Weekly Roundup: Notable Fundraises and Developments in the Startup Landscape

This week saw significant fundraises from a variety of innovative startups across the globe. Indian B2B trading platform Udaan, Swiss climate-forecasting startup Jua, and Japan-based foodservice provider Wada FoodTech, renowned for its automated bento vending machines, are among the highlights.

In other developments, Israeli company Meala has partnered with DSM-Firmenich to introduce a new texturizing protein tailored for meat alternatives. On a different note, Big Idea Ventures, in collaboration with Mars Petcare, launched a global innovation program aimed at pet food advancements.

Startup Funding Highlights

🇮🇳 Indian B2B firm Udaan raises $114 million in Series G funding Tech In Asia

🇬🇧 Treefera secures $30 million to enhance transparency in the supply chain’s ‘first mile’ using AI AgFunderNews

🇨🇭 Jua raises $11 million to develop its Earth simulation platform for energy and climate forecasting Tech.eu

🇯🇵 Wada FoodTech raises $5 million to expand its hot-chain decentralized foodservice platform Access Newswire

🇫🇷 Kumulus Water collects $3.5 million for its atmospheric water generators Tech.eu

🇧🇷🇯🇵 Japan’s JICA invests in Brazilian digital banking platform Agrolend AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Silicon Ranch makes a strategic investment in Swap Robotics Business Wire

Mergers & Acquisitions, IPOs & Partnerships

🇫🇮🇧🇷 Enifer partners with ethanol giant FS for mycoprotein production in Brazil AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Grocery platform Misfits Market acquires The Rounds to enhance food waste reduction efforts TechCrunch

🇺🇸 Amyris and Ingredion dissolve their SweetJoint venture PR Newswire

🇺🇸 Big Idea Ventures teams up with Mars Petcare for a global pet food innovation initiative Globe Newswire

🇮🇱🇳🇱 Meala collaborates with DSM-Firmenich for new texturizing protein FoodBev Media

🇧🇪🇺🇸 AmphiStar and Kensing form strategic partnership for upcycled biosurfactants in North America Cosmetics Business

🇳🇱 Harvest House adopts Source.ag’s AI-powered forecasting tool Fruitnet

🇺🇸 Kubota collaborates with Agtonomy to enhance autonomous farming technology PR Newswire

Funding, Grants & Accelerators

🇫🇮 Nordic Foodtech VC announces the first close of its second fund at $45 million AgFunderNews

🇨🇦 FCC Capital reveals a $2 billion investment in ag and food innovation Cision Newswire

🇨🇦 Protein Industries Canada invests $15 million in genomics and AI funding for supply chain resilience Vegconomist

🇺🇸 Planeteer Capital secures $54 million for its maiden fund VC Wire

🇺🇸 CC Facility grants $1.1 million to enhance climate investment opportunities in Africa and AsiaCC Facility

🇬🇧 Nomad Foods launches Future Foods Lab to expedite startup innovation Nomad Foods

People Moves

🇺🇸 Aldi US appoints Atty McGrath as new CEO Grocery Dive

🇺🇸 Robert E. Jones joins the Culinary Institute of America Morning Star

🇺🇸 Pivot Bio names Daryl Allen as Vice President of Sales Pivot Bio

Other News

🇦🇹 Arkeon Bio files for insolvency LinkedIn

🇺🇸 FDA approves Wildtype’s cell-cultivated salmon for sale in the US AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Perfect Day responds to a court’s deceptive marketing lawsuit regarding animal-free dairy AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Peter Rahal and David Protein are sued for a ‘bait & switch’ scheme involving Epogee’s fat replacer AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Mondelēz International expands its sustainable futures portfolio Mondelez International

🇺🇸 Liberation Labs rebrands to Liberation Bioindustries Globe Newswire

🇺🇸 Microsoft purchases 60,000 soil carbon credits from Indigo ESG Today

🇺🇸 FDA launches AI tool to enhance agency performance US Food and Drug Administration

🇫🇷 Bel Group to discontinue plant-based cheese brand Nurishh Just Food

🇺🇸 DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats settle with NYC over fee regulations Reuters

🇮🇳 Cyberattack at KiranaPro exposes data Tech In Asia