PeakBridge, a pioneering global fund manager in agri-food and a member of the Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity partnership, announces the closing of its Growth Fund II, bringing the firm’s total AuM over $250 million.

PeakBridge and Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity announce the successful closing of their early growth fund, PeakBridge Growth Fund II (1), at $187 million, bringing PeakBridge’s total assets under management to above $250 million. Against the backdrop of a challenging and volatile global environment, with this closing the fund has exceeded the target size announced just over two years ago. It is precisely within this environment - from inflation to climate change and geopolitical upheaval - that PeakBridge is more emboldened than ever in its mission: bridging the gap between bold innovation and real-world needs, to transform the future of food.

Growth Fund II was launched with participation from leading global food and beverage companies including Grupo Bimbo, Royal Cosun, and Arancia, and financial institutions including Builder’s Initiative. “We are incredibly proud to have global food industry leaders and conviction-driven families as well as financial investors join us in this fund,” notes PeakBridge Founding General Partner Erich Sieber. “It is not just a vote of confidence in the success of our focused strategy, but crucially important to creating real value for our portfolio and changing the food system from the inside out.”

Francois-Xavier Vucekovic, CIO of Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity, adds: “The success of this fundraising in today’s environment, highlights the relevance of PeakBridge’s strategy of leveraging technology and know-how, to create a sustainable impact on the social and environmental challenges of the agriculture and food industry, to which our Group is firmly committed.”

Food is a $10 trillion industry that touches most of the planet’s population and plays an outsized role in everything from climate change to health. Geopolitical conflict, inflation, and climate change are now putting unprecedented pressure on food security in developed and underdeveloped nations alike. Food industry giants are rethinking how they operate, as commodity prices including cocoa and sugar have soared to record- breaking highs - with long-term volatility all but guaranteed. Other momentous shifts are stirring, with consumers’ growing demand for nutritious food options and more control over their personal health. Alongside it, the rise of GLP-1 obesity drugs like Ozempic is changing health and consumption in ways we are only just beginning to see.

“Within such a complex global environment, the closing of this second early growth fund is further proof that our disciplined strategy is proving resilient and bearing fruit,” says PeakBridge Founding General Partner Nadav Berger. “For us, value creation is at the core of what we do. Our team brings to the table a rare mix of experience: food-tech investment pioneers, veteran Agri-Food industry operators, scientists, and financiers. Together with strong industry partnerships, we’re positioned to confront those real- world problems.”

PeakBridge invests in early growth companies globally, with scalable, proprietary technologies at the intersection of climate impact, health, and taste. Across five pinpointed sectors, seeking out the most promising innovators, with reasonable valuations, rapid scalability, and high impact.

Among the portfolio companies in PeakBridge Growth Fund II are some of the most exciting innovators across alternative proteins, nutrition and health, ingredient innovations, and more. Those include Vow, a groundbreaking cultured meat company that recently received regulatory approval and began sales in Singapore. Win-Win, the world’s first company to bring cocoa-free chocolate to market, has become more relevant by the day amid the persistent crisis in cocoa production and prices. Also innovating in ingredients is Kern Tec, developing everything from dairy alternatives to protein powders from upcycled fruit pits. In the nutrition and health sector is InsideTracker, using analysis of blood, DNA, and physiological biomarkers to help people live healthier, longer.

With the successful closing of this second early growth fund, PeakBridge is primed to support the entire portfolio in transforming the future of global food system.

ABOUT PEAKBRIDGE

PeakBridge is a highly networked, global VC bridging the gap between bold innovation and real- world needs, to transform the future of food. From Seed to Series B, we invest in visionary pioneers with scalable, B2B, protectable technologies and positive impact at their core. Our global team includes pioneers of food-tech investing, food industry experts and operators, scientists, and financiers. 360° experience, tailor-made to support our portfolio companies in making long-term impact on our global food system.

ABOUT THE EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD GROUP

As a conviction-driven investment house founded upon the belief that wealth should be used to build the world of tomorrow, Edmond de Rothschild specialises in Private Banking and Asset
Management and serves an international clientele of families, entrepreneurs, and institutional investors. The group is also active in Corporate Finance, Private Equity, Real Estate and Fund
Services. With a resolutely family-run nature, Edmond de Rothschild has the independence necessary to propose bold strategies and long-term investments, rooted in the real economy. Founded in 1953, the Group had more than CHF 163 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2023, 2,600 employees, and 29 locations worldwide.