Khaberni - Last week marked World Food Day, a reminder of our need for smarter and more sustainable ways to feed our planet.
At the same time, climate pressures, changing diets, and modern technologies are transforming how food is produced and delivered.
Concurrent with the launch of Global Food Week, "Tech Funding News" reveals a group of startups leading this transformation in the United States, by addressing everything from waste to nutrition and supply chain risks.
Company Sharebite
Among the leading emerging tech companies in food production worth following now is Sharebite, which helps companies manage food orders for their employees working in offices or remotely.
What sets it apart is its social aspect, as each ordered meal encourages a donation to the needy, through Feeding America and City Harvest.
The New York-based startup raised $39 million in a Series B funding round in 2022 led by Prosus, with support from Fiserv and London Technology Club.
This has helped Sharebite grow among companies seeking convenience without overlooking positive impact.
The founders of the company are Dilip Rao (CEO), Moiz Memon (President and COO), and Ahsan Sabir (Co-founder).
The founding date is 2015, and the total funding received by the company so far is $87.5 million.
Company Arbol
Arbol offers weather and climate insurance for agricultural businesses and food distributors.
Instead of waiting for claim reviews, customers automatically receive their entitlements upon certain weather conditions, tracked using artificial intelligence, satellites, IoT sensors, and blockchain technology.
In 2024, Arbol closed a Series B funding round of $60 million led by Giant Ventures and Opera Tech Ventures.
It has expanded its customer base to include large-scale agricultural operations and logistics companies seeking to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The founders of the company are "Sidhartha Jha" (CEO and Chairman), "Osho Jha" (Chief Data Scientist), and "Philip Hilberg".
The founding date is 2018, and the total funding the company has received to date is $71 million.
Company ALOHA
ALOHA manufactures plant-based protein bars, powders, and beverages with ingredients sourced from sustainable sources, including reduced sugar, clean labels, and a focus on products like Bonova oil and macadamia nuts processed with renewable energy.
CEO Brad Charron took over in 2017, turning ALOHA into an employee-owned brand dedicated to wellness.
Last year, the company received $68 million from SemCap Food & Nutrition to expand its retail distribution and intensify product development.
Company BIOMILQ
BIOMILQ launched with the bold idea of producing mother’s milk outside the body using cell culture.
Since then, the company has shifted its focus to producing active biomolecules, such as oligosaccharides from mother's milk and osteopontin, which can be used in infant milk.
The company was founded by cell biologist Dr. Leila Strickland and food scientist Michelle Egger, and the Durham-based startup raised $21 million in a Series A funding round in 2021, co-led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Novo Holdings.
BIOMILQ represents a convergence of biotechnology and child health.
Company Metafoodx
Metafoodx developed a 3D scanner with artificial intelligence technology that tracks food in commercial kitchens, what is consumed, what is wasted, and where improvements can be made, operating quickly as it identifies and weighs products in seconds.
The San Jose-based startup raised $9.4 million in a Series "A" funding round this past May, led by Trustbridge Partners with participation from BlueRun Ventures and ScalableVision Capital.
Metafoodx confirms its platform can reduce food waste by half in large-scale kitchen operations.
