Venture capital platform Earth First Food Ventures (EFFV) has launched a $10 million Series A funding round via tokenization.
The investment will expand EFFV’s portfolio in the alt-dairy sector, launch a $50 million fund dedicated to precision fermentation, and support team growth.
The EFFV tokens can be purchased on Securitize, the leading platform for tokenizing real-world assets on a blockchain, to make investment opportunities in disruptive food technologies and alternative proteins more accessible and streamlined.
“The traditional dairy industry is facing a dairy deficit to the tune of 20-30 million tons by 2030”
Brian Ruszczyk, co-founder and CEO of the firm, shares: “We are excited to announce the launch of our Series A round on the Securitize platform. This step helps us become a leader in the scaling of ‘Dairy without the Cow’ in collaboration with global strategic partners.
“The traditional dairy industry is facing a dairy deficit to the tune of 20-30 million tons by 2030. That’s a $60-90 billion opportunity that needs solving. Our solution is ‘Dairy without the Cow.'”
Democratizing investments in alt proteins
Accredited investors from both the US and international markets can purchase tokens for a minimum investment of $100,000, subject to KYC and AML requirements, by subscribing to EFFV’s shares (Ticker: EFFV) via the Securitize platform or directly through the EFFV website.
EFFV says that converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain democratizes access to investments in synthetic biology, allowing accredited investors to diversify their portfolios with sustainable investments.
Ruszczyk adds, “More importantly, the EFFV platform enables a diverse group of individuals, who often face barriers in venture capital, to invest smaller amounts into our holding company, such as $100,000 instead of $1,000,000, allowing them to support impactful investment opportunities.
“This inclusive approach aligns with our commitment to democratizing investment and fostering innovation, ensuring that more people can contribute to and benefit from our mission of transforming the dairy industry.”
The mission of EFFV
Based in Dublin, Ireland, EFFV specializes in ESG investments and innovative food technologies, channeling climate capital toward plant-based, fermented, and cultivated proteins. The firm has invested in the precision fermentation startup The EVERY Co.
This new Series A round builds on a previous $3 million seed round led by several Greek Family Offices and seeks to strengthen the company’s leadership position in the animal-free dairy industry.
According to Boston Consulting Group, the alternative protein market will reach $290 billion by 2035. This growth will represent 11% of global protein consumption, and the impact on climate change would be equivalent to decarbonizing 95% of the aviation industry.
Currently, many startups are developing whey and casein proteins through precision fermentation to make alternative dairy; however, only a few products featuring synbio proteins are on the market. Nonetheless, a recent report from the consultancy Bright Green Partners estimates that precision-fermented milk becomes increasingly competitive as technical innovations improve and production processes scale up.
Ruszczyk adds, “The technologies from Precision Fermentation exist today to move towards the production of bio-identical bovine whey at price parity with traditional dairy. It requires infrastructure and manufacturing capacity to be realized at a commercially viable scale. This is the mission of EFFV.”
