Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
This VC firm's portfolio includes some of the biggest names in plant-based food - here's a look at the popular eco-conscious companies it has funded so far
This VC firm's portfolio includes some of the biggest names in plant-based food - here's a look at the popular eco-conscious companies it has funded so far
PowerPlant Ventures is one of the firms that's looking to use their capital to do better for the planet and the animals by investing in a portfolio of plant-centric companies finding innovative ways to reshape the food system.
From brands like Beyond Meat that make meat out of plants to companies like Thrive Market that make healthy eating more accessible, keep reading to check out the innovative brands PowerPlant Ventures is betting on.
When it comes to choosing what we want to eat, a few obvious factors come into play. Most of us consider taste, personal dietary preferences, and prices when it's time to fill our plate. But, have you ever started the day with a little examination of the environmental impact of your breakfast?
Our food system as it stands today is not sustainable in the long term. When you factor in all the land and resources required to raise animals, grow crops, package and transport food, this industry accounts for 37% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. Our food system contributes to global warming, yet in a catch-22, it's also vulnerable to the whims of a volatile environment caused by rising temperatures and high CO2 emissions.
As individuals, we have the power to make a more positive impact with every dollar we spend. So, where should we start?
Advertisement
PowerPlant Ventures is a growth equity fund with a desire to fix our global food system, and they're investing serious capital into the plant-centric food and beverage companies changing the way we produce, distribute, and consume food. The mission is multi-faceted: the goals are to advance innovative food brands to ultimately tackle the environmental inefficiency of our food system, protect our planet and our people from climate change, and improve animal welfare. To do this, they're looking toward plant-centric brands - ones creating more sustainable and ethical ways to fuel our bodies, by focusing (mostly) on plant-based nutrition.
Since its founding in 2015, PowerPlant Ventures has been investing in a slew of disruptive brands poised to change our food system for the better. The brands in their portfolio run the gamut from consumer-packaged goods to full-fledged fast casual chains.
Keep reading to discover the five innovative brands PowerPlant Ventures is betting on to build a better food system.
Weaning carnivores off the juicy goodness of hamburgers is a tough feat. Beyond Meat wants to give meat eaters all the things they love about classic burger (or any meat product, for that matter) in a better-for-you-and-the-planet package.
The company is on a mission to create better protein, made wholly from plant-based ingredients. Don't expect your average black bean and quinoa burger here. Beyond Meat has taken the blueprint of what makes meat what it is (protein, fat, trace minerals, water) and found plant-based alternatives to create burgers, sausages, and ground meats that look and cook just like the real deal.
Beanfields wants to prove you can get all the crunch and flavor of old fashioned tortilla chips with a host of more nutritious ingredients. As the name suggests, beans are the hero ingredient here — they provide more protein, fiber, and less fat than your traditional corn, wheat, or potato chip.
Beans need little to no fertilizer to grow, which helps prevent the pollution runoff that occurs when farming corn (which needs a lot of fertilizer). As a certified B Corporation, Beanfields is committed to using their business to make a positive societal and environmental impact. The brand works with Homeboy Industries — an organization that provides programs that help high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with rehab and re-entry into public and private life — employing graduates of the program, and donating a portion of their sales to the group. On top of all the good they're doing, these non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher chips are certified delicious — the products are flush with five-star reviews on Amazon.
Computational biologists, food engineers, and chefs make up the team at JUST, where they're on a mission to find delicious plant-based alternatives that can recreate some of our favorite decadent foods like mayonnaise, cookie dough, and eggs.
The brand first came onto the food scene with JUST Mayo, an alternative to your typical combination of eggs and oil that uses yellow split peas to create a creamy texture. JUST has branched out into the world of dressings (you can find classics like Caesar and ranch), cookie doughs that are totally safe to eat raw, and the highly-anticipated eggless eggs.
Thrive Market may not be a totally plant-based platform, but it's reinventing the way we access healthy foods. We're told buying organic, non-GMO, and all-natural is better for us, but it's not possible for many. Organic food tends to be more expensive — they don't call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck" for nothing. Yet, many consumers still want access to these high-quality products, whether to support fair-trade purveyors for ethical reasons or buy more natural foods for health purposes.
Thrive Market wants to make grocery shopping simpler and more affordable for everyone by providing transparent labeling and wholesale prices. Every product on the website is GMO-free and Thrive lets you shop by diet and values, whether that's keto, raw, or Fair-Trade Certified. Pick the products you want and Thrive will deliver them right to your door, a particularly great convenience if you don't live near an organic market or grocery store. It's a membership service that costs $59.95 a year, which comes down to just $5 a month. Once a member, you can shop your favorite healthy brands at a fraction of the price. If you grocery shop often, or have a big family to feed, you'll likely make up the yearly membership fee in savings from your first two orders.
Additionally, Thrive is extending its mission to make healthy eating more affordable and accessible with its Thrive Gives memberships. When you buy a membership to Thrive Market, Thrive will donate a membership to a low-income family, along with educational content and grocery stipends. If you're on the fence, you can try a 30-day membership totally free.
Milk made out of peas? Yes, it exists, and Ripple is leading the charge. There are plenty of dairy-free milks out there, but pea milk is becoming increasingly popular for it's high protein and low sugar content, especially when compared to cow's milk.
Founders Neil Renninger and Adam Lowry both have backgrounds working for environmentally conscious brands and causes. They chose peas for their small environmental footprint — yellow peas need little or no irrigation, so less water is needed to help them grow. Ripple bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, which makes it easily recyclable, too.
