FLORA Ventures, an $80 million early-stage venture capital fund, has officially launched with a significant first closing of $50 million. As the largest AgriFood VC in Israel, it stands out as the new VC fund to achieve the largest first closing across all tech investment verticals in 2023, according to IVC data.
The fund focuses on supporting early-stage startups in the AgriFood ecosystems of Israel and Europe, dedicated to building a more sustainable and resilient food system. What sets FLORA Ventures apart is its pioneering model, being the first VC fund to collaborate with the innovative agricultural Israeli Kibbutzim as anchor investors and partners.
The co-founders, Gil Horsky, a former executive at Mondelēz and a prominent figure in the global AgriFood landscape, and Esther Barak-Landes, a renowned VC investor and co-founder of Nielsen’s incubator, secured funding in just four months. Their strategic partnerships with influential players like Sadot Kibbutzim, with their agricultural output exported to over 100 countries, provide the fund’s portfolio with unique access to agricultural resources, enabling rapid proof of concept and scalable technology implementation.