Astanor Ventures, a global leader in agrifood tech impact investing, based in Brussels, successfully closed its second venture fund at €360 million. This achievement underscores Astanor’s dedication to fostering transformative change in agrifood, solidifying its position as an agrifood specialist and forward-thinking player in the investment landscape.
This latest closing tops Astanor’s existing various funds and special purpose vehicles altogether amounting to over €800 million assets under management. Since its foundation in 2017, Astanor went from launching a first fund to building a firm led by a passionate team and backed by long-term investors with whom we have built collaborative relationships. The continuous engagement of large family offices and institutional ‘repeat’ investors demonstrates Astanor’s success in scaling its firm and its resilience in a turbulent economy. This proves that despite fluctuating market trends, the sectors of agrifood tech and bioeconomy at large remain intrinsically captivating and ripe for innovation, especially with the renewed global attention on the climate crisis and increased demand for sustainable options. Astanor’s decision to raise its second venture fund at this juncture is a testament to the company’s ability to seize opportune moments for investors, maximizing returns while contributing to material impact creation.
Building upon the success of its first venture fund, Astanor remains committed to its core investment strategy of supporting early-stage and mission-driven companies that have identified a social or environmental issue and have developed a nature-positive solution to resolve it. The agrifood value chain is a complex and interdependent sector which requires investors to take a holistic view to achieve system change. Over the years, Astanor has developed an extensive network of entrepreneurs, experts, scientists, leaders, and policymakers allowing Astanor to identify the innovative technologies that will drive the bioeconomy, with a specific emphasis on solutions that foster regenerative agriculture. Thanks to this ecosystem, Astanor invested in more than 45 promising companies and mission-driven founders all over the world. This focus aligns with Astanor’s core values of climate transition, nature positivity, resource efficiency, and the betterment of social and health outcomes.
Eric Archambeau, co-founder and partner of Astanor said: “We are thrilled to share the successful closing of our second venture fund and prove that among a continuously changing environment and economy, Astanor is here to stay,” and continued by adding: “When looking at new companies to invest in, our approach will continue to always look for highly disruptive and scalable business models, driven by ambitious entrepreneurs who also share our vision of sustainable and resilient agrifood and bioeconomy systems.”
“At Astanor Ventures, we firmly believe that the agrifood sector holds the key to tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and human health,” said Leslie Kapin, Director of Impact at Astanor Ventures. “Our second fund’s successful closure reaffirms our conviction in this vision and our unwavering dedication to catalyzing systemic change within the industry.” “As an impact investor, it is core to our mission to scale our companies with both impact and ESG as both are necessary to achieve sustainable and resilient agrifood and bioeconomy systems.”
“We are deeply grateful for the trust and confidence our investors have placed in us,” added Christina Ulardic, Partner at Astanor Ventures. “This fundraiser allows us to amplify our impact and catalyze innovative solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. We remain committed to supporting entrepreneurs who are pioneering advancements that will shape the future of food and agriculture for a thriving bioeconomy.”
Hendrik Van Asbroeck, Partner at Astanor Ventures stated: “As we witness the ever-evolving landscape of the agrifood market, it becomes increasingly evident that innovation is not an option but a necessity. The challenges we face today, from climate change to resource scarcity, demand a transformation in how we produce, distribute, and consume food. Astanor Ventures is dedicated to playing a pivotal role in this transformation by supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are redefining the future of agrifood, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient global food system.”
As Astanor Ventures embarks on this new chapter armed with an additional €360 million war chest, it reinforces its standing as a long-term player in the investment landscape, poised to reshape agrifood industries, stimulate growth, and contribute to the creation of a sustainable bioeconomy.
