Firstime Venture Capital are a venture capital fund, investing in Pre A & A rounds, in cutting edge, disruptive technologies, based on state of the art ideas and headed by brilliant people.   Firstime Venture Capital invest in 'digital life technologies' companies with a POC and initial customer base and provide them with the funding they need to peacefully strive to a product-market fit and generate initial revenues.  This brings them to a solid KPIs achievement before seeking a proper A round. Digital Life Technologies, include: Mobile, Social, IOT, Video, E-commerce, Fintech, Ed-tech, Ad-tech, Cyber, AI, VR/AR, Digital Health, Gaming, Media, etc.

Firstime Venture Capital

The European Innovation Council aims to support top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies, and researchers with bright ideas. The EIC co-invests alongside private investors in early-stage startups that have ESG impacts.

European Innovation Council

As a young and dynamic company with a spirit of entrepreneurship, we look first and foremost at the vision leading the entrepreneur. We believe that we should be investing in people, first and foremost. We strive to invest in companies led by entrepreneurs capable of envisioning and growing great companies with products and/or services meeting real market needs in large and growing markets. We seek companies with profound deep tech creating durable barriers to entry by the competition, thus gaining a sustainable hedge for the long-term and making a real impact on the world. We are less interested in companies whose products and/or services may become a commodity in short order. As a leading venture capital fund, Champel Capital’s responsibility accompanies every investment we make. Alongside our global standards for protecting social and environmental elements, we implement active Impact Investing as part of our asset allocation. It’s all about creating value, both financial and social. We like doing well by doing good, to all: our LPs, our companies and their founders and employees, our own employees, and of course, our partners. Our clients enjoy a wealth of flexibility. Investing in our Champel Capital Impact Deep Tech Fund grants the diversification and professional management of their capital in the Israeli VC space. Alternatively, our clients can opt to invest directly in specific companies through Champel Capital L.P.’s SPVs, with the luxury to pick and choose a precise investment. With this system, our LPs fully maintain their power of decision on every single deal, both in terms of ticket size and whether to add money on each subsequent round.

Champel Capital

Kubota is a manufacturer of machinery, industrial, and consumer products. Their Farm and Industrial Machinery segment provides farm equipment, ancillary tools, implements for agriculture, outdoor power equipment, engines for farming, construction, industrial machinery, generators, and construction machinery. They provide water and environment segment include plastic pipes, pumps, valves, drainage pipes, stack drain fittings, waste water treatment equipment, plants, and water purification facilities.

Kubota

NevaTeam Partners is an Agri-Food Tech ESG Impact driven Fund with world-class knowledge and expertise that specializes in identifying and investing in cutting-edge companies and technologies, contributing to the streamlining and increase in world food production in a sustainable way.

Nevateam Partners

Clarifruit

Clarifruit is disrupting the $2 trillion Fresh Produce supply chain by creating the world’s first automatic QC & data analytics platform.  The Fresh Produce industry is experiencing a staggering 45% waste, caused by multiple reasons and market failures along the chain, in which the common denominator is lack of objective and consistent quality standards as well as hard-data upon to make decisions.  Clarifruit’s QC platform can automatically identify, collect, and analyze real-time data about the fresh produce external and internal attributes. Solution results in objective, consistent, and cost- effective inspection that not only increases inspector productivity by x3 and reduces customer's current waste, but also empowers the world’s Fresh Produce growers, wholesalers, and retailers to make decisions based on high-quality data, resulting in better match of quality of supply to customer demand and ultimately favorable revenue opportunities.

Clarifruit is an Israeli developer of an automated platform and mobile app that provides quality control data on fresh fruits and vegetables to growers, marketing companies, wholesalers, and retailers.&nbsp;

Tech solutions for achieving global anti-wastage targets

Food Waste

Clarifruit is a company that has developed an AI-powered quality control (QC) software platform for the fresh produce industry. Founded in 2018 in Israel, Clarifruit's solution aims to address the challenges of quality control and decision-making in the fruit and vegetable supply chain. The company's platform consists of two main components: a mobile app for quality inspectors and a cloud-based management and analytics dashboard. The mobile app allows inspectors to conduct automatic quality control processes within minutes using a smartphone camera, while the dashboard enables operation managers to design, manage, and view results of the monitoring process in real-time.

Inspección de control de calidad de la patata por Clarifruit

Clarifruit's automated quality control platform funded - Fruit & Vegetable Magazine

Dole Partners with Clarifruit to Automate QC Processes

Is this company positioned to lead the future of quality control for fresh produce?

Kubota Invests in Clarifruit, the Leader in Fruit and Vegetable Quality Control

Clarifruit’s QC revolution

Clarifruit Team of Fresh Produce Quality Control Experts

Get the latest Clarfruit and industry news on our website

Case Study Clarifruit

Fruit and Vegetable Fresh Produce Quality Control Software

Clarifruit raises $12 million to reduce waste in the fruit and vegetable industry

Clarifruit raises $12 million to reduce food waste

Kiwi Quality Control Solution by Clarifruit

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Hygiene Tech

Clarifruit’s QC revolution | Article

Clarifruit is an Israeli developer of an automated platform and mobile app that provides quality control data on fresh fruits and vegetables to growers, marketing companies, wholesalers, and retailers.&nbsp;Clarifruit’s cloud-based platform automatically analyzes fresh produce quality control data and performs real-time quality control inspections.&nbsp; Its platform also includes data such as user info, inspection process duration, and quality standards. Clarifruit also uses sensors and an app called AclaroMeter to grade agricultural products for quality and value.As of 2024, Clarifruit claimed that it increased its customers' sales by 2%, improved labor productivity by 40%, and decreased food wastage by 20%.Clarifruit also reported gaining significant new customers in the EMEA region in 2020. The company also launched a new fresh produce quality control platform in December 2020 to provide an end-to-end solution for fresh produce management.&nbsp;As of 2024, Clarifruit expanded its operational presence across five continents—North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.&nbsp;Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;Clarifruit partnered with Dole Sunshine Company (Dole) in December 2021 to use Clarifruit’s AI-powered QC software platform to automate fresh produce quality inspection and evaluation as part of Dole’s “Dole Promise” initiative to achieve zero fruit loss by 2025.&nbsp;Clarifruit also teamed up with Zespri in October 2024 to launch a new mobile app with modernized quality control and an AI engine designed for the fruit and vegetable industry.

Apeel Sciences is a California-based food technology company that produces edible coatings made of plant materials that extend the lifetime of fruits by 2x–3x to prevent food wastage in regions where refrigeration is scarce.&nbsp;The coatings are intended for use on fruits and vegetables, with a primary focus on avocados, apples, mangos, cucumbers, and citrus fruits.&nbsp;According to the company, US retailers that used Apeel experienced a 50% reduction in waste alongside a 5%–10% growth in sales on average. As of&nbsp;April 2024, Apeel Sciences reported to have saved&nbsp;over&nbsp;60 million pieces of produce from going to waste at retail stores by partnering with small family-owned farmers, local organic growers, grocery stores, and large food brands.&nbsp;As of October&nbsp;2024, the company was offering its solution to a network of 30 suppliers and 40 retailers across eight countries, including the US, UK, Spain, Netherlands, and Kenya. The company focuses on expanding its market presence across North America and the EU.In May 2020, Apeel announced plans to expand to Sub-Saharan Africa, Central, and South America—all regions where food wastage was increasing.&nbsp;Following this, Apeel expanded to Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 and began its expansion to South America in 2024.In May 2021, Apeel Sciences acquired&nbsp;the&nbsp;startup Impact Vision for an undisclosed amount. Impact Vision’s technology allows suppliers to see inside their fresh produce and ultimately reduce post-harvest loss and optimize distribution while continuing to extend shelf life.&nbsp;Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;Apeel has partnered with various distributors for the distribution of its avocados, including The Kroger Company in September 2018 for Cincinnati, Calavo Growers in January 2021, and Nature’s Pride for Europe in March 2021.&nbsp;The company also collaborated with Topline Farms in February 2023 for the development of the Apeel-Protected Mini Cucumber and licensed its coating technology to Limoneira in May 2023 for use on lemons.&nbsp;

Apeel Sciences

Shelf Engine provides demand forecasting tools,&nbsp;which leverage AI and machine learning, for perishable food items to reduce inefficiencies in the ordering system and minimize overall costs. According to Shelf Engine, more than 30% of highly perishable foods in grocery stores such as meat and vegetables expire before the sell-by date. Shelf Engine’s scan-based trade (SBT) technology guarantees sales and pays for any items that remain unsold. Via the SBT, Shelf Engine manages orders, pays vendors, and only charges the retailer for what sells while still paying suppliers for their full order and increasing its accuracy over time. Shelf generates revenue by charging a markup on the product from the vendor to the retailer.As of October 2024, Shelf Engine operated in more than 3,000 grocery stores and claimed to increase profit margins by more than 50% by reducing food waste by as much as 32%.&nbsp;Shelf Engine also reported that it prevented 5.2 million lbs of food wastage, decreased 8,200 tons of CO2, and saved 500 million gallons of water.Key customers and partnershipsIn January 2024, Shelf Engine partnered with Dollar General to implement fully automated AI-powered ordering for produce, aiming to enhance inventory management and reduce food waste across Dollar General's stores. This collaboration would leverage Shelf Engine's technology to optimize ordering processes and improve the freshness of perishable items.Shelf Engine also worked with supermarket and grocery chains Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Walmart, Ralphs, Harmons, and Bi‑Rite to manage orders and reduce food waste.

Shelf Engine

Afresh began as a research project in 2017 to develop AI-powered software that optimizes the entire food supply chain. Specifically, the company offers an in-store solution for grocery stores that applies artificial intelligence to manage the freshness of food. According to the company, the implementation of its technology has led to a 25%–45% reduction of in-store food waste and increased gross margin of fresh produce sales by 4 percentage points. The company generates revenue under a SaaS model. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16835">March 2023,</a> the company expanded into fresh departments, including meat, seafood, deli, and food service.As of&nbsp;October 2024, the company’s technology was deployed across 3,000 stores in 40 states in the US and it reported that it was able to triple its customer base in 2021.&nbsp;Afresh also reported that it prevented 44 million lbs of food wastage as of 2024 while reducing 24 million kg of CO2 emissions and saving 886 million gallons of water.Key customers and partnershipsSome of Afresh's key customers include Fresh Thyme Market, WinCo Foods, and Heinen’s. In 2019, the company also reported that it had established partnerships with three US grocery chains, each with more than 100 stores in operation.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company also collaborated with Bashas’ Supermarkets Inc. (a chain of grocery stores based in North America with over 100 stores) in September 2021 and New Season Market (a chain of 19 privately owned grocery stores) in October 2021 to pilot the “Afresh AI-driven software solution” at selected stores.In December 2022, Afresh partnered with SpartanNash to pilot the AI-powered Afresh platform at 10 of SpartanNash’s Family Fare grocery stores.&nbsp;&nbsp;In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15786">January 2023</a>, Afresh and Albertsons Companies announced the completion of an enterprise rollout of the Afresh predictive ordering and inventory management platform.&nbsp;Afresh also partnered with Albertsons Companies again in October 2024 for the launch of Afresh DC Forecasts, where Albertsons was its first customer.

AFresh

UK-based Winnow Solutions identifies and measures waste in commercial kitchens. The company records the reason for the waste, calculates the value of the wasted food, and keeps track of this data in the cloud. The company’s self-titled product shares technology with autonomous vehicles, using cameras to record and learn about food being wasted and calculate the financial and environmental cost of this discarded food. Winnow Vision also provides a Waste Monitor solution to help kitchen staff track how and what food is wasted to adjust their spending on food ingredients and eliminate overproduction.As of October 2024, Winnow Solutions reported that it had annually saved over 50 million meals, reduced 87,000 tons of CO2, and saved USD 70 million for customers.Key customers and partnershipsWinnow’s customers include the catering company&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/5386">ISS</a> and hotels such as Accor, Fairmont, The Westin, Four Seasons, and Hilton Tokyo Bay.&nbsp;In September 2023, Winnow Solutions partnered with Ne’ma, the UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, to support Ne’ma with data, benchmarking, and best practices for the hotels, restaurants, and catering (HoReCa) sector.&nbsp; Following this, Winnow was selected as a preferred food waste management vendor by Dayblink GPO in November 2023.

Winnow Solutions

Hazel Technologies is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded technology company that develops packaging that releases vapors that slow the aging process and prevent fungus or decay. Its solution is claimed to double the shelf life of produce. Hazel operates a B2B business that targets large enterprises. The company has reported treating&nbsp;5 billion lbs of produce as of October 2024, saving about 4 billion lbs from going bad. The company has a target to save one billion&nbsp;lbs of produce from going to waste by the end of 2021. Hazel operates in&nbsp;13 countries&nbsp;across the US, South America, and Europe, as of October 2024.&nbsp;Hazel works with around 250 food service and produce companies including the likes of Sysco, Mission Produce, Zespri, Calavo, and Oppy.&nbsp;As of October 2024, the company offers Hazel Endure, its antimicrobial packaging for berries, grapes, and other fruit, which uses an anti-fungal pad to extend the shelf life and quality of fruits and other produce.Key customers and partnershipsHazel Technologies has formed several partnerships to reduce food waste and extend the shelf life of various produce. These included collaborations with Mission Produce for avocados in July 2020, Migiva Group for grape trials in March 2021, Specialty Crop Company for figs and Symms Fruit for apples in May 2021, Oppy and Brar Farms for California-grown table grapes in July 2022, and Kliewer Farms for kiwifruit in November 2022.

Hazel Technologies

Startups that prevent food wastage by prolonging the lifetime of food or better managing food production through the supply chain. Companies that develop products such as sanitizers, containers, and machines that allow food to stay fresh longer are included here. Startups that develop algorithms to determine food preservation strategies are also included.

These startups ensure work to reroute surplus food to different sets of end-users including charity organizations and consumers seeking discounted items. This segment mainly consists of on-demand online platforms that connect producers, retailers, and restaurants with consumers via mobile app.

Startups that recycle food waste for industrial uses such as soil enrichment.

Startups that recycle food waste into edible food and beverages.

Solutions that keep food waste out of landfills

Recycling and upcycling food waste to keep them out of landfills

IoT-enabled waste prevention techniques for purposes such as longer shelf-life and inventory management

Waste prevention analysis platforms use AI/ML

Clarifruit is a company that has developed an AI-powered quality control (QC) software platform for the fresh produce industry. Founded in 2018 in Israel, Clarifruit's solution aims to address the challenges of quality control and decision-making in the fruit and vegetable supply chain. The company's platform consists of two main components: a mobile app for quality inspectors and a cloud-based management and analytics dashboard. The mobile app allows inspectors to conduct automatic quality control processes within minutes using a smartphone camera, while the dashboard enables operation managers to design, manage, and view results of the monitoring process in real-time.
Clarifruit's platform leverages proprietary computer vision technology, Big Data, and analytics capabilities to analyze external attributes of fruits and vegetables, such as size, color, and defects. The company's AI-driven approach aims to make the inspection process more objective, consistent, and efficient compared to traditional manual methods. As of 2023, Clarifruit's technology could recognize color and size of produce through its mobile app, with plans to roll out defect recognition for citrus in early 2024 and expand to other fruits throughout the year.
The company's solution is designed to reduce waste in the fresh produce supply chain, which is estimated to be valued at USD 2 trillion. Clarifruit claims its platform can increase sales by 10%, reduce waste by 20%, improve labor productivity by 300%, and enhance reporting efficiency by 900%. The ultimate goal is to enable stakeholders in the fresh produce industry to make data-driven decisions that reduce waste and maximize profitability.
Key customers and partnerships
Clarifruit has secured partnerships with several major players in the fresh produce industry. Notable customers include Dole, Mucci Farms, Zespri, SanLucar, Pink Lady, and Sunkist. In January 2022, Dole Sunshine Company announced a partnership with Clarifruit to automate its QC processes for fresh produce, starting with pineapple exports from the Philippines to six markets worldwide. The collaboration aimed to achieve a 10% reduction in fruit loss within 24 months of implementation.
Clarifruit has also attracted interest from agricultural equipment manufacturers. In November 2022, Kubota Corporation invested in Clarifruit's Series A funding round, viewing the partnership as a step toward expanding its community-focused business operations and delivering integrated solutions across all segments of its business.

Mojix is a leading supply chain SaaS platform that provides item-level inventory management and traceability solutions. The company's cloud-based platform modernizes inventory and asset management, facilitating omnichannel order fulfillment, increasing operational efficiency, improving inventory accuracy, and enhancing the customer experience. Mojix's solutions leverage unique digital identities assigned to individual products, enabling complete product lifecycle visibility from origin and manufacturing through distribution centers, stores, and even post-sale.
Mojix's item-level traceability capabilities track billions of unique identities, following item lifecycles from source to shelf. The company's platform collects event data whenever an item's status changes, streaming it into the Mojix platform for processing along a lifecycle data model. This allows users to access real-time status and history of any item, with superior visibility and accuracy exceeding 99%.
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices across the US, Europe, and South America, Mojix serves leading clients from diverse industries, including food & beverage, luxury brands, manufacturing, industrial, aerospace & defense, and retail. In May 2022, Mojix was acquired by an affiliate of Peak Rock Capital, a leading middle-market private investment firm, providing growth capital to accelerate Mojix's product roadmap, organic growth, and strategic acquisitions.
Key customers and partnerships
Mojix and its partner Coriel, a systems integrator specializing in RFID, IoT, and Industry 4.0 solutions, were selected by Tosca, a global provider of reusable container solutions for the food industry, to implement an RFID-based traceability solution across Tosca's European sites as of January 2023. The SaaS-based solution enables real-time, item-level visibility of Tosca's reusable pallets and containers, reducing waste from asset loss, optimizing asset management through increased rotations, and improving service quality for Tosca's customers.

Mojix

Alen Corporation, founded in 2005 and based in Austin, Texas, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality air purifiers. The company's flagship product line, the BreatheSmart series, includes models like the 75i, 45i, and FLEX, designed to clean air in spaces ranging from 700 to 1,300 square feet. Alen's air purifiers utilize True HEPA H13 filters, which can capture 99.99% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns, including dust, allergens, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and bacteria.
The BreatheSmart purifiers feature advanced technology such as laser sensor-based air quality detection, auto-adjusting fan speeds, and color-coded LED rings to indicate air quality levels. Alen's units are known for their quiet operation, with noise levels as low as 25 decibels.

Alen

ECOVACS is a leading global company specializing in intelligent home robotics and cleaning solutions. Its product offerings include DEEBOT robotic vacuum cleaners, WINBOT window and surface cleaners, and AIRBOT air purifiers. ECOVACS has integrated cutting-edge technologies such as LiDAR, artificial intelligence, and vision sensors into its products to enhance cleaning efficiency and automation.
The DEEBOT X2 OMNI, launched in September 2023, represents a revolutionary robotic vacuum cleaner with a square design capable of reaching corners and edges. It features a 20 cm main brush, advanced navigation through Dual-Laser LiDAR and AI, real-time video call capabilities, and an impressive 8,000 Pa suction power. The OMNI Station allows self-cleaning, hot water washing, and drying of mopping pads, ensuring a hygienic cleaning experience.
In October 2022, ECOVACS unveiled the GOAT G1 robotic lawn mower, employing Robotic Vision technology to map lawns and boundaries without complex setup. The DEEBOT PRO, a commercial floor cleaning robot designed for large spaces, leverages HIVE shared intelligence across multiple robots for efficient mapping and cleaning.
With a history spanning over 20 years and operations in more than 60 countries, ECOVACS has established a strong global presence, particularly in Asia, Europe, and North America. By the end of 2022, Chinese robot vacuums, including ECOVACS, captured nearly 50% of the overseas market share.

Ecovacs

Therabody is a global pioneer in wellness technology, offering a range of innovative products and services to promote healthy living. The company's flagship product, the Theragun, is a percussive therapy device designed to alleviate pain and improve muscle recovery. Therabody's Theragun lineup includes various models, such as the Theragun Elite, Theragun Prime, and Theragun Mini, each with different speed settings, amplitude, and attachments to target specific muscle groups.
Therabody's technology utilizes percussive therapy, delivering quick, repeated strikes to the body to trigger blood vessels to dilate, increase circulation, and release muscle knots. The devices feature ergonomic designs, allowing for multiple grip options and ease of use. The brand has expanded its offerings beyond massage guns, introducing products like RecoveryAir pneumatic compression boots, PowerDot electrical stimulation devices, and TheraFace facial health devices.
In September 2022, Therabody raised USD 165 million in a growth equity round, valuing the company at over USD 1 billion. This funding allowed Therabody to further invest in hardware, software, services, and digital content, solidifying its position as a leader in the wellness tech industry. As of February 2024, the company offers its products in more than 60 countries and has nearly 600 granted patents globally, with over 200 more patent applications pending.
Key customers and partnerships
Therabody's customer base spans various industries, including professional and collegiate sports teams, fitness enthusiasts, and individuals seeking relief from muscle tension and pain. The company has partnered with several high-profile athletes, such as Kevin Hart and Aaron Rodgers, who have invested in the brand and promoted its products.
In February 2022, Therabody announced plans to expand its physical presence with the launch of Reset, a chain of whole-body wellness centers offering a range of services, including cryotherapy, light therapy, and hyperbaric chambers. By July 2022, the company aimed to have 22 physical locations, including Reset centers and standalone retail stores, across major US cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Houston.

Therabody

Xenex Disinfection Services is a pioneering company that provides advanced UV disinfection technology to healthcare facilities worldwide. Their flagship product, the LightStrike robot, utilizes intense bursts of broad-spectrum pulsed xenon UV light to rapidly destroy pathogens on surfaces, including multi-drug resistant organisms like MRSA, C. diff, and VRE. This technology is scientifically proven, with over 45 peer-reviewed studies validating its efficacy in reducing pathogen transmission.
The LightStrike robots are designed to complement manual cleaning processes by disinfecting areas that may be missed during routine cleaning. They are effective against a wide range of viruses, bacteria, and spores, making them a valuable addition to healthcare facilities' infection prevention strategies. The company's patented technology is protected by 193 patents and has been deployed by over 1,000 hospitals worldwide.
Xenex's innovative approach has gained recognition from leading healthcare institutions such as HonorHealth, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Ochsner Health, and Texas Health Resources, which have integrated the LightStrike robots into their disinfection protocols. The company's commitment to scientific evidence and a mission to improve global health has been the driving force behind its success.

Xenex

Technological devices used to keep an individual clean, specifically their body, teeth, and clothing to prevent illness and diseases.

Technological products and devices related to balancing a female's vaginal flora to prevent infections and vaginal diseases.

Technological equipment and devices used to keep an individual's house (such as domestic items, the air, and surfaces) clean to prevent illness and diseases.

Technological equipment and solutions that can be used in an industrial or domestic setting to control biological food hazards (such as microbes and bacteria) and to ensure food safety and quality for human consumption, preventing diseases and illness.

Technological equipment and devices used to ensure clean air, sanitation, and hygiene in public places to prevent illness and diseases.

Uses IoT for sensors and data gathering in both public environments and for personal hygiene

Provide solutions for environmental hygiene—can be used in smart cities for health and safety purposes

Clarifruit

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