Bio Revolution, which could transform 60% of the global economy’s physical inputs. We’re backing solutions that make bio-manufacturing faster, cheaper, and more accessible. Want to know what’s catching other investors’ attention across the industry? Check out this list or read the article – link in comments. 🌾 Sustainable Nitrogen 🧪 Biological Alternatives 🚜 Decarbonizing Farm Machines 🧑🌾 Decentralized On-Farm Solutions 📈 Affordable Bio-Scale-Up ☀️ Climate-Resilient Non-GMO Crops 🧬 Genomics for Climate-Resilient Crops 💦 Precision Spraying for Crop Protection 💸 New Financial Solutions for Agriculture 🪨 Biochar & Soil Carbon Sequestration

🌱 Sustainability & Profitability – A Contradiction or the Future of Business? At Grüne Woche Startup Days, we tackled one of the most pressing questions for founders and investors alike: Can green business models be both sustainable and highly profitable? 🚀 Key Takeaways from the Panel: ✅ Financing pathways for green startups – From VC and impact funds to public grants: What works and why? ✅ Investor perspective on sustainability – Impact vs. returns: What really matters in funding decisions? ✅ Regulations & global policies – How political shifts are shaping the future of sustainable innovation? 💡 Featuring: 🔹 Friedrich Bardua (Rentenbank) – Financing for AgTech & FoodTech startups 🔹 Dominik Ewald (German AgriFood Society) – Innovation drivers in agrifood 🔹 Dominic R. (stealth) – Rethinking models for supporting farmers 🔹 Ann-Cathrin Schulz (FoodLabs) – Investing in the future of food & climate 🎯 The bottom line: Sustainability and profitability aren’t mutually exclusive. The right funding strategy paired with a scalable business model is key. What’s your take on financing impact-driven startups? #GreenInvesting #ImpactStartup #FutureofFood #AgriFoodTech #SustainableGrowth