V-Bio Ventures is an independent venture capital firm specialized in building and financing young, innovative life science companies. The fund invests throughout Europe in start-up and early-stage companies with high growth potential focusing on technologies that provide transformational improvements in the biotech, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.

V-Bio Ventures

On July 3, 2002 the Gemma Frisius Fund II was established. Continuing the work of its predecessor Gemma Frisius Fund I, this is a venture capital fund providing seed capital and start-up capital to spin-off companies intending to commercialize knowledge and research developed at K.U.Leuven. Following the success of the first edition of the Fund, the three partners - Fortis Private Equity, KBC Investco and K.U.Leuven Research & Development - unanimously decided to extend this unique form of cooperation between the academic and financial worlds.  The Gemma Frisius Fund I invested in 15 projects, for a total value of 8 million eur. The fund still has 4.4 million eur available for follow-up investment in these projects. The new fund will not invest in companies belonging to the portfolio of the first edition of the fund. The management structure of the Gemma Frisius Fund II will remain the same. The projects are analyzed in an advisory committee and presented for approval to the board of directors. Two directors from each partner are represented on the board.

Gemma Frisius Fund

VIB, a Belgium-based life sciences research institute, performs research for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications.

Vives Louvain Technology Fund is an interregional seed and early-stage technology multi-sector fund. The new fund, initiated by UCLouvain, is a unique European inter-university fund that has access to world-class innovations from leading EU top universities.

Vives Louvain Technology Fund

The Qbic Fund is a multi-sector fund supporting spin-off companies of the Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp university associations and of VITO. Through its strategic partnership with the universities of Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp, and VITO, the Qbic Fund has early and privileged access to promising research projects at these partner universities. Our investment approach is based on early in-depth and independent review and analysis followed by hands on involvement and support.  In May 2012 the Qbic Fund held its first close and currently it has over € 30 million under management. The Qbic Fund is backed by several public and private investors and managed by Qbic Venture Partners.

Qbic Fund

PMV is a do and dare company that is shaping the future of the Flemish economy. It provides funding for promising companies' businesses, from the day they first open their doors, through their various growth stages and even on to operating internationally. Working with and for the government and other partners, PMV implements projects that are important for prosperity and well-being in Flanders. PMV is convinced that entrepreneurship is crucial for the development of a prosperous future for Flanders and everyone who lives there. It firmly believes that every promising enterprise project in Flanders needs to find funding – but also that every business needs to be profitable in order to be sustainable. Which is why PMV and the companies and projects in which it invests must be profitable in the end.

AgroSavfe nv, a Belgium-based agro-biotech company

Agri Investment Fund

The Group Ceuster focuses on the horticultural sector and on the recovery of depleted soil. GroupDC is a family company founded in 1966 by Herman De Ceuster. Today the company is led by the second generation with Tom Ceuster as CEO. From working closely with DCM clients range has also expanded rapidly, providing a more complete range of products for the professional horticulturist, and for the hobby gardener, could be offered. DCM was the first in Belgium that started with the provision of professional products for the hobby gardener. This they achieved in the '80s the status of leader. During this period extended the services of ''The Ceuster Breeding Ground 'also further by offering specialized services to the sports world, the world industry, and public parks.

The Group Ceuster

Astanor Ventures is a venture capital firm focusing on entrepreneurs regenerating the food, blue ocean economy, and agriculture sector. The firm targeting technology-enabled companies across the agri-food value chain, leveraging disruptive technologies to bring about a future of food that is nourishing, regenerative, trusted, and ultra-fresh. It rings together capital, deep sector knowledge, and a strong network of entrepreneurs, impact investors, technologists, scientists, farmers, chefs, policymakers, and food lovers to give rise to a future of food that is nourishing, regenerative, scalable, trusted, and delicious.

Astanor Ventures

Qbic II is an early-stage venture capital focus software, deep tech, biotech, and medtech sectors. Qbic II, launched in 2017, collaborates with a broad network of Belgian universities, research institutes, and hospitals. The fund expanded its investor base, increasing its size to nearly €60M. The investment period for Qbic II concluded in 2022.

QBIC II

European Circular Bioeconomy Fund invest and partner with entrepreneurs to accelerate late-stage circular bioeconomy companies.

European Circular Bioeconomy Fund

Innovation Industries is a venture capital firm that invests in hightech, medtech and agri-foodtech companies in The Netherlands Innovation Industries maintains a hands-on management style, sharing its experience, knowledge and connections with the entrepreneurs. Portfolio companies are actively supported in order to strengthen the value proposition, improve the time-to- market, identify and realize global strategic partnerships and avoid the typical start-up pitfalls. Innovation Industries sees itself as a partner of the entrepreneurs and the other parties involved; a creator of ventures, rather than merely a financial investor. Innovation Industries focuses primarily on start-ups but will also be able to invest into scale-ups. With this relatively broad spectrum of funding capabilities, emerging breakthroughs in research and technology can be sustained by sufficient venture capital to optimize their chances of success and ultimately provide returns to the Fund’s investors. Once these companies are established with seed funding, the Fund will be able to continue financing the advancement of these businesses and technologies.

Innovation Industries

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a grant-making foundation that supports initiatives in education, world health and population, and community giving in the Pacific Northwest. In its local region, the foundation promotes strategies and programs that help low income families.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was co-founded by Bill Gates and Melinda Gates in 2000 and is based in Seattle, Washington, with regional offices in Washington, D.C.; New Delhi, India; Beijing, China; and London, United Kingdom. Its trustees are Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Korys is the name chosen by the Colruyt family for their investment structure. The name Korys is derived from the Latin word for hazelnut tree – Corylus - which is at the origin of the Colruyt name. Their multi-disciplinary approach enables us to create a well-balanced, diversified portfolio of listed stocks and bonds, private equity funds, and direct participations in small and medium-sized companies.  Through their investments, they aim to make a positive impact on people and the planet, while generating attractive returns. A “three P” approach (People, Planet, Profit) forms the cornerstone of their investment strategy. They invest for the long term, as they realize that it takes time to achieve the sustainable impact they are aiming for.  They focus their investments in sectors in which they have built substantial expertise as a team: Cleantech, consumer goods & retail and life sciences.

Korys

BNP Paribas Fortis is the bank for a changing world. A bank managed in all transparency, driven by values of responsibility, humanity, innovation and enthusiasm.  BNP Paribas Fortis is a credit institution with headquarters at Montagne du Parc 3, 1000 Brussels.  Its share capital is 9,375 billion Euros, of which 99.93% is held by BNP Paribas a credit institution with headquarters in Paris.  BNP Paribas Fortis is managed by a Board of Directors, who represent the shareholders collectively. The Board of Directors determines the general policy and strategy of the bank, oversees the Executive Committees activities, appoints and dismisses Executive Committee members and oversees internal control. Within the overall framework set by the Board, the board delegates BNP Paribas Fortis banking activities to the Executive Committee.  BNP Paribas Fortis is a bank that is responsible and socially committed. The environment, diversity, cultural support, sponsorship... Through various and concrete ways, they are dedicated to meeting their customers’ expectations and proud to demonstrate their values: responsible, human, innovative and enthusiastic.  BNP Paribas Fortis is very ambitious in this area. They are dedicated in various ways, thanks to their private foundation - BNP Paribas Fortis Foundation – as well also through their sectoral policies, their environmental commitments, their diversity policy, their cultural support and their sponsorship policy.  BNP Paribas Fortis was born from the merger of a number of strong financial companies, which since the 19th century have been essential pillars of Belgium's economic and social history. Their bank is firmly rooted in their society and has a tradition of genuine commitment through its services and support to the economy.  At BNP Paribas Fortis, they offer their customers a full range of financial products and services. Every day, they help their customers, regardless of their profile, whether they are individuals, companies or public institutions. BNP Paribas Fortis, it’s expertise and tailored solutions. It’s an international network in almost 75 countries!

BNP Paribas Fortis

SFPIM investment firm that invests in technology and infrastructure.

SFPIM

Aphea.Bio

Aphea.Bio will develop next generation ‘biopesticides’ based on natural microorganisms. These products will provide an alternative for chemical pesticides, which are currently under serious pressure. In addition, the company will develop novel ‘biostimulants’, i.e. microorganisms that stimulate crop growth, for example through promoting the uptake of nutrients from the soil.

Aphea.Bio is an agtech company based in Ghent, Belgium, that develops sustainable biological solutions to increase crop yields and protect plants against diseases, insects, and weeds as alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The company utilizes a high-throughput APEX R&amp;D platform to identify and leverage previously untapped natural microorganisms that can improve nutrient uptake in plants (biostimulants) or provide biocontrol against diseases.

Backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others, Belgian agtech firm Aphea.bio raises €70 million

Syngenta Crop Protection, Aphea.Bio to Introduce Biostimulant Seed Treatment Across EU Markets

Driving the revolution in biologicals

New Belgian Biotech will use Microorganisms to Replace Pesticides and Fertilizers

Belgium’s Aphea.Bio Closes EUR70M Series C to Advance Biological Ag Solutions

Aphea Bio

Aphea.BioENG

based Aphea.Bio secures €70M to advance in sustainable agriculture

Aphea.Bio raises €70m Series C: See the pitch deck that clinched the deal

Biologically protecting plants from pests

Biopesticides

Maria Rasputina on LinkedIn: Activ® by aphea.bio - biostymulator do zaprawiania nasion | SYNGENTA

Syngenta

partnership aims to accelerate the introduction of biological seed treatments to multiple European countries over the next five years, pending regulatory approval.

Companies that use microscopic living organisms (such as viruses, bacteria or nematodes) or toxins produced by these organisms to act as pest control. This also includes companies developing technology platforms to use microorganism chemistry to develop different kinds of microbial pesticides.

Aphea.Bio is an agtech company based in Ghent, Belgium, that develops sustainable biological solutions to increase crop yields and protect plants against diseases, insects, and weeds as alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The company utilizes a high-throughput APEX R&D platform to identify and leverage previously untapped natural microorganisms that can improve nutrient uptake in plants (biostimulants) or provide biocontrol against diseases.
Aphea.Bio's key offerings are biostimulant products that enhance nutrient use efficiency in crops, enabling higher yields with reduced fertilizer inputs. In March 2023, the company launched its first biostimulant seed treatment called ACTIV by Aphea.Bio for wheat, which can increase yields by up to 5% even with lower fertilizer use. Aphea.Bio plans to introduce a maize biostimulant in 2024 and aims to submit its first biofungicide for regulatory approval in the US in Q1 2024 and in Europe in Q3 2024.
The company has established itself as a certified B Corporation, demonstrating high social and environmental impact standards. As of July 2023, Aphea.Bio employed a team of over 50 scientists and industry specialists, and it was in the process of expanding its research facilities with the opening of a new pilot plant later in 2023.

Groundwork BioAg is an Israeli bioagriculture company that produces mycorrhizal inoculants for mainstream agriculture. Its flagship product line, Rootella, consists of highly concentrated mycorrhizal fungi that establish a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, extending their reach into the soil. This symbiosis enables plants to access otherwise unavailable nutrients, especially phosphorus, leading to significant crop yield improvements. Additionally, Rootella enhances plant resilience to various stresses like drought and salinity while reducing fertilizer dependency.
Groundwork BioAg's Mycorrhizal BioPlatform, driven by innovative high-volume production techniques, has been successfully commercialized across major agricultural regions globally. These include the US, Brazil, China, India, Canada, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, and Africa, catering to crops like corn, soybeans, grains, fruits, and vegetables. A standout offering is Tormos, a granular mycorrhizal inoculant tailored for Indian farming practices, developed through a collaboration with ADAMA.
In 2022, Groundwork BioAg raised USD 18 million in Series B funding led by Climate Innovation Capital, underscoring the demand for yield-enhancing biologicals that sequester carbon and promote regenerative agriculture. The company's technology enables conventional and regenerative farmers to achieve higher profitability while permanently sequestering carbon in their fields. Groundwork BioAg has also launched the Rootella Carbon program in 2023, aiming to sequester one gigaton of CO2 within a decade through its mycorrhizal inoculants.
Key customers and partnerships
In 2023, Groundwork BioAg expanded its North American team by appointing Andrew Duff as General Manager to accelerate the adoption of Rootella mycorrhizal inoculants among mainstream growers in the US.
In June 2022, Groundwork BioAg partnered with ADAMA, a leading global crop protection company, to offer the Tormos mycorrhizal inoculant in India. This collaboration leverages ADAMA's extensive farmer network and Groundwork BioAg's Mycorrhizal BioPlatform to provide cost-effective solutions to Indian growers.

Groundwork BioAG

Solasta Bio is a Glasgow-based agritech company specializing in the development of peptide-based bioinsecticides for crop protection. Founded in 2020 as a spin-out from the University of Glasgow, the company has created the world's first technology platform for producing neuropeptide-based Insect Control Agents (ICAs) derived from nature rather than synthetic chemistry.
These ICAs are designed to disrupt targeted physiological processes in insect pests, effectively controlling them while leaving beneficial pollinators like bees and other non-target species unharmed. Solasta Bio's solutions offer unique insect specificity, proven efficacy on par with traditional chemical insecticides, and an environmentally friendly, biodegradable approach that does not accumulate residues in nature.
Solasta Bio's platform enables the company to target a wide spectrum of pests, including those resistant to synthetic chemistries. The company aims to bring its first ICA products to market by 2027/2028, approximately half the time traditionally required for synthetic pest control products. Its technology is patent-protected, and an additional patent application is pending.
In February 2024, Solasta Bio announced the successful completion of over 20 field trials across Europe, the UK, and the US, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of its ICAs across various crops and pests, including aphids, Spotted Wing Drosophila, caterpillars, and leafhoppers.

Solasta Bio

Enko Chem, Inc. is a crop health company focused on developing sustainable crop solutions to address global food security challenges. The company utilizes its proprietary ENKOMPASS technology platform, which combines DNA-encoded library screening, machine learning, and structure-based design, to discover novel crop protection chemistries. This approach enables Enko to rapidly identify new, better-performing, and more targeted molecules across various categories of crop protection products.
Enko's current pipeline is led by a range of herbicides designed to break cycles of weed and pest resistance while reducing environmental impact compared to existing solutions. The company aims to provide effective crop protection solutions that help growers adapt to and mitigate challenges exacerbated by climate change, such as pesticide-resistant weeds, fungus, and pests.
Since its inception in 2017, Enko has generated hundreds of leading molecules through its technology platform. In January 2023, the company announced an USD 80 million Series C funding round, bringing its total capital raised to USD 150 million. The additional funds will be utilized to advance Enko's product pipeline and support the company's efforts to bring new crop protection solutions to market.

Enko Chem

BioPhero is a Denmark-based company that has developed a pioneering and highly efficient yeast fermentation process for manufacturing pheromones at significantly lower costs and with fewer production steps compared to traditional chemical synthesis methods. Pheromones are compounds used in integrated pest management programs for controlling insect populations by disrupting the mating process, thereby reducing egg-laying and decreasing the next generation of the target insect species. BioPhero's patented fermentation technology allows for the sustainable and cost-effective production of pheromones, expanding their potential application from specialty crops like fruits and vegetables to large-scale row crops such as corn, soybeans, and rice.
Through its innovative bioprocessing platform, BioPhero aims to make pheromones widely available and contribute to sustainable agriculture by offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional insecticides. The company's pheromone products are highly specific to target pests, promoting biodiversity and posing no threat to pollinators or beneficial insects. FMC Corporation, a leading agricultural sciences company, acquired BioPhero in July 2022 for approximately USD 200 million, integrating its pheromone platform into FMC's biologicals business. FMC projects revenue from pheromones and pheromone-based insect control products to reach approximately USD 1 billion with above company-average EBITDA margin by 2030.

BioPhero

Redag Crop Protection is a biotechnology research and development company focused on developing novel crop protection products. The company's core technology is the Redox Switch platform, which allows for the creation of new compounds by modifying the oxidation state of existing best-in-class products. This approach provides Redag Crop Protection with a pipeline of candidates across multiple high-value applications in the crop protection industry.
The Redox Switch platform offers several advantages. It enables the company to secure intellectual property rights around existing products by creating structurally similar but chemically distinct compounds. These new compounds share similarities with well-characterized parent compounds, reducing the risk profile, development time, testing redundancy, and overall cost of bringing products to market. Additionally, the structural similarity to existing product classes means that Redag Crop Protection can leverage current manufacturing assets, further reducing market entry costs.

Redag Crop Protection

Companies that develop pesticide substances produced by plants as a result of genetic manipulation. These companies use technology such as genetic engineering to derive natural substances that plants can produce to kill pests that feed on them.

Companies that use machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to develop plant-based replacements to synthetic chemical. These companies develop biochemicals that use naturally occurring substances such as pheromones, and insect attractants to trap and control pests in plants.  This also includes companies that offer plant intelligence for creating biochemicals.

Companies that use naturally occurring plant materials such as Azadirachtin, nicotinoids, natural pyrethrins, rotenoids,  and neem products in full or dilute form for pest and insect controls.

Companies that use natural enemies or predators like lady beetle, true bug, lacewings or parasitoids to protect the plants from pests.

Companies that use natural resources such as diatomaceous earth, mineral oil, water, minerals such as sulfur, potassium, or even organic acids for controlling various types of pests.

Companies that use biologically-derived substances such as microorganisms, seaweed extracts, and other organic matter that are applied to the plants or the soil to improve nutrient uptake, enhance tolerance of plant stress, and in turn improve crop growth and yield.

Provides natural alternatives to chemical pesticides

Processes often use AI and machine learning-based tech platforms to formulate biopesticides

Aphea.Bio

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