Manuela Zoninsein

I'm looking forward to moderating a panel on June 17th at the Future Food-Tech Alt Protein Conference titled: "Boosting Investor Confidence: Adapting Innovative Financing Models to Overcome the Trough of Disillusionment" ___________________________________________________________________ I'll be joined by a great group of investors in the space, including: Shayna Harris of Supply Change Capital Ashley Hartman of Bluestein Ventures Nadav Berger of PeakBridge Rosie Wardle of Synthesis Capital We plan to hit on various topics: 🔵 Current fundraising environment for alt protein companies 🔵 How this varies by stage 🔵 What investors are looking for that help a company stand out 🔵 What needs to change in the space 🔵 Innovative financing approaches being taken beyond VC 🔵 and more Should be a great discussion, and I'm looking forward to hearing questions from the audience as well - from startups to corporates to other investors - hoping to get questions about what's really on everyone's minds If you'll be at the conference, let me know, as I'd love to connect! 💻 PS: If you were wondering what AI Image Generators create if you type in "Boosting Investor Confidence in Alternative Proteins" the pic below is one of the ones you get. Good? Bad? Odd? Not sure - but who knows what actually goes on within AI

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As we continue to navigate the complexities of cannabis reform, industry organizations — including the Cannabis Beverage Association, the Hemp Beverage Alliance, and the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp's Cannabis Beverage Council — must agree upon a unified approach. 🤝 Unity and collaboration are key: With the political landscape varying across markets, it’s vital that we move together, advocating strongly and setting standards that pave the way for a cohesive industry. Standards should aim to ensure safety, consistency, and ease of business across states, advocating for dosages and packaging that make sense for everyone. 💡 We are not just competing within the cannabis space but positioning ourselves alongside mainstream adult beverages, embracing the unique opportunities that THC and CBD-infused drinks offer. This strategic realignment emphasizes our commitment to not only advocate for, but also innovate within, the beverage sector. 🌐 As we embrace these changes, we invite our partners in mainstream distribution and retail to prepare for the integration of these exciting products into the broader market. Educate, engage, and ensure compliance to make the most of the burgeoning cannabis beverage opportunity. Let’s toast to a future where cannabis and hemp beverages are not just alternatives, but standards within the beverage industry! 🥂 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gUfkiCg5 #CannabisBeverage #HempDrinks #IndustryUnity #BeverageInnovation #CannabisReform #FutureOfCannabis

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🚨 🚘 An exciting day here at 8090 Industries as we ‘roll out’ our latest investment in ENSO - 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist, to revolutionize a stagnant industry undergoing the largest shift since its inception, with no solution in place, an aging workforce, lacking ingenuity and a business model out of touch with the dynamic needs of its customers - TIRES. World, meet Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, the industrialist pioneering a new dawn for the tire industry. But first, a quick history lesson: __________________________ In 1898, Franklin "Frank" Seiberling, jobless, with a wife and three children, borrowed $3,500 for a down payment from his brother-in-law, to purchase an old strawboard factory in Ohio, to open a rubber company. A science and history nut, he named it after Charles Goodyear, the pioneer of vulcanization, the main method of how rubber was produced. Over the next decade, they brought mechanization and technology to the cumbersome and time-consuming process of hand building tires — enabling one man to produce 60 tires in ten hours as opposed to five tires built by hand in a day. His Seiberling State machine revolutionized tire building and led to an explosion in tire production output. By 1907 - it caught the attention of Henry Ford who purchased 1,200 sets of tires for the Model T. And as they say, the rest is history. By 1913 - Over half the tires made in the U.S. were manufactured on Seiberling’s machines. By 1916 - The The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company became the largest tire producer in the world. _____________________ Today much has changed. @Goodyear is no longer the largest tire producer and tire manufacturers no longer own the direct relationship to fleets. That capitalistic, swashbuckling energy and entrepreneurial spirit that built Goodyear and pioneered the tire industry is in short supply, just when it needs it most as a global transition towards EVs compels the greatest growth opportunity for the tire industry in over a century. Led by Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, Enso produces tires perfectly fit for a world increasing run on EVs - that are tailored to endure the heavy weight and torque, last longer, cheaper and increase range by more than 10% today while bringing circularity to the supply chain and data through owning the direct relationship with fleets.  Don’t just take our word for it, some of the largest fleets in the world from Amazon to city cab fleets in Europe are already running on Enso tires and this is just the beginning. 👀 Stay tuned. Much to come! cc Kerem Ozmen Wes Mendenhall Filip Vurdelja Haluk Sabanci Dincer Grant Brown Ishan Meswani Garuth A. Andrew Irwin #climatetech #decarbonization

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What Learned This Week...... I saw no reason to watch debates this week. Instead, focusing on arbitrage in the AgTech venture market, renewable fuels, and improving rural healthcare. We are at a point in the investment cycle where the answer to the $1.9T in healthcare cost of poor nutrition will come from the farmers and entrepreneurs who figure out how to take the pressure from healthcare, Ozempic, and climate and turn it into a set of innovations that solve for all three. The innovations will likely come from the co-optimization of seed genetics, soil health, and food science. Combined with increased leadership from farmers and decreased market power of the processors. AI is the enabling force multiplier if it integrates with practical on-farm knowledge to co-create affordable nutrition. 1) Affordable nutrition will replace cheap calories. 2) The $53M investment by Andreessen Horowitz in Mark Hyman, MD Function Health is noteworthy. 3) Midwest farmers have an opportunity to tackle health in their local community. Increasing production of local fresh regenerative produce and collaborating with the rural health system to reduce diabetes. 4) Does anyone have any idea what to do with all the excess soybean meal from renewable diesel? 5) Both presidential candidates will support expansion into sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel because it is what farmers and export markets want. 6) If the Feds back out of 45z, blue states, foreign markets, climate billionaires, and corporations will fund the $5B to $10B in subsidy needed to close the business case. 7) Crop genetics and microbiome innovators need to develop technology that positively correlates crop energy and nutrient density—concurrently optimizing soil and genetics. 8) US fruit and vegetable production should move from California to the Mississippi Delta region. 9) CPGs know enough about regenerative agriculture to be dangerous. Farmers need to define best regenerative practices that work in their region. CPGs should shape the branding and food science. 10) Farmers working in a collective of 500k+ acres have the power to disrupt Co-Ops, Processors, nutrient density, and health. 11) To understand agriculture, Nestle, Unilever, BlackRock, JPM, etc need to hire FFA alumni as fast as possible. (Scott Stump) 12) South Asia and Southeast Asia (SASEA) are globalization's next frontier. Taking manufacturing from China. SADEA is a growing early adopter market for soy-based foods. 13) 10% of GHG is agriculture. If capital does not step in to fund recent venture shortfalls, we will lose 10 years of AgTech innovation required for affordable GHG mitigation. 14) H2 2024 and H1 2025 AgTech investments will likely be the best vintage year returns in decades. 15) My 2 cents on the Presidential debate is that a nutrient-dense diet rich in fresh vegetables improves golf handicaps in octogenarians. #foodishealth Brad Fruth Ellen Brown Clint Brauer Erin W. Martin Katie Stebbins Shari Rogge-Fidler

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💸 Here are the 1️⃣1️⃣ #FoodTech news and deals of the week that you should know about: 🇺🇸🍄meati™, a US-based startup, raised $100M (the largest round in alternative proteins since 2022) to sustain its growth in retail. Meati uses biomass fermentation to produce meat alternatives that are now distributed in thousands of stores in the US. 🇺🇸🍫 Voyage Foods, a US-based startup, raised $52M for its plant-based, allergen-free and climate-friendly (its milk chocolate alternative produces 84% less emissions than the “real thing”) ingredients for snacks. It creates alternatives to chocolate, peanut butter, etc., through its own brand but also for B2B applications. With $94 raised in total, it leads the ever-growing category of startups applying alternative protein technologies to plants. 🇺🇸🌱 ArkeaBio™, a U.S.-based startup, raised $26.5M for its methane-reducing livestock vaccine. This opens a new area of exploration for methane reduction beyond supplements. 🇬🇧🧠 Hexis, a British startup, raised £1,6M for its service for athletes that translates the data gathered from wearables into personalised nutrition advice. 🇮🇱🥩 ProFuse Technology, an Israeli startup, received €2.4M in grants for the development of a supplement to be used in culture medium for cellular agriculture, which speeds the growth of cultivated meat. 🇩🇪 🌿 Insempra, a German startup, raised €20M for its technology that turns oil yeast into lipids through fermentation. These lipids target applications in cosmetics and food, notably in antioxydants, preservatives, and flavours. 🇫🇷 💳 An older news that we missed from last month: Anycommerce by ChapsVision, a French PoS solution provider, formerly known as Wynd, was acquired from ChapsVision for a rumoured €12.5M. That’s quite a low figure for a startup that raised above €100M and was once seen as among the most promising French startups. It may be one of the most interesting and less documented stories of startup deception and over-valuation in the European ecosystem. 🇸🇪 🥛 Oatly has cut losses in Q1 2024, while sales (slightly) improved. 🇺🇸 🍔 Beyond Meat announced its 8th consecutive quarter of sales decline. However, losses were also reduced, and it hopes that 2024 will be “pivotal” (let’s hope it will be, otherwise, the future looks bleak as the company has accumulated a large $1B+ debt). 🇺🇸 🚚 Publicly traded delivery startups had a good quarter: - Instacart beat expectations in Q1 - Similarly, DoorDash did well. 👉 To get all our insights on the future of the food industry, sign up to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gBKHaVRJ All the article's details, links, and more analysis are in the link in the first comment! #startup #foodtech #agtech #deal #fundraising

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Exciting advancements in food technology are sparking debates and legislative actions, as seen in Florida's recent moves against lab-grown meat. Bills like HB 1071 and SB 1084 aim to criminalize the production and sale of cell-cultivated meat, citing concerns ranging from ethics to the impact on traditional industries like cattle farming.   Cell-cultivated meat, unlike plant-based alternatives, is real meat grown from animal cells in a lab setting, avoiding animal slaughter. Despite heavy oversight by the FDA and USDA, some lawmakers argue that uncertainties remain, echoing concerns about long-term effects and ethical boundaries.   Yet, proponents like Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just, Inc., see this innovation as a sustainable solution, reducing land and water usage compared to traditional meat production. While Florida joins other states in pushing back against this emerging industry, global players like South Korea, Israel, and the Netherlands are embracing it, with China even incorporating it into national food security plans.   The debate around lab-grown meat reflects a broader conversation about the future of food, balancing innovation, ethics, and industry interests. What are your thoughts on this evolving landscape? #FoodInnovation #Sustainability #FutureOfFood https://lnkd.in/efx95qNB

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What's a no brainer in business? Spend $75K, make additional $6.5M in revenue. This is the difference between a 10,000 sqft cannabis #CEA cultivation growing 2.0lbs a light (57g/sqft) x 4 harvests per year and the same cannabis grow running our Grow Perfect 10 program conservatively getting 2.5lbs per light (75g/sqft) x 5 harvests per year. If you go with our facility design + SOPs we can consistently get you to 3+ lbs per light 5+ harvests per year of top shelf quality. Data doesn't lie, combine that with proven SOPs and processes and you don't lose. #cannabiscea #cannabisdesignbuild #doitforthehorticulture

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How big is the Hemp Beverage industry in MN!? According to Delta Emerald Ventures, it's $180M (~26M cans) big! Holy buckets that's a lot of cans! 😮 #Hemp #HempBeverages #Cannabis #FunctionalBeverages #HempBrands #CannabisData #Data Hemp Beverage Alliance Cannabis Beverage Association

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🌍💡 Embracing Interoperability: The Evolution of Carbon Markets 💡🌍 The landscape of carbon markets is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift towards fungibility and interoperability. What does this mean? We (at the SoHo Global Climate Fund) spoke with leading climate fund manager, Charles Bedford of Carbon Growth Partners, to shed light on this important trend in the carbon markets. It's about creating seamless connections between compliance and voluntary markets, allowing for the exchange and recognition of carbon credits across borders and sectors. This trend marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts towards combating climate change. By enabling carbon credits to be fungible and interoperable, we're fostering a more efficient and scalable approach to carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. Companies and organizations now have greater flexibility to participate in markets that align with their goals. #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Fungibility #Interoperability #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalImpact

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🚨 Sad News in the Food Tech World 🚨 I am sad to share the news of SciFi Foods' closure. This innovative start-up, known for its groundbreaking work in cultivated meat, had the vision to produce a $1 burger that is both affordable and sustainable. CEO Josh March mentioned in a LinkedIn post "Great technical execution wasn’t enough. The zeitgeist around meat alternatives went from boom to bust. It became effectively impossible to raise the tens of millions needed for a small commercial launch; much less the hundreds of millions needed for full commercialization." In my article last week, I highlighted how foodies expressed their reluctance to buy alternative meats that aren't affordable. This sentiment underscores the uphill battle to make such innovations accessible to the masses. While SciFi Foods' journey has come to an end, its mission and vision continue to inspire. Will we ever see the realization of their dream for a truly affordable and sustainable alternative meat? Only time will tell. https://lnkd.in/gsbxZ8by #FoodTech #Innovation #Sustainability #CultivatedMeat #FutureOfFood

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Indoor farming has attracted over $6 billion in investments since 2019: It's a year-round method of crop production that optimizes space through its use of vertically stacked layers. It’s projected to grow (10% by 2032, reaching $96 billion*), yet many are struggling to deliver returns. Notably, AppHarvest recently filed for bankruptcy after reporting a net loss of $177 million, highlighting the challenges in achieving profitability in this sector. ⬆️On the up - Plenty® is one to watch - they are flush with funding from SoftBank and have formed a JV with Abu Dhabi-based Mawarid Holding Investment .They are building a network of indoor farms, likely starting with an indoor strawberry farm in Abu Dhabi. If successful, it would help elevate indoor farming as a more marketable proposition - particularly in locations that are too dry for traditional farms. Indoor farming has appeal for sure..but they an infrastructure-heavy, pricey endeavor that has proven incompatible with venture exit time frames. This begs the question around the sustainability of funding models in industries focused on longer-term growth. #VentureCapital #IndoorFarming #Investment #Sustainability #Agriculture *Statista

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The latest data on the plastics pileup from Crunchbase: as plastic waste soars, so does investment in solutions. Over $300 million has been invested in the last year in companies developing greener consumer products, alternative materials, and improved waste management techniques. Notable solutions include CA based ZenWTR (creating water bottles from recycled ocean-bound plastic), and with Travis Kelce as a lead #investor, Tel Aviv startup UBQ Materials (straddling both waste & alt. material categories), and Hamburg based traceless materials (creating plant based, plastic-free and home compostable materials from leftovers of ag food production). #Sustainability #Startup #Green

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My thoughts exactly.

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Despite stringent regulations on cannabis legalization, THC products are cropping up everywhere! 🌿 Explore the unexpected dynamics driving the thriving cannabis market in certain regions. 🧐 Curious about the trends fueling this phenomenon? Dive deeper! #CannabisMarket #THC #CBD #CannabisIndustry

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THC-infused beverages are exploding in Minnesota and changing the dynamics of the alcohol industry. Some quick background on this weed drinks revolution and how it might impact the booze business 👇 A few years ago, Minnesota state lawmakers signed into law a bill that permitted the sale of low-potency, hemp-derived beverages. These beverages are made with real, intoxicating THC that just happens to be produced/derived somewhat differently than traditional marijuana. The new law was focused primarily on more traditional cannabis form factors like smoking and edibles (the beverage portion was somewhat of an after thought). But the beverages have turned out to be, by far, the biggest surprise and winner. The market for THC beverages in Minnesota has exploded in the last two years, growing from basically zero to ~$200 MILLION annually. That is meteoric growth, especially when you consider it's only in one state. Essentially ever liquor store in Minnesota is now devoting a legitimate amount of shelf space to this new class of beverages. And they are FLYING off shelves. Just as important: many struggling craft breweries have found a life line in THC beverages. State rep Zack Stephenson, a top voice on cannabis policy reform, stated: “I can’t tell you the number of brewery owners who have told me, ‘But for this product, we would have gone out of business." COVID hit many breweries hard, so the timing is miraculous. The success in Minnesota is prompting a broader discussion about the future of hemp-derived THC and many other states are looking at following Minnesota's playbook. The consumer response has validated that there is very clearly a real market for these drinks. Weed drinks tend to appeal to a much broader base of consumers and can fill an important void for people looking to find some level of escapism/social lubrication without getting drunk. The beverages also tend to have a softer and less intense effect than smoking or edibles. There's still a bit of ambiguity around the laws, with some lawmakers advocating for shutting down this new hemp sector, others fighting hard to keep it growing, and some entirely unsure of the actual state of the industry. Regardless, the new laws in Minnesota (and federal loophole allowing the sale of hemp-derived THC beverages) has made one thing abundantly clear: There is massive consumer demand for THC beverages! It's still early, but the sales and customer data is quite compelling and shows a clear trajectory for this industry to continue to grow like wildfire. On their current trajectory, THC beverages look like they may end up being a "fourth tier" in the alcohol (beer, wine, spirits, THC beverages). It's a wild and exciting new development in the world of cannabis, alcohol, and vice overall. Will be watching this space closely!

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RA PROBLEM No.33 A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION CONSTRUCTED AND PERPETRATED FOR AGTECH BENEFIT. YOU WANT CHANGE? VOTE CORRECTLY Folks have reacted to my concern with (RA) as being a monophobia my being a troll. They close the door or ghost. (See my post: (RA) hates opposing thinking). While it saddens me in the instance of certain of these folks, whom I trusted and admired to take the petty route of malignant silence (in certain cases theft of IP) I am undeterred to say I am not a #troll and I speak with #facts and #transparency. The real absolute is this is old news and the horror is that so many see it as news. Yes we must address these issues head on instead of the ridiculous pursuit to prop up the undefined Regenerative Agriculture, who is aligned with #agtech. That distraction has provided a pathway for the next generation of toxins and consolidated #agtech #agribusiness To the point of the post's subject I have been told it is "news" the chemical industry is trying to supersede state laws with federal laws and lobbying. This is exactly what happened with the GMO labeling fight. I say this is a core issue for more than a decade and I have been reading, researching and commenting on for as long. This is not news due to the legacy events we have endured since #RachelCarson. So, IMO, I respectfully disagree -but- clearly stated "...yes, we must address these issues head on.." but where is the activation in a critical aspect? Does it matter to point to a previous #agtech-#Conventional Ag campaign, or another compilation of a disaster that has unfolded over a decade, to justify they are re-running the same successful program? I say no. I agree on a call for citizens to activate and push back, don't purchase, xeriscape, eco-scape. Question: Why is GLY in every #MLB stadium? 35 >40k attendance each day, directly exposed, many children. Do we have equal protection from enabling legislation? If no, why not? The chemical company lawsuits are available and public. They are as available as nano-plastics in our atmosphere, oceans, marine and wildlife and our own persons. The topic story is covered extensively (2015 >present) on bees, dicamba, GLY in investigative reports and direct governing agencies/ #Agtech quotes largely shrugging shoulders. #Agtech perpetuates petrochemicals. #Agtech fragments, co-opts and invents (RA) nomenclature/ systems ignoring natural systems. This is the real story. Work to end the ridiculous distraction of the undefined (RA) aligned with #agtech and commit to mitigating proven systems with #zeroinputs we overcome 40% of the problem; add in lawns, landscapes and parks; and we are above 60%. We can't afford distraction as the "next generation" of toxin-consolidation -no one- is discussing unfolds now. Conversations on what "we" failed to end has no effect. The trendlines for #chemicals #synthetics #biostimulant use is incrementally increasing toward 2060 with ample support. Why? #votecorrect #transparency #Nature

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I have a unique list of places to visit, ranging from natural landscapes to tech centers and research facilities. One place at the top of my list was the Sirius synchrotron light source in Campinas, Brazil, the second brightest in the world. I recommend you read this recent piece (https://lnkd.in/dcfucTcr) about Sirius, on how AI turbocharges the particle accelerator and green hydrogen in the capital of science. Reading the piece about Campinas, a city 100 km from São Paulo, reminded me of its remarkable tech-oriented and science-dense economy. Home to one of Brazil's top universities and numerous deep-tech companies with global ambitions, Campinas offers a unique blend of globally-minded tech entrepreneurship and world-class science. Big science projects like Sirius are essential for advancing knowledge and driving innovation. At the GFCC | The Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, we highlighted this in the "Leveraging Extreme Innovation" report (https://bit.ly/3Wes9a5), analyzing 17 transformational tech projects worldwide, including Sirius. These projects push the boundaries of science, technology, and business, leading to market innovations. Sirius is part of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), a major science infrastructure with global relevance. Notably, CNPEM operates as a private non-profit, showcasing the importance of institutional innovation. Innovation in institutions is crucial for emerging nations, especially in Latin America. Hugo Resende, a favorite author of mine on LinkedIn, shares valuable insights on innovation. We agree on three key points (right, Hugo?) innovation is poorly understood in Brazil, it's primarily about business and the economy, not just science and technology, and Brazil needs to improve its business environment and modernize its institutions to foster innovation. Even operating under the Brazilian business environment and institutional constraints, CNPEM’s innovative model provides a template for what is possible to do in the country regarding science and technology, and even innovation. But real change will only happen when Brazil trains and empowers a globally-minded generation of Brazilians at scale. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), a key player in training talent, has produced companies like the Nasdaq-listed CI&T showcasing successful examples of research-industry partnerships. Interestingly, CNPEM harbors ILUM (https://ilum.cnpem.br/), a highly innovative, project-based higher education program. Federal universities in Brazil need reinvention, and ILUM's innovative setup could serve as an inspiration. It reminds me of what my friend João Jornada achieved during his tenure at Inmetro, combining cutting-edge research with education, creating the opportunity for students to work with cutting-edge science tools, in globally relevant projects. Any thoughts BR colleagues? If you are not Brazilian: to these points resonate with your reality? Comments?

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BIG NEWS COMING SOON!!! Cannabis Research Coalition is expanding! 😅 As one of the only global #CannabisCultivationResearch orgs we stand a the brink of new innovation, technologies, and efficient growing protocols/methods that are immediatly applicable to the #growers. We are looking for new #members to financially support the needed research! If you want to learn more about what we do, why membership matters and how to get involved- DM me and let’s talk shop. There are plenty of universities also doing cultivation research but it’s discovery work that is not immediately applicable to growers and due to limited funding and academia limitations/restrictions it’s often a slow process Most importantly the industry is not involved much in the academic research- we work directly with some of the worlds largest growers to understand their direct needs to direct our research priorities, this is incredibly valuable! Our team and current members have the experience and arsenal of resources to support the industry’s ever changing needs. We hope to hear from you! Www.cannabisrc.org Allison Justice, PhD. Selina LaBlanche Samuel Wallace Markus Roggen Miyabe Shields, PhD Riley D. Kirk, PhD

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