Singapore-based, agriculture-focused investment firm Germi8 has launched with backing from various corporate investors and will invest almost $1m in Southeast Asian startups.
The firm was co-founded by Leave a Nest, which runs a training scheme for university students, and venture creation firm Focus Tech Ventures. They are partnering agricultural machinery manufacturer Kobashi Industries and biotech company Euglena.
Germi8 will invest a total of ¥100m ($940,000) in about 20 seed-stage startups over the next three years.
The vehicle will focus on startups developing alternative proteins, such as plant-based and fermentation-based meat substitutes, in addition to seafood, clean meat and insect-based functional foods.
Startups working on supply chain-related technologies capable of reducing waste will also be considered. Leave a Nest had already launched a seed acceleration initiative called Tech Planter to nurture startups.
