Willicroft Original Better, a new plant-based butter

© Willicroft

Willicroft Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for New Clean-Label Vegan Butter Made with Beans and Fermentation

Dutch company Willicroft, Europe’s first plant-based cheese brand to achieve B-Corp certification, announces the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to support the release of its latest development at retail and food service in 2024: Willicroft Original Better, a vegan butter made using beans and fermentation. Willicroft aims to raise €350,000 through a convertible loan agreement (CLA) via Seedblink. Individuals or investors will have two options to convert the loans into equity shares in the company: a valuation cap of €7.5 million or a 20% discount. As the company explains, the likely conversion date of the CLA is set for Willicroft’s Series A in early 2025.  The campaign’s goal is €475,000; however, Willicroft already has €125,000 committed offline by existing investors.  Regarding returns, the company believes it is well-positioned …

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Mans Ullerstam. © Kale United

Kale United Aims to Raise 12M SEK in Preparation for IPO

Leading Nordic plant-based investor Kale United has started a new funding round with the goal of raising 12 million SEK (€1.03 million). The round will be active until December 1, with a third of shares already booked. It comes as Kale United prepares for an IPO in Q2 2025. Some of the capital raised will be used to launch a fund for sustainable investments, which will cater to large institutional investors. The fund will also provide capital to Kale United’s portfolio companies, increasing the investor’s assets under management by 150 million SEK (€12.9 million). Following the raise, Kale United plans to continue investing in both new and existing portfolio companies. The investor says it foresees high growth for its subsidiary, Kale Foods, which distributes its …

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pink albatross

©pink albatross

Spain’s Pink Albatross Opens Funding Round, Aiming to Raise Over €1M

Pink Albatross, a 100% plant-based ice cream company based in Madrid, has opened a financing round with the aim of raising between 1 and 1.5 million euros. The company’s objective is to consolidate its growth after reaching more than 2,000 points of sale in Spain, Portuga,l and Germany. The four pillars on which it will focus are: Innovation and new products: Pink Albatross currently has a wide variety of flavours and formats and with this financing, the company intends to expand its product portfolio. New marketing and sales activities with the aim of increasing both brand awareness and distribution. Recruitment of personnel: due to its strong growth in recent months, the company plans to expand its team. Maintenance of working capital or working capital Robust …

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Furahaa launches public fundraising campaign

Arthur Devillers © Furahaa

French Vegan Chain Furahaa Launches €1M Fundraising Campaign to Fuel International Expansion

Furahaa, a vegan fast-food chain based in France, has launched its first ever public fundraising campaign. The company hopes to raise €1 million via a secure platform, opening up 10% of its capital to the public. The funding will enable Furahaa to expand its mini-franchise concept, Furahaa Express. The chain hopes to open at least 30 franchised restaurants in 2024 alone, based in compact containers containing a kitchen and extraction system. The aim is to make vegan food as widely accessible as possible, which will include expanding beyond France. Furahaa also has a B2B arm, PlantB2B, which provides plant-based products to food service customers. Additionally, the company operates the vegan subscription box service ViVeg. Founded by deaf entrepreneur Arthur Devillers, Furahaa works to provide job …

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© Better Nature

Better Nature Launches £1M+ Crowdfund, Appoints New Non-Executive Director

UK tempeh brand Better Nature has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs with the aim of raising over £1 million. The campaign opened to the public yesterday (October 2). The funding will be used to drive mainstream retail growth for Better Nature, consolidating its position as a leading European tempeh brand. The company aims to “transform the meat-free aisle”, as consumers increasingly seek less processed plant-based options. The news follows a hugely successful year for Better Nature, with the company launching in Germany and securing its first UK supermarket listing at Tesco. Better Nature also launched a £3 million Series A round in May, and rolled out at all 966 UK Lidl stores in July as part of the retailer’s Vegan Week. “There’s a growing …

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La Vie exceeds crowdfunding target

© La Vie

La Vie Hits €1M Crowdfunding Target in Just Over an Hour

La Vie, the French producer of plant-based pork products, has exceeded its €1 million crowdfunding target within just over an hour of launching the campaign. The company is now overfunding, with the general public able to participate alongside expert investors. The news is the latest in a long line of successes for La Vie, which has achieved 379% year-on-year growth and sold 2.5 million products over the past 18 months. The campaign will run until October 3. “We are so thrilled to have hit our target of raising €1 million in just over one hour since we went live with our crowdfunding campaign,” said Nicolas Schweitzer, CEO and co-founder of La Vie. “It reinforces the promising future for the plant-based category and it is brilliant …

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Immaculate Vegan

© Immaculate Vegan

Immaculate Vegan Launches Crowdfunding Campaign After Seeing 56% YoY Sales Growth

Immaculate Vegan, a global marketplace dedicated to high-end vegan and sustainable fashion, has launched a crowdfunding campaign via CrowdCube as it continues to expand. The marketplace achieved over £1.12 million in gross sales and £218,000 in revenue over the last 12 months, along with 56% YoY sales growth. Since its launch in 2019, Immaculate Vegan has acquired over 15,000 customers from 40+ countries, with 7,000 of these customers gained in the past financial year. With another two weeks to go, the crowdfunding campaign is already oversubscribed, with the total sum raised standing at over £280,000 (the initial target was £200,000). Immaculate Vegan plans to use the funding to expand into new categories such as menswear, children’s clothing, homeware, and beauty. The marketplace is already backed …

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La Vie crowdfunding campaign billboard

© La Vie

La Vie Announces €1M Crowdfunding Campaign, Launches Vegan Ham & Virtual Restaurant

La Vie, a French producer of plant-based pork products, has announced a new crowdfunding campaign and product launch as it continues to see rapid growth across Europe. The campaign will take place on Crowdcube from September 7 to 28, with the aim of raising €1 million. It follows a period of considerable success for the company, with 2.5 million products sold in the past 18 months — equivalent to one every 12 seconds. Despite challenging market conditions, La Vie has seen 379% year-on-year growth, and can now be found at 4,600 retail stores and 3,000 restaurants across Europe. In the UK, the brand has seen 144% growth since its launch last year, and is present at major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado. Through …

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Invest in Les Nouveaux Affineurs

© Les Nouveaux Affineurs

Gourmet Vegan Cheese Producer Les Nouveaux Affineurs is Fundraising to “Build the Food of Tomorrow”

Les Nouveaux Affineurs, known for its award-winning plant-based alternatives to traditional French cheeses, today announces the launch of its participative fundraising with French crowdfunding and crowd-equity platform TUDIGO. This new round of financing will enable the company to step up its sales and marketing drive, improve industrial performance, and make further R&D investments to continue the development of innovative products. Founded in 2017 by Nour Akbaraly, Les Nouveaux Affineurs “imagines, manufactures and markets” 100% plant-based and natural alternatives to traditional cheeses — such as its most recent launch La Bûche (“the log”), a vegan goat’s cheese created with fermented cashews — harnessing a combination of gastronomy, plants and innovation. Since opening its production unit in 2021, Les Nouveaux Affineurs has employed an omnichannel distribution strategy …

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Vegan meal kits cooked and served

© Just Add Vegan

Just Add Vegan Opens Seed Round to Officially Launch Meal Kit Delivery Service in Australia

Australian vegan meal kit subscription service, Just Add Vegan, has opened an AUD$700 thousand seed round to upgrade its subscription platform, enhance operational efficiency, and officially launch in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.  Just Add Vegan was founded in 2021 by Padma Lianos and Arthur Voorwinden as Australia’s first health-focused meal kit service, operating at the intersection of plant-based eating and convenience.  Since its establishment, the company has tested its concept by delivering over 12,000 meal kits to more than 300 customers, allowing it to assess its viability, enhance its operations, and measure its potential success. “It was tremendously rewarding to see our vision come to life and to hear from customers that Just Add Vegan was actually ‘life-changing’ for them. Probably …

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Everyday Vegan Discount Club

© Everyday Vegan

Singapore’s Everyday Vegan Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for New Discount Club

Singapore’s leading physical vegan store, Everyday Vegan, has launched a crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising $50,000 for its discount club. The club aims to make vegan products as affordable and accessible as possible. It is described as a “community-driven, conscious marketplace focused on ethical, sustainable, and healthy food choices”. The campaign is running on Indiegogo, and anyone is able to participate. Early contributors can get up to 44% off retail prices for membership, and secure exclusive lifetime passes. Everyday Vegan hopes the funding will allow it to scale up operations and serve more members. “Significant milestone” Everyday Vegan was founded in 2020 and was Singapore’s first brick-and-mortar vegan store. It stocks a huge range of products, such as fresh produce, meat and dairy …

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Biodegradable Vegan Leather Jacket

©UNCAGED Innovations

UNCAGED Innovations Secures $2M in Pre-Seed Funding to Create Plastic-Free, Luxury Vegan Leather

UNCAGED Innovations, a US biomaterials startup focused on leather alternatives, announced it has raised $2M in pre-seed funding from investors, including InMotion Ventures, the investment arm of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The funding will be used to launch the company’s “next generation high-performance” vegan leather. Founded in 2020, UNCAGED Innovations is working to offer a sustainable alternative to leather for the consumer goods and automotive industry. Using patent-pending technology, the startup is creating a platform of biomimetic, plastic-free substitutes to replace animal hides that don’t require tanning chemicals. Compared to traditional leather, UNCAGED says its materials can be produced within hours, while animal-based leather can take up to several years.  To support the development of its technology, UNCAGED Innovations has also received a coveted grant …

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My Forest mycelium bacon

©My Forest Foods

MyForest Foods Raises $15M in Series A-2 to Scale MyBacon, Appoints Greg Shewchuk as New CEO

US mycelium startup MyForest Foods announces it has secured $15M in Series A-2 funding to support scaling and expansion of its popular flagship product, MyBacon. The company has also appointed food industry veteran Greg Shewchuk as CEO, replacing co-founder and former CEO Eben Bayer, who remain on as Chairman of the Board.  The round was led by MyForest Foods’ parent company, Ecovative Design. MyForest Foods states the new funding will primarily be used to accelerate its retail and food service growth across the Eastern US, including New York City, where its best-selling meatless bacon product – MyBacon – is now available at multiple markets, including Fairway Market and Gourmet Garage.  Since its highly successful launch in 2020, MyBacon has expanded to over 100 retailers across …

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Big Ideas Ventures launched its New Protein Fund II

© Big Idea Ventures

Big Idea Ventures Raises Initial Funds for $75M New Protein Fund II

Food tech investor Big Idea Ventures (BIV) has announced a first close for its New Protein Fund, which aims to raise $75 million within the next 12 months to support new food tech and protein innovators. This new raise brings its total assets under management to over $100 million.  Investors in the initial funding round included previous New Protein Fund I backers AAK (a Dutch plant-based oil ingredients firm) and Bühler, a solutions partner for the food processing industry. Big Idea Ventures claims to be the first global fund dedicated to the development and expansion of alt proteins, as well as the most active investor in the food tech category. Its NPF I portfolio includes French startup Gourmey, which raised €48 million in Series A funding in 2022, and …

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Amschela

© Amschela

Amschela Launches Crowdfunder for Multipurpose Bag Made From MIRUM Alt Leather

Amschela, a sustainable luxury handbag brand based in the UK, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for its new AIRIUM bag. AIRIUM is made from MIRUM, a plastic-free vegan leather alternative produced by Natural Fiber Welding. The multipurpose “6 in 1” bag can be worn six different ways — from handheld to a clutch or a crossbody. The bag will be manufactured by Veshin Factory in China, which produces sustainable accessories made from vegan materials. The facility also has a commitment to treating its workers ethically, in an industry notorious for its human rights abuses. Vegan brand Amschela started out by producing conventional leather accessories then transitioned to a vegan brand during the pandemic after learning about the environmental impact of the leather industry. The company …

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© Manna

56-Year-Old Vegan Restaurant Frequented by Paul McCartney Seeks Funding for Expansion

Manna, a vegan restaurant that first opened in London in 1967, is seeking funding to expand its brand and potentially open locations in other UK cities. After starting life as a vegetarian restaurant, Manna is now fully plant-based, serving wholesome, seasonal, freshly made dishes. It aims to cater to all allergies and dietary requirements, which includes providing kosher options. Historically, the restaurant has been frequented by celebrities such as Paul McCartney. Manna is a huge supporter of animal welfare and protection, hosting a variety of charity and fundraising events. In September, a fundraising dinner for All Dogs Matter was held at the restaurant, featuring actor Peter Egan (the charity’s patron). The animal rights groups North London Fox Sabs, Animal Equality, and Animal Rising have also …

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bettermoo(d) set to raise $10 million to launch its Moodrink

Image credit: bettermoo(d) FB

bettermoo(d) Aims to Secure $10M for Vegan Alpine Milk Moodrink

Plant-based dairy alternative company bettermoo(d) seeks to raise $10 million by selling shares at $6.80 each in a non-brokered private placement. Before launching its trademarked Moodrink — a vegan alternative formulated to emulate the taste of Alpine milk — on the West Coast of Canada this September, the company is offering a financing opportunity. It requires investors to purchase one share of common stock and one share purchase warrant, which is exercisable for $9.80 per share for 24 months. A new leader in the alt dairy sector The announcement was made by its parent company bettermoo(d) Food Corporation (CSE: MOOO), (OTCQB: MOOOF), (Frankfurt:0I5A, WKN: A3D8PP).  bettermoo(d) Food Corporation is an innovative plant-based dairy food and beverage firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with an established …

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Vegan Whole Cut Steak

©Chunk Foods/ The Butcher's Daughter

Chunk Foods Raises $15M in “Biggest Ever” Israeli Seed Round to Begin Scaling Whole-Cut Plant-Based Steak

Israeli startup Chunk Foods reveals it raised $15M in seed funding in November, in what the startup calls the “biggest ever” seed funding round for an Israeli plant-based company. Led by Fall Line Capital, The MIT E14 fund, and Robert Downey Jr. ‘s FootPrint Coalition, the raise will be used to construct one of the largest plant-based whole cuts factories in the world, which is set to be completed in Summer 2023.  According to Chunk, the new state-of-the-art facility will be capable of producing millions of plant-based steaks every year. Made with minimally processed ingredients, Chunk says its steak offers the same meaty bite, texture and umami flavors of conventional beef. Using fermentation technology, the company says it is able to produce whole-cut products with …

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Ready Burger founders

© Ready Burger

Ready Burger Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Fund First Sit-in Premises

Ready Burger, a plant-based fast food brand based in London, UK, is aiming to raise at least £250,000 through a new crowdfunding round. The funding will support the opening of Ready Burger’s first sit-in location in the south of England, and will also help the brand roll out its product range into food service and retail outlets UK-wide. Throughout this year, Ready Burger will work to develop new flavours and progress with new food tech partnerships. Ready Burger claims to have sold almost 500,000 products and generated over £1 million in revenue since it launched in 2021. Recently, the fast food brand announced a partnership with flavour and fragrance manufacturer Givaudan to use the latter’s award-winning PrimeLock+ technology. This imitates animal fat and locks flavour …

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Barvecue Plant-Based Pulled Pork

©Barvecue

Barvecue Completes Seed Equity Round to Support World’s Largest Plant-Based Smokehouse

Plant-based BBQ brand Barvecue announces it has completed the opening capital raise for its Seed equity funding round. The company will use the funds to support continued growth of its retail and food service business, as well as sustaining operations of its Carolina Smokehouse production facility.  Based in North Carolina, Barbecue produces a range of authentic, wood-smoked Pulled BVQ and Carnitas that replicate the taste and texture of pulled pork. In the last two years, its distribution has expanded to over 1,000 US grocery stores including Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Giant, Gelson’s and The Fresh Market. Barvecue has also partnered with WebstaurantStore, the largest online restaurant supply store, to expand its food service business. In 2021, the company broke ground on The Carolina Smokehouse – …

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