The seed production industry in the DACH region is vital for agricultural advancements, focusing on innovations in crop varieties. Companies in this industry range from biotechnology firms to agritech startups, developing seeds that are resilient to climate change and disease. Research-intensive organizations utilize cutting-edge methods like gene editing to enhance yields and reduce agricultural impact. Trends point toward sustainable practices, including organic and specialty seeds, driven by consumer demand for healthier produce. Overall, this sector is experiencing growth as it responds to global food security challenges, pushing forward both technology and environmental sustainability.


The listed investors represent a mix of venture capital and corporate players, predominantly headquartered in Germany and Switzerland. Following their establishment between 1863 and 2024, these firms range in size from small teams to multinational giants with thousands of employees. In 2024, they collectively executed numerous deals, with a notable focus on investments in innovative agriculture and seed production technologies. Major players like Bayer and Syngenta reflect the strong market presence and aim to elevate agricultural efficiency through strategic financial support.


Top 19 Seed Production 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 focused on biotechnology and agriculture, investing in early-stage companies that are pursuing scientific breakthroughs to tackle significant global challenges in health and food security. The firm provides funding and active incubation to support the development of innovative solutions in these sectors. Notably, Leaps by Bayer has participated in funding rounds for companies like Pairwise Plants, which raised significant capital to develop genetically enhanced fresh produce using CRISPR technology, and Covercress, which is working on new crop varieties. These transactions highlight Leaps by Bayer's commitment to advancing agricultural technologies and improving seed production practices.


2. 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, particularly in alternative proteins and sustainable practices. In recent years, Blue Horizon has made significant investments in the agri-food technology sector, including a Seed investment in NuCicer, which focuses on chickpea varieties with higher protein content. They also participated in a Series A investment in Apparo, a company developing sunflower protein ingredients. These transactions highlight Blue Horizon's commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices and their relevance in the seed production industry.


3. 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 an agricultural technology company based in Basel, Switzerland, specializing in crop protection and seed production. Founded in 2000, Syngenta operates globally, providing innovative solutions to farmers and agricultural producers in over 150 countries. The company has a strong focus on research and development, which is evident in its strategic acquisitions in the seed production sector. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Verisem BV, a Dutch seed producing company, and Sensako, a South African seed company specializing in cereals. Additionally, Syngenta acquired Maribo Seed, enhancing its position in the European sugar beet market. These acquisitions reflect Syngenta's commitment to expanding its seed production capabilities and its significant role in the agricultural industry.


4. 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 a venture capital 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. Notably, FoodLabs has been involved in several significant transactions, including a seed round investment in Infarm, which raised over $4.4 million in 2017, and a leading role in the $3.2 million seed funding for Bright Biotech in 2022, a company working on plant genetic engineering methods. These investments highlight their commitment to advancing technologies that can impact seed production and sustainable agriculture.


5. 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 a corporate investor that focuses on innovation and sustainability across various industries, including agriculture. As a subsidiary of BASF, a leading chemical manufacturer, they leverage their expertise to enhance product performance while addressing environmental challenges. Notably, BASF Venture Capital has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Arcadia Biosciences, which raised funds to develop products based on agronomic performance and agricultural traits. They also invested in Groundwork BioAg, which is involved in agricultural innovations. Their recent investments in UrbanKisaan and Sea6 Energy further demonstrate their commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural practices and technologies, making them a key player in the seed production landscape.


6. Possible Ventures

  • Website: possible.ventures
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: possible-vc

Possible Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 2021. The firm has a small team and has made 9 investments in 2024. One of their notable investments includes Provectus Algae, which raised $11.4 million in a seed round aimed at algae cultivation, a key area in sustainable food production. They also participated in the seed funding of Bardee, a startup focused on converting food waste into insect protein and fertilizer, which is relevant to sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, Possible Ventures has invested in other innovative companies like Concert Bio and Farmless, which further showcases their commitment to supporting startups that contribute to food production and sustainability.


7. 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 that operates as a development finance institution, founded in 1962 and based in Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. 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. They support businesses across various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Notably, DEG has been involved in seed-related transactions, such as the seed round investment in Kilifi Moringa, which raised $500,000 in May 2018, focusing on agricultural products. While they also engage in larger financing activities, such as the $1.25 billion debt financing for Indorama Fertilizers in 2024, their commitment to supporting agricultural initiatives highlights their relevance in the seed production context.


8. Thia Ventures

  • Website: thiaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: thia-ventures

Thia Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 2021. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage companies at the intersection of food, biotech, and health, providing funding and support to innovative startups that aim to transform food systems and improve health outcomes. Their portfolio includes a diverse range of companies specializing in enzyme engineering, cultivated meats, and biofertilizers. Notably, Thia Ventures has made significant investments in the seed production context, including a recent Series B investment in Protealis, a leading innovator in seed solutions for sustainable plant proteins, which secured EUR 22 million to expand its crop product portfolio. They also participated in an extended A-round for Protealis, further demonstrating their commitment to seed innovation. Additionally, Thia Ventures has invested in companies like Switch Bioworks and Clever Carnivore, which, while primarily focused on cultivated meats, contribute to the broader food production ecosystem that includes seed development and sustainable agricultural practices.


9. 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. Demeter manages a diverse portfolio that promotes sustainable development. Notably, they have participated in funding rounds for Naïo Technologies, a leader in agricultural robotics, which raised significant capital in Series A and Series B funding rounds. Their involvement in Naïo Technologies, which aims to enhance agricultural efficiency through robotics, underscores their commitment to advancing technologies that can improve seed production and agricultural practices. Additionally, Demeter has also invested in other companies like Ynsect, which focuses on insect farming, further demonstrating their interest in sustainable agricultural solutions.


10. responsAbility Investments AG


ResponsAbility Investments AG is an impact investment firm based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2003. The firm specializes in managing investments in emerging markets, focusing on financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food production. They provide investment solutions aimed at generating positive societal and environmental impacts alongside financial returns, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries. Notably, responsAbility has been involved in several relevant transactions in the agricultural sector, including a significant investment in Sahyadri Farms, which raised $45,911,385 in a Series B round in December 2024, and Ecozen, which secured $23,000,000 in debt financing in January 2025. These investments highlight their commitment to enhancing sustainable agricultural practices, making them a relevant player in the seed production industry.


11. 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 rebuilding the global food system, with a strong emphasis on food technology. They provide both financial support and advisory services to startups, helping them tackle significant challenges within the industry. Notably, Tet Ventures has participated in several relevant transactions, including a seed round investment in FORAY bioscience, which raised $3,413,246 in March 2024, and another seed round for Brevel, which secured $8,400,000 in May 2022. These investments highlight their active role in supporting innovative companies that could contribute to advancements in seed production and agricultural technology.


12. Nucleus Capital

  • Website: nucleus-capital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: k16-ventures

Nucleus Capital is a venture capital firm based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2021. The firm focuses on investing in purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are tackling systemic challenges related to planetary health. Nucleus Capital primarily invests in sectors such as Programmable Biology, Food Technology, and Green Industrials, with a strong emphasis on startups in Europe and the US. Notable transactions include their participation in the Pre-Seed funding of Concert Bio, which raised $1.75 million, and their involvement in Farmless, which secured €1.2 million in Pre-Seed funding. Additionally, they invested in Hoxton Farms, which raised over $3.7 million in a Seed round, and Planetary, which is working to enhance food fermentation processes with an $8 million funding round. These investments highlight Nucleus Capital's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the food sector, making them a relevant player in the seed production landscape.


13. 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 aim to transition to a circular bio-based economy. ECBF operates primarily within the EU and supports innovations in sectors such as agriculture, food, and industrial biotechnology. Notably, ECBF has been involved in significant transactions in the agricultural technology space, including investments in Aphea.Bio, a Belgian agtech company that raised €70 million in Series C funding, and Elicit Plant, which raised €48 million in Series B funding. These companies are working on solutions that directly impact seed production and agricultural sustainability, showcasing ECBF's relevance in this sector.


14. AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance


AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance, founded in 2024 and based in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in and supporting startups within the AgriFoodTech sector. The firm collaborates with innovative businesses to promote sustainable technologies in food production. Notably, they have participated in several transactions that highlight their commitment to this sector. For instance, they invested in Evologic Technologies during a seed round, which is directly relevant to seed production. Additionally, their involvement in AgroSustain's Series A funding round, which focuses on biological antifungal solutions, showcases their interest in sustainable agricultural practices. Overall, AgriFoodTech Venture Alliance aims to empower startups seeking investment and expertise to develop and scale their solutions in the AgriFoodTech landscape.


15. Beyond Impact VC


Beyond Impact VC is a venture capital firm based in Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland, founded in 2017. The firm specializes in sustainable and animal-free products and services, focusing on funding early-stage companies that promote vegan lifestyles and technologies that replace animal-derived products. Notably, Beyond Impact VC has participated in seed funding rounds for companies like Back of the Yards Algae Sciences, which raised an undisclosed amount in March 2020, and SuperMeat, which secured $3 million in seed funding for the development of lab-grown 'clean chicken' products in January 2018. These investments reflect their commitment to supporting innovative and compassionate business models in the food production sector.


16. Bayer

  • Website: bayer.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
  • Founded year: 1863
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: bayer

Bayer AG is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company based in Leverkusen, Germany, with a strong presence in both healthcare and agriculture. Founded in 1863, Bayer has evolved to become a leader in providing innovative solutions for various health conditions and agricultural challenges. In the agricultural sector, Bayer CropScience has made significant investments to enhance crop production and pest management. Notable transactions include the acquisition of AgraQuest, Inc. for approximately $425 million, aimed at strengthening its biological pest management portfolio, and the acquisition of Icon Genetics for $300 million, which focuses on biotechnology relevant to crop production. Additionally, Bayer's acquisition of proPlant Gesellschaft für Agrar- und Umweltinformatik further demonstrates its commitment to agricultural innovation. These strategic moves highlight Bayer's role as a key player in the seed production industry, making it a relevant investor in this space.


17. 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 Brazilian food retailer Hortifruti Hortigil, which highlights their engagement in the food supply chain. More significantly, they acquired a majority stake in Rovensa, a Portuguese producer of agricultural products, for €1 billion, which operates in over 70 countries and generates substantial annual revenue. This acquisition underscores their strategic interest in the agricultural sector, aligning with seed production. Additionally, their involvement in various sectors, including healthcare packaging, showcases their diverse investment portfolio while still maintaining a foothold in agriculture.


18. 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 a venture capital firm 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 made several investments in the agricultural sector, including Mimosatek, which raised $1,000,000 in a Seed Round in 2016, and AgroCenta, which secured $400,000 in a Seed Round in 2018. Additionally, they were involved with Jiye Technologies, which raised $2,500,000 in a Pre-Seed Round in 2021, and agriBORA, which received a grant in 2022, indicating their active participation in supporting agricultural innovation and seed production initiatives.


19. Sgs

  • Website: sgs.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded year: 1878
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: sgs

SGS S.A. is a leading testing, inspection, and certification company based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded in 1878. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, SGS provides independent services to ensure product quality and compliance across various industries. In the agricultural sector, SGS has made significant strides through strategic acquisitions. Notably, they acquired BioVision Seed Research Limited, a Canadian seed, grain, and soil testing laboratory, to strengthen their presence in the agricultural market. This acquisition is particularly relevant as it enhances their capabilities in seed testing, a critical component of seed production. Additionally, SGS's acquisition of NviroCrop, a precision agriculture services company in South Africa, and the Ware Care Group, which specializes in Integrated Pest Management, further demonstrates their commitment to enhancing agricultural services. These transactions reflect SGS's strategy to improve operational efficiency and regulatory compliance in agriculture, making them a key player in the seed production industry.



Seed Production Insights: Key Investors in DACH


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Leaps by BayerBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201516
Blue HorizonZurich, Zurich, Switzerland11-5020162
SyngentaBasel, Basel, Switzerland10001+20002
FoodLabsBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-50201611
BASF Venture CapitalLudwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany10001+20013
Possible VenturesMunich, Bavaria, Germany1-1020219
DegNeunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany501-1000196217
Thia VenturesPlan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland1-1020213
Demeter-PartnersBerlin, Berlin, Germany11-5020070
responsAbility Investments AGZurich, Zurich, Switzerland201-50020039
Tet VenturesBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020204
Nucleus CapitalBerlin, Berlin, Germany1-1020215
European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany11-50202011
AgriFoodTech Venture AllianceMunich, Bavaria, Germany1-1020241
Beyond Impact VCMontreux, Vaud, Switzerland1-1020172
BayerLeverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany10001+18632
Partners GroupBaar, Zug, Switzerland1001-5000199619
SeedstarsCarouge, Geneva, Switzerland201-50020126
SgsGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland10001+18785


Want to find more investors focusing on the seed production industry?

If you want to find more investors that are active in the seed productionindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.

With Inven, you'll also get to know:

  • Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
  • Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
  • Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
  • ...and much more!