Gorillas investor Christophe Maire launches food tech fund for 100 million euros

Dusseldorf Christophe Maire has a nose for disruptives. As the first investor, he believed in the business model of the Gorillas express delivery service. In summer 2020 he joined the young start-up with his Berlin company Atlantic Food Labs. After the last round of funding, the valuation of gorillas skyrocketed to around $ 3 billion. “That really happened very quickly,” comments the investor, who still holds a single-digit stake in gorillas, with Swiss reluctance.

Now Maire, who is also referred to as “Super Angel” in the start-up scene, is launching a food tech fund of 100 million euros, as Handelsblatt learned in advance. The capital is intended to support 40 to 50 companies in Europe with disruptive potential for sustainable nutrition. “The food industry has a huge impact on our health and the planet,” says Maire. New intelligent solutions are needed along the entire supply chain.

The new fund invests in innovations – from agrotech to urban farming and alternative proteins to smart production and sales methods. The goal is healthier foods with a low carbon footprint.

The first start-ups from Germany to be funded include Microharvest, which produces proteins from bacteria, and Klim, which supports farmers in storing CO2 in soils. Airfarm offers farmers a digital platform, and Foodji is developing food vending machines with healthy meals.

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Maire has raised capital from institutional investors as well as from family offices in the industry, including large retailers, food and beverage manufacturers. “They are all specifically looking for sustainable investment opportunities,” says Maier.

He wants to build a platform for start-ups and the traditional food industry. Well-known industry giants such as Oetker were invested in Atlantic Food Labs, which Maire founded in 2016 and has now renamed Food Labs. Bitburger, Gemüsering and Döhler are shareholders and partners in the new fund. In some cases, you invest in the start-ups at the same time.

Maire, who studied business administration in Sankt Gallen, made money with navigation software. His start-up Gate5 was bought by Nokia in 2005. Ten years later, BMW, Audi and Daimler took over the map service, renamed Here Technologies, for 2.6 billion euros. Then Maire founded Txtr, which wanted to compete with Amazon with e-books, but flopped.

EU regulations slow down food tech

Maire deliberately acts as an early-stage investor. “Venture capital enables leaps and bounds for innovation and is a critical catalyst for entrepreneurship. That’s why I support disruptive founders, even if they haven’t made any sales for a few years, ”explains the 55-year-old.

Europe has many entrepreneurial talents and university spin-offs with innovative patents. “What is missing is the supporting infrastructure, that’s where we want to start. Why wait until the Americans stir up the industry? ”Asks the Swiss.

Maire sees an obstacle for disruptive food tech in Europe in the strict and lengthy EU approval process for so-called novel food. “Innovations for a green economy are being thwarted under the guise of consumer protection,” he complains.

Maire sees himself as a long-term companion for entrepreneurs. Eight experts from the Food Labs team provide support in many areas, including the search for suitable co-founders. Maire also coaches the founders personally. The US portal “Tech Crunch” named him “Best European Seed Investor” twice.

Atlantic Food Labs has so far invested 15 million euros in around 25 start-ups. Maire sees great potential in portfolio companies such as vertical farming provider Infarm or companies such as Mushlabs, Formo or Meatable that produce alternative proteins.

The Swiss is by no means the only investor who relies on food tech. Blue Horizon from Switzerland is investing heavily in alternative proteins. Five Seasons Venture from Paris announced a week ago a Foodtech Impact Fund of 180 million euros. Ex-Metro boss Olaf Koch wants to set up a fund called Zintinus with at least 150 million euros by spring. Unlike Maire, Koch joins the start-up’s growth phase.

Maire is happy about every player who brings food tech forward. He does not see the market overheating, even if some valuations are perhaps too high. “It’s a bet on the next generation of meat or milk. We are only at the beginning of a major upheaval, ”emphasizes Maire. Consumers’ awareness has already changed astonishingly.

More: Ex-Metro boss Olaf Koch founds investment fund for food tech

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