Inventages Venture Capital Investment Inc.

A booming food and beverage segment with a history as rich and varied as its present-day product offerings

Plant-based Dairy & Egg

Ripple Foods is a plant-based dairy company specializing in pea protein-based dairy alternatives.The startup uses a patented method to extract "Ripptein," a protein from yellow split peas, which it claims to be the world's purest non-dairy alternative. Ripple Foods combines this protein with fat and sweeteners like cane sugar or monk fruit to create a neutral-tasting protein, with a creamy texture similar to dairy protein.Ripple Foods launched its first product, Ripple Milk, which claims to offer 8x more protein and 50% less sugar than dairy milk, in 2016. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20490">July 2023</a>, the company launched a sugar-free version of its Ripple Kids, followed by <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31339">Ripple Shake Ups protein</a>, a plant-based protein drink targeting the pre-teenage demographic, in July 2024.As of December 2023, Ripple Foods products are available in over 20,000 outlets in North America.Key customers and partnershipsIn May 2021, Ripple Foods partnered with NBA player Jrue Holiday to highlight the company’s products and "Dairy Free Done Right” slogan.Funding and financialsIn September 2021, Ripple Foods secured USD 60 million in Series E funding led by Rage Capital, Ajax Strategies, S2G Ventures, and others. The funds were earmarked to expand into new product categories and accelerate its growth. Further, in December 2023, the company secured USD 49.2 million via equity, debt, and securities.

Ripple Foods specializes in making non-dairy milk with just as much protein as milk and half the sugar.  Ripple has 8x the protein of almond milk and half the sugar of dairy milk. It’s high in bioavailable calcium (50% more than milk), potassium and provides a good source of omega-3s. It’s lower in calories than milk and best of all, it has the creamy, delicious texture our dairy-free friends are missing. No more thin, chalky almond/ soy/ cashew milk. It was founded in 2014 and headquartered in Emeryville, California.

Accera is a biotechnology company that engages in the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. It offers Ketasyn, a molecule for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and age-associated memory impairment. It was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado.

XOLUTION is the most advanced reclosable beverage container solution. Already in its prototype state, the new XO resealable can won the Can of the Year Award in Dubai in 2009 (Winner Silver - Category Prototype) and was enhanced and refined since, involving extensive market research and field testing. With the can now entering the consumer beverage market, they are confident that the product resembles a step forward for XOLUTION in becoming the market leader in this field.  XOLUTION GmbH is headquartered in Munich, Germany. In 2008, Marc von Rettberg was named Chief Executive of the company. He joined Christian Bratsch, Vice President R&D, to introduce innovative designs to the beverage packaging industry for reclosable beverage cans. Rettberg and Bratsch established new product design guidelines with a clear focus on values and benefits for the entire supply chain. The innovative beverage can ends were required to offer easy usage to the consumer (intuitive, easy to open and reseal), easy integration for the beverage filler in the existing processes (no major adjustments to the filling line), easy handling for the can maker (XO reclosable can ends based on standard shells), and improved commercialization for the beverage brand (unique branding options). And, of course, the focus was set on providing these benefits at a reasonable overall cost. In 2009, Can Maker Magazine recognized the XOLUTION innovative resealable can with the Silver Award in the Prototype category for the XO-400 reclosable beverage can lid. Since Time-to-Market is a key challenge for all innovators, Rettberg and Bratsch have created a competitive advantage of rapid prototyping and testing capabilities in their Salzburg R&D Center.  XOLUTION GmbH is managed by one of the most competent teams in the business. With long-term experiences in their respective fields, their leading specialists guarantee the best coverage of all business areas from prototyping, R&D and product management to trading and distribution. With their knowledge, the XO Resealable Can was successfully converted from a simple vision to a technologically sophisticated product that will have a significant influence on the canned beverage market.

Cognoptix  is creating and developing an innovative, non-invasive eye test to assist in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Cognoptix's goal is to provide clinicians with a quick, predictive, reliable, inexpensive, and widely available test, enabling early diagnosis and treatment. The company was founded in 2001 and headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

AM-Pharma B.V., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutics for human use in the Netherlands. It focuses in the pre-clinical and clinical development of novel therapeutics to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases. The company develops products based on endogenous proteins and protein derived peptides, as well as molecules that naturally occur in the human body. Its products include alkaline phosphatase for treatment of acute kidney injury and ulcerative colitis; and immune response amplifying peptide hLF1-11 for the treatment of drug resistant hospital acquired infections. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bunnik, the Netherlands.

Phagenesis is developing a device for the treatment for dysphagia, the inability to swallow safely, that often accompanies stroke or other neuro-deficit diseases. The approach is to harness the brain's own capacity for relearning functions that have been lost through brain damage (via ''neuroplasticity'' or ''cortical remapping''). Focusing initially on the care of stroke patients as they recover in hospital (acute care), Prof Shaheen Hamdy of the University of Manchester, UK, painstakingly devised a method of delivering electrical signals from the pharynx (throat) along nerve cells directly to the relevant parts of the brain. The results of his work have been published in top peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, including The Lancet, the Nature group of publications, and Gastroenterology.

Phosphate Therapeutics, a UK-based independent specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of mineral-derived hospital pharmaceuticals. The company intends to use the capital to complete the Phase 2 development of its phosphate binder (PT20) for the treatment of a late-stage renal disease suffer from systemic phosphate accumulation, hyperphosphataemia, whose global rights were acquired from the Medical Research Council.

MSI Methylation Sciences Inc. operates as a biotechnology company. The company develops and markets S-Adenosyl Methionine, a prescription drug used as a dietary supplement. MSI Methylation Sciences Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in West Vancouver, Canada.

Shield Therapeutics is an independent specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of late-stage, mineral-derived hospital pharmaceuticals which address areas of high unmet medical need. During 2011 Shield will be commencing global pivotal Phase III studies of its lead asset, ST10-021, for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia associated with inflammatory bowel disease and subsequently chronic kidney disease. The Company is headquartered in Wollerau, Switzerland.

CMP Therapeutics, Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company, develops chitin microparticles (CMP) for macrophages and dendritic cells in the nasal and respiratory tract. The company develops a CMP nasal spray for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, as well as for the clinical applications of nasal spray for enhancing natural resistance to influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Its CMP is also used as an adjuvant in nasal vaccines. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Bicester, the United Kingdom.

Tanfield Direct is an online provider of natural foods.

MooBella has developed a revolutionary, disruptive technology that has the potential to transform and expand the nearly $60 billion ice cream industry. It enables instantaneous aeration, flavoring and freezing of ice cream into scoops of premium hard ice cream within seconds, and thereby eliminating the frozen supply chain.

Drug development firm focused on immunology. They are headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.  Opsona Therapeutics is one of Europe's most innovative and dynamic drug development companies. We are at the forefront of drug development in immunology research, with particular focus on the innate immunity pathways.    Since its founding in 2004, Opsona has validated and developed a series of exciting new drug candidates and strategies which modulate the human innate immune system. We are located in Dublin, Ireland.

Steaz is a brand of organic green tea beverages made with ingredients you can feel good about.   Since 2002, Steaz has provided fans with healthy, high-quality beverages while maintaining strong, socially responsible relationships with the company’s ingredient partners around the world.   Their pride is anchored in their organic certification and dedication to fair trade and support for sustainable farming around the world.   Steaz is available in three healthy and delicious product lines – iced green teas, energy drinks and cactus water beverages. Find your flavor and start sipping on certified goodness.

GC-Rise Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a solely-foreign-owned enterprise invested by INVENTAGES, a famous European investment group engaged in healthcare industry. Taking “Devoted to human healthcare and a better life” as our mission, the company makes full use of the business networks of our strategic cooperation partner in America, Europe and Japan, their affluent experiences in clinical development, clinical trials and registration in China, and their abundant strength in commercial distribution, hospital sale, marketing, so as to provide novel, safe, and highly efficient medical products and treatment ideas for Chinese patients.

Food Quality Sensor International, Inc., a sensor technology company, develops and commercializes real-time and interactive food freshness measurement devices. The company provides SensorQ, which measures the level of freshness of meat or poultry within the package; and SensorfreshQ, a handheld electronic nose that detects meat and poultry spoilage. It serves food processing, grocery distribution, food service, regulatory, defense, and consumer retail markets.   Food Quality Sensor International, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Phytomedics is committed to quality, technological innovation and research. Their powerful portfolio of overlapping proprietary technologies is targeted to turning green plants into reliable vehicles for discovering and manufacturing proprietary botanical pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. NewLeadTM and RhizexTM elicitation and optimization processes greatly enhance the efficacy and reproducibility of plant-derived products and increase the synergy between various chemical components of plant extracts. The Company has developed an efficient and proprietary discovery and lead prioritization process based on high-power bio-informatics, high-tech data mining, efficient activity screening, and an extensive network of international collaborations.

DiObex, Inc. operates as a biotechnology company in the United States. The company develops novel products for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including type-one and type-two diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetic nephropathy. Its products include DIO-901, a very low dose glucagon product that is developed for the reduction of nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients with type-one diabetes; and DIO-902, a cortisol synthesis inhibitor that is developed as a therapy for glucose and cholesterol control in patients with type-two diabetes. DiObex, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Founded in 2002 and taken over in 2014 by CLOCK-T °, CRYOLOG specializes in the control of the cold chain. Creator of thermosensitive microbiological tablets ''TOPCRYO'', CRYOLOG is a French company whose main shareholder is CapAgro: innovation capital investment fund specialized in agribusiness. TOPCRYO is a high-tech product to interpret the time/temperature impact on the conservation of products by a simple change of color from green to red.

Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea, drank a lot of liquids. An active person, Seth was continually in search of the perfect drink to quench his thirst after a run, a game of basketball or between grad school classes. Yet, Seth found most drinks either too sweet or too tasteless.  Barry Nalebuff, Seth’s professor at the Yale School of Management, found that he and Seth shared a passion for the idea of a less sweet, but flavorful beverage during a class discussion of a Coke vs. Pepsi case study. They agreed that there were tons of sweet options and lots of watery drinks, but in 1994, there was nothing in between to fill the void.  Fast forward to ’97. Seth goes for a run in New York City with a college friend who used to concoct juice drinks with him after class. As they found themselves doing the same beverage mixing after the run, Seth knew then that if he was going to quench his thirst for good, he would have to create the drink himself. He e-mailed Barry to see if he was still excited about the idea.  Timing was everything. Barry had just returned from India where he had been analyzing the tea industry for a case study. Among other things, he came away with the impression that the tea many American companies purchased for bottling was the dust and fannings left after whole tea leaves had been brewed. Barry had even come up with a name to describe a bottled tea that was made with real tea leaves–Honest Tea. When Seth heard the name, the simmering idea began to boil–it was the perfect name for an all-natural brand that would strive to create healthy and honest relationships with its customers, suppliers and the environment.  Seth took a deep breath, quit his job at Calvert mutual funds, and started brewing batches of tea in his kitchen. Five weeks after taking the plunge, he brought thermoses of tea and a recycled bottle with a mock-up label to Fresh Fields (Whole Foods Market). The buyer ordered 15,000 bottles, and Seth and Barry were in business–if they could figure out how to make that much tea. They did, and they’re still at it 15 years later.  In March 2011, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Honest Tea after an initial 40% investment in 2008, which helped expand the distribution of HONEST® beverages.  Today, Honest Tea is run as an independent business unit and their HONEST TEA®, HONEST ADE®, HONEST KIDS®, HONEST SPLASH™ and HONEST Fizz beverages can be found in more than 100,000 stores across United States.  The dream that took root in Seth’s kitchen in 1998 became a company that just celebrated its 15th anniversary.  Seth continues to run the business as the President and TeaEO in Bethesda, MD with the same passion towards health, the environment and social responsibility.

Technologie BiolActis (BiolActis) is a Canadian biotechnology company incorporated in 1998. Since its foundation, the entrepreneurs were committed to create novel Biologics meeting well identified needs from the Wellness Industries (Functional Nutrition, Dietary Supplements, Cosmeceuticals and Pharmaceuticals).

TriMed Research, Inc. engages in the research and development of therapeutic products primarily related to mammary gland protein designated as MAA.

DNage is a life sciences company founded in 2004 as a spin off from the Department of Genetics of the Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam. The Company was seed-funded through an equity investment of an international syndicate of venture capitalists including LSP (NL) and Inventages (CH).

The Cavis microcaps has many yearsâ€™ experience in the field of alginate-based encapsulation and immobilisation.  The main focus of their services is encapsulation of additives for the food industry and pet food sectors. Their products are used in food technology as well as in cosmetic and technical applications.

SelectX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of aminoglycoside therapeutics for unmet medical needs. It has built an advanced aminoglycoside drug and other drugs. The company’s advanced program, development candidate SXP2523, is a next generation aminoglycoside antibiotic for drug resistant gram-negative hospital-acquired infections.  SelectX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is currently developing a next generation inhaled aminoglycoside antibiotic for drug resistant gram-negative infections in patients with Cystic Fibrosis and other respiratory diseases. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Inventages Venture Capital Investment Inc is an investment arm of Nestle SA specializing in PIPES, seed, early, mid, and late venture investments. The firm seeks to invest in middle market and mature companies. It provides mezzanine and bridge financing. The firm seeks to invest in health care, life sciences, cosmeceuticals, pharmaceuticals, enabling technologies and services, and diagnostic and medical devices. Within the pharmaceutical sector, it typically invests in small molecules, proteins, antibodies, vaccines, phytopharmaceuticals, natural compounds, botanicals, antibiotics, and therapeutics. Within the diagnostic sector, it focuses on genetic materials, biomarkers, pathological markers, genetic profiles, protein profiles, pharmacogenomics, food and environmental safety, genetically modified organism detection and trading, medical monitoring, diagnostic and analytical tools, and quality control. Within enabling technologies and services it primarily invests in novel packaging, process and production technologies, supply chain management, innovative materials and resources, delivery systems for active compounds, encapsulation and prevention, food services, extraction and fractionation of biological materials, consumer relation management, green biotechnology, smell and taste modifying technologies, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, screen and characterization technologies, chemical and biological engineering, and innovative preventive and therapeutic concepts. It also invests in companies involved in the prevention of medical foods, nutraceuticals, cosmoceuticals, nutrition, innovative food, functional food, dietary and food supplements, oral and skin care, immune modulation and stimulation, and health and disease management.

Inventages Venture Capital Investment Inc.

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