Investing in alternative protein

Who has access to the investor directory?

Due to the sensitive nature of investor contact information and the conditions on which sharing consent was given, GFI maintains separate investor directories for companies and funds and limits directory access to alternative protein companies or funds who are currently fundraising or have successfully closed a funding round. Investors can opt in to one or both directories below.

Alternative protein companies can request access to the investor directory by filling out this form. Alternative protein funds can request access by filling out this form. All entries will be reviewed by GFI and access to each respective directory will be granted to qualifying alternative protein companies or funds.

How do companies and funds contact investors through this list? 

Investors opt in to sharing their email addresses, which companies and funds can use to contact investors.

The use of information from the directory for marketing purposes or mass emailing is not permitted. If you believe someone is violating this rule, please email corporate@gfi.org and GFI will take appropriate action. 

What is GFI’s policy on making introductions between companies and investors? 

In order to ensure that GFI is providing equitable support to all alternative protein companies and investors, we do not make direct introductions between companies and individual investors. Instead, we provide fundraising companies with access to the investor directory and encourage them to reach out to investors directly or seek an introduction from outside GFI.

How can I edit my information or remove myself from this list? 

Investors can edit their information or remove themselves from the investor directory by emailing corporate@gfi.org.

Our company database lists alternative protein companies along with their attributes, such as product and technology focus, operating regions, date founded, and founders.

Our fundraising database lists alternative protein companies currently engaged in a fundraising round (as self-reported by companies) and round characteristics, including asset type, round type, target deal size, and target investor type.

The GlassWall Syndicate is a group of venture capitalists, family offices, and individual investors who share a similar investment thesis and want to accelerate mainstream adoption of products and services that remove animals from supply chains. They share resources, including research, contacts, deal flow, analysis, due diligence, and expertise. If you are interested in learning more about joining the GlassWall Syndicate, please fill out this form on their website.

Vevolution is a fintech startup based in the UK specializing in the plant-based and cell-tech space. Vevolution’s membership-based deal flow tool allows investors to access hundreds of plant-based and cell-based deals, co-invest alongside leading funds from across the world, chat with startup founders, and more. Interested investors may create a free account to access a live deal flow preview.

Beyond Animal is a Swiss company accelerating the growth of the vegan economy. Their digital platform, Funding by Beyond Animal, matches investors with animal-free businesses and facilitates the funding process. Investor members can use the platform to invest in companies providing sustainable, animal-free products and services. The Funding by Beyond Animal deal room offers a searchable pipeline of deals, full investor information packs, and a transaction process.

We are often asked by non-accredited investors how they can invest in alternative proteins. While options are unfortunately limited as in the United States individuals who do not meet the accredited investor criteria under SEC Regulation D are generally unable to participate in private company fundraising rounds, there are some options available. Investors may: 

• Participate in equity or product crowd-funding. The passage of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act allowed non-accredited individuals to take part in crowdfunding up to individual limits based on net worth and income. Select private alternative protein companies have raised early-stage capital through crowdfunding platforms. 
• Invest in startups through public holding companies. There are several publicly listed holding companies that provide look-through access to private alternative protein startups, including Agronomics Limited, Eat Beyond, and Eat Well Investment Group Inc. 
• Invest in publicly traded companies. While still limited in number, there are some publicly traded alternative protein companies, and ETFs investing in alternative protein companies, listed on major stock exchanges, such as Beyond Meat (NAS: BYND), Oatly (NAS: OTLY), The Vegan World Index®, and the VegTech Environmental Impact and Plant-based Innovation ETF. In addition, select alternative protein companies are listed on regional exchanges, including SavorEat (TAE: SVRT), Else Nutrition Holdings (TSX: BABY), and The Very Good Butchers (CNQ: VERY).
• Incorporate considerations of alternative proteins in broad public equity portfolios. Within their public equity portfolios, investors can overweight food and meat companies that are more engaged in alternative proteins and underweight those less engaged. The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index and Sustainable Proteins Hub may be helpful tools in such assessments. Investors may also utilize proxy voting and/or activist investment strategies to encourage a focus on alternative proteins, sustainability in companies’ supply chains, and sustainability-related targets and disclosures.