Lever VC announces first close of Lever VC Fund I; Fund has US$23 million in committed capital and a portfolio of ten trailblazing startups across the U.S., Europe and Asia

New York — Lever VC, a global alternative protein venture capital fund whose partners were investors in Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Memphis Meats and other sector leaders, announced today it recently completed the first close of Lever VC Fund I. The Fund, which is investing globally in early stage plant-based and cell-cultivated meat and dairy companies, has already amassed a portfolio of ten trailblazing alternative protein startups around the world. The Fund currently has $23 million USD in capital commitments.

“The alternative protein market is continuing to grow quickly, and with our deep experience and proven record of returns in the sector, as well as preeminent deal flow across the North America, Europe, Asia and beyond, Lever VC is perfectly positioned to deliver value to investors looking for financial or strategic exposure to alternative protein” said Lawrence Chu, Lever VC Partner and founder of Lever VC GP Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited. Lever VC has staff and venture partners in the U.S., U.K., France, Israel, India, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore.

The Lever VC Fund I portfolio includes TurtleTree Labs, the first company in the world producing cow’s milk and human breast milk from cell cultivation; Better Meat Co, whose plant-based meat protein blend is featured in Perdue Farms products at over 7,000 grocery stores across the U.S.; Good Planet Foods, a top plant-based cheese player with distribution at Walmart, Albertsons, Kroger, Costco, White Castle and elsewhere; Mission Barns, whose cell-cultivated bacon products are currently available at select restaurants in San Francisco; The Good Spoon, a fast-growing plant-based condiments brand with distribution at top European retailers; and Bond Pet Foods, the first company in the world producing real meat protein from fermentation. Lever VC leverages its own proprietary database to track over 1,200 alternative protein companies globally.