In foodtech news:

⚛️ Molecular farming: the newest trend among foodtech investors. What is molecular farming and why are VCs so into it? Sifted looks for the answers. - Sifted

🔬 Could lab-grown meat become a growing trend for UK caterers? As this emerging foodtech niche gets FDA approval, lab-grown or cultured meat is predicted to make up nearly a quarter of all meat consumption across the global market by 2035. - Foodservice Equipment Journal

🤖 Israeli foodtech ecosystem looks to AI for sector innovation. Israeli investors, manufacturers and scientists are turning toward AI to solve and create sustainable food production. - Food Ingredients First

🛵 What's Next in 2023? AI, EVs, delivery robots and more. Axios covers tech trends to watch in 2023 including Uber Eats partnering with Cartken for food delivery in Miami, and Grubhub and Kiwibot expanding robot service on college campuses. - Axios

Latest foodtech deals

Select deals from last week:

🇺🇸 Pretzel-maker Eastern Standard Provisions has completed a $13.5M funding round with participation from Mondelēz International’s venture arm SnackFutures, bringing its total funding to date to $14M

🇮🇳 Agriculture-focused deep tech startup Ecozen has secured $10M from Nuveen Global Fund. Ecozen offers climate-smart deep tech solutions and core technology stacks including motor controls, IoT, and energy storage. 

🇺🇸 Brooklyn-based coffee concentrate startup, Explorer Cold Brew, the concentrated coffee brand offering four caffeine levels, raised $2.5M. Founded by mountaineer and former Bain & Company consultant Cason Crane, Explorer is planning to make the most of its distribution partnership with Delta Air Lines and make its way into retail in 2023.

Other notable foodtech deals from around the globe: 

🇩🇪 Mikks, a Swiss cocktail mix developer in one bottle, raised $2M in its latest funding round. The Zurich startup sells 10,000 bottles a month in several European countries and grew by 50% in 2022.

🇮🇹 Rome-based Ittinsect raised $625,000 in Angel round financing. Ittinsect is an environmentally friendly feed manufacturer and marketer that develops sustainable alternatives to aquaculture feed.

Read up on all the latest foodtech deals in Dealroom.co

Tip of the week

🍹 Dealroom Briefings: Non-Alcoholic Beverage Startups

Functional and non-alcoholic beverage startups are expected to grow two-fold by 2030!

More consumers are looking to healthier and sustainable alternatives. With many Gen-Z buyers rethinking their consumption of alcohol, and companies promoting more sober-friendly spaces and events, this is expected to be a growing category in the coming years.

Explore over 156+ non-alcoholic beverage startups in our curated landscape, and keep an eye out as we expand the list with more companies.

Dive in

🚜  Top 100 Agritech Startups to Watch

🏆 Top 100 Foodtech Startups to Watch

💸 The Fastest-Growing Foodtech Hubs

🌎 Foodtech in Latin America

Ivan Draganov

Senior Innovation Analyst
Dealroom

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