The horticulture industry in DACH thrives on innovation and sustainability, encompassing a variety of businesses involved in plant cultivation, food production, and agricultural technology. Companies range from startups focused on vertical farming and hydroponics to established entities providing seeds, fertilizers, and pest management solutions. With increasing consumer demand for local and organic produce, the industry is transitioning toward eco-friendly practices and integrated farming solutions. By adopting cutting-edge technologies such as precision agriculture and artificial intelligence, the horticulture sector is not only boosting yields but also addressing global food security challenges—making it dynamic and forward-thinking.


The group of investors featured here includes venture capital, corporate, and private equity firms based in Germany and Switzerland. Active participants range from health-oriented startups to major agricultural giants, with a collective investment count reaching over 70 in 2024. The listed firms showcase different sizes, from smaller teams with fewer than 50 employees to large corporations employing thousands, all united by a shared commitment to transforming horticulture. Founded between 2000 and 2020, these investors are strategically positioned to drive innovation in the agriculture sector.


Top 13 Horticulture Investors in DACH


1. Leaps by Bayer

  • Website: leaps.bayer.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: leapsbybayer

Leaps by Bayer is an investment firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2015. It operates as a venture capital entity with a focus on biotechnology and agriculture, investing in early-stage companies that are pursuing innovative solutions to global challenges in health and food security. Notably, Leaps by Bayer has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Pairwise Plants, which raised $40 million in a Series C round in September 2024, and is known for its work in agricultural gene editing to enhance fresh produce. Additionally, they were involved in the Series B and A funding rounds for Apollo Agriculture, which focuses on improving agricultural practices in Africa. These transactions highlight Leaps by Bayer's commitment to advancing horticultural technologies and practices.


2. Syngenta

  • Website: syngenta.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: syngenta

Syngenta is a leading agricultural technology company based in Basel, Switzerland, founded in 2000. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, Syngenta specializes in crop protection and seed production, providing innovative solutions to farmers and agricultural producers worldwide. The company operates in more than 150 countries, focusing on research and development to enhance crop yields and protect against pests and diseases. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Verisem BV, a Dutch seed producing company, which strengthens their position in the seed market. Additionally, Syngenta's acquisition of Produtécnica, a Brazilian agricultural inputs distributor, aims to bolster their retail presence in a key market. These strategic moves highlight Syngenta's commitment to expanding its influence in the horticulture sector, particularly through seed production and distribution.


3. BASF Venture Capital

  • Website: basf.de
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
  • Founded year: 2001
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: basf

BASF Venture Capital, founded in 2001 and based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is the corporate venture capital arm of BASF, a leading chemical manufacturer. The firm focuses on investing in innovative companies across various industries, including agriculture, automotive, and construction, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental challenges. Notably, BASF Venture Capital has participated in several significant transactions relevant to horticulture, such as their investment in Provivi, Inc., which is developing safer and more effective crop protection solutions based on pheromones. This investment supports the launch of innovative products aimed at enhancing agricultural practices. Additionally, BASF's involvement in UrbanKisaan, which raised $6.4 million in Series A funding, reflects their interest in urban agriculture and sustainable farming solutions. Their participation in Groundwork BioAg and Sea6 Energy also indicates a broader commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability.


4. responsAbility Investments AG


ResponsAbility Investments AG is an impact investment firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, specializing in managing investments in emerging markets. Founded in 2003, the firm focuses on financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food production, providing investment solutions to both professional and retail investors. Their operations aim to generate positive societal and environmental impacts alongside financial returns, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries. Notable transactions in the horticulture context include their investments in Rising Farms, which raised $11 million in Series B funding, and Sahyadri Farms, which secured $45.9 million in Series B funding. They also invested in Ecozen, which raised $23 million in debt financing, and Samunnati, a specialized agricultural value chain enabler that raised approximately $55 million in Series D funding. These investments highlight responsAbility's commitment to enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and supporting the horticulture industry.


5. Deg

  • Website: deginvest.de
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  • Founded year: 1962
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 17
  • LinkedIn: deg

DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH is a public entity based in Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, founded in 1962. As a development finance institution, DEG provides long-term financing and advisory services to private enterprises in developing and emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development and job creation. DEG supports businesses across various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Notably, DEG has been involved in several transactions relevant to horticulture, such as the seed round investment in Kilifi Moringa, which focuses on sustainable agricultural practices, and grants to Shamba Pride and Simusolar, both of which aim to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. These transactions highlight DEG's commitment to fostering growth in the agricultural sector, making them a significant player in the horticulture investment landscape.


6. Demeter-Partners


Demeter-Partners is a venture capital and private equity firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in investments aimed at facilitating the energy and ecological transition, supporting innovative startups and small to mid-cap companies with funding and strategic guidance. With a strong focus on sustainable development, Demeter manages a diverse portfolio that includes significant investments in the agricultural technology sector. Notably, Demeter-Partners has participated in funding rounds for Naïo Technologies, a leader in agricultural robotics, which raised €14 million in a Series A round and $33 million in a Series B round. These investments highlight Demeter's commitment to promoting ecological solutions within the horticulture industry, making them a relevant player in this sector.


7. Partners Group

  • Website: partnersgroup.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Baar, Zug, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 19
  • LinkedIn: partners-group

Partners Group Holding AG is a prominent investment management firm based in Baar, Zug, Switzerland, specializing in private equity, private infrastructure, private real estate, and private debt. Founded in 1996, the firm manages over USD 149 billion in assets and is recognized for its innovative approach and commitment to sustainability. Among their notable transactions, Partners Group acquired a 53.69% majority stake in Hortifruti Hortigil, a Brazilian food retailer, in 2017, which emphasizes their engagement in the horticulture sector. Furthermore, in 2020, they acquired a majority stake in Rovensa, a Portuguese producer of agricultural products, for €1 billion, highlighting their strategic focus on agricultural investments. These transactions illustrate Partners Group's active role in the horticulture industry, alongside their broader investment portfolio.


8. FoodLabs

  • Website: foodlabs.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: atlantic-food-labs

FoodLabs is an investment firm and food technology incubator based in Berlin, founded in 2016. They focus on supporting innovative startups in the food tech sector, providing investment and consulting services to entrepreneurs. Their mission is to promote sustainable food solutions and address global challenges related to food security and health. Notable transactions include their investment in Infarm, which raised over $4.4 million to develop urban farming solutions, and Bright Biotech, which secured $3.2 million for R&D in plant genetic engineering. Additionally, they invested in Terraa, a tech-enabled food distribution platform, and InPlanet, which raised over $4.5 million, further showcasing their commitment to enhancing food systems and horticultural practices.


9. European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)


The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital firm based in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, founded in 2020. It focuses on sustainable investments in the bioeconomy, providing funding and expertise to growth-stage companies that are transitioning to a circular bio-based economy. ECBF operates primarily within the EU and supports innovations across various sectors, including agriculture, food, and industrial biotechnology. Notably, ECBF led a $17 million Series A funding round for RED Horticulture, a company specializing in high-performance lighting strategies for horticulture. This investment highlights ECBF's commitment to enhancing agricultural practices through innovative technology. Additionally, ECBF has shown interest in agricultural technology through its involvement with Elicit Plant, which raised $48 million in Series B funding in 2024. These transactions underscore ECBF's active role in the horticulture sector and its dedication to fostering sustainable agricultural innovations.


10. Tet Ventures

  • Website: tet.vc
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2020
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: tetvc

Tet Ventures is a corporate venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2020. The firm specializes in investing in teams that are dedicated to transforming the global food system, with a strong emphasis on food technology. They provide both financial support and advisory services to startups tackling significant challenges in the food industry. Notably, Tet Ventures has made several investments relevant to horticulture, including Impetus Agriculture, which raised $2,000,000 in a convertible note in July 2022, focusing on agricultural advancements. Additionally, their investment in FORAY bioscience, which raised $3,413,246 in March 2024, suggests a commitment to innovative solutions that could benefit horticultural practices. Other investments include Concert Bio and Bene Bono, which, while not directly horticultural, contribute to the broader food ecosystem.


11. Blue Horizon

  • Website: bluehorizon.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: bluehorizoncorp

Blue Horizon is a Zurich-based venture capital firm founded in 2016, dedicated to investing in sustainable food systems. The firm supports mission-aligned founders in the bioeconomy by providing funding and resources to scale innovative solutions. In 2022, Blue Horizon invested $35 million in Tropic Biosciences, a company focused on developing innovative crop solutions. They also co-led a $116 million Series D funding round for AgBiome, which aims to expand its product portfolio in agricultural biotechnology. Additionally, Blue Horizon participated in a Seed investment for NuCicer, an agri-food technology company that is working on chickpea varieties with significantly higher protein content. These transactions highlight Blue Horizon's commitment to advancing sustainable practices within the horticulture sector.


12. Seedstars

  • Website: seedstars.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: seedstars

Seedstars is an investment and education company based in Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 2012. The firm focuses on supporting startups and entrepreneurs in emerging markets through various programs, including acceleration and growth initiatives, investment readiness, and the operation of entrepreneurship hubs. Seedstars collaborates with governments, investors, and development agencies to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems and drive social and economic development. Notably, Seedstars has been involved in several transactions relevant to the horticulture sector, such as investing in AgroCenta, which raised a total of $900,000 in seed rounds in 2018, aimed at improving agricultural supply chains. Additionally, they supported agriBORA, which raised funds through a grant in 2022, indicating their engagement in agricultural technology and services that can benefit horticulture. These transactions highlight Seedstars' active role in the horticulture industry, alongside their broader investment focus.


13. AlphaMundi Group Ltd


AlphaMundi Group Ltd is an impact investment firm based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 2007. The firm focuses on financing scalable ventures primarily in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a strong emphasis on sectors such as Financial Inclusion and Renewable Energy. They offer investment funds like the SocialAlpha Fund and AlphaJiri Fund, targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking growth capital. AlphaMundi integrates gender analysis into their investment strategies to enhance social impact. Notably, they have made significant investments in the horticulture context, including a $3.4 million debt financing for Complete Farmer, which supports farmers with innovative agricultural solutions. They also invested $11 million in SunCulture, a company that provides solar-powered irrigation systems to improve crop yields. Furthermore, their involvement with Sistema.bio, which has raised funds to deliver renewable energy solutions to farmers, highlights their commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. These transactions demonstrate AlphaMundi's active role in supporting ventures that directly impact the horticulture industry.



Horticulture Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Leaps by BayerBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201516
SyngentaBasel, Basel, Switzerland10001+20002
BASF Venture CapitalLudwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany10001+20013
responsAbility Investments AGZurich, Zurich, Switzerland201-50020039
DegNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany501-1000196217
Demeter-PartnersBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020070
Partners GroupBaar, Zug, Switzerland1001-5000199619
FoodLabsBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201611
European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany11-50202011
Tet VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020204
Blue HorizonZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-5020162
SeedstarsCarouge, Geneva, Switzerland201-50020126
AlphaMundi Group LtdGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland1-1020075


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