Plant-Based Food

Join the revolution of eating habits powered by the plant-based food industry.

Healthier, eco-friendly future today

The plant-based food industry is hotter than ever. The shift in consumer appetite is fueled by rising environmental, health, and ethical awareness. And the market growth potential of this industry makes it lucrative for plant-based venture capital funds and consumers globally. It reshapes the way we eat and think about food.

Why it matters:

The sector provides numerous opportunities for plant-based startups to capitalize on:

  • Creating unique and diverse plant-based products
  • Leveraging technology for better product quality
  • Expanding into emerging markets
  • Developing eco-friendly packaging
  • Utilizing e-commerce and D2C sales

Between the lines:

In addition to a huge growth potential, the plant-based food industry is full of roadblocks like competition and high investment costs.

Our expert team is equipped with the knowledge needed to develop successful, investment-worthy ventures in the plant-based food sector

$2B+
Secured in funding
600+
Startups boosted
80+
Industries spanned

What we do:

We aim to secure necessary financial support, assist with M&A options, and craft impeccable, insightful plant-based pitch decks and business blueprints.

Go deeper:

Explore our plant-based food market research to learn about the latest trends, startup challenges, and key strategies for securing investment.

4x growth
The plant-based food market is expected to quadruple by 2032, hitting a staggering $1855.8B.

 

4/10
Over 42% of consumers are willing to eat more plant-based foods.

Powered by rising health awareness, environmental concerns, and changing customer preferences
16%+

Animal farming causes 14.5-16.5% of global greenhouse gasses.

88M

There are over 88 million vegans in the world.

32%

Adopting a vegan diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 32%.

VENTURE LANDSCAPE

In 2022, the plant-based food funding reached $1.19B

Key verticals:

  • Alternative protein development
  • FoodTech innovation
  • Ingredient innovation
  • Supply chain and logistics

Leading plant-based food investors we worked with

Write to us to know more

Challenges of plant-based startups

Navigating challenges is a secret key to success.

Managing high costs:

Plant-based food is a relatively new industry with a huge potential for innovation. Yet, this innovation comes with a significant price tag. It requires newcomers to spend money on R&D, manufacturing, and marketing.

Why it matters

High costs can become a barrier for plant-based meat startups to:

  • Enter the market
  • Offer a more comprehensive product range
  • Ensure exceptional quality
  • Scale their business
  • Outrun competitors

What it takes:

To navigate the capital-intensive nature of this industry, startups can:

  • Attract additional plant-based venture capital
  • Partner with established companies
  • Seek out government support
  • Educating consumers

Educating consumers:

Stats: over 40% of individuals claimed their willingness to buy plant-based food.

Why it matters

Many consumers aren’t aware of plant-based products, their benefits for health, and environmental effects. That’s why startups should aim to communicate these values for the industry to grow, their business to expand, and our future to become more sustainable.

What it takes:

To educate the broader audiences, plant-based meat startups should:

  • Implement strategic marketing campaigns
  • Forge connections with influences and experts
  • Provide engaging content
  • Implement interactive digital platforms

Competing with rivals:

Yes, the plant-based industry is still in its onset. Yet, it has already become a battleground where every early bird is vying for the first worm.

Stats: there are over 1.2K top vegan startups nowadays.

Why it matters:

The inability to get a competitive edge may result in:

  • Reduced market visibility
  • Financial strain
  • Innovation deterrence
  • Limited growth opportunities

What it takes:

To stand out from the crowd, plant-based startups need to:

  • Focus on niche markets
  • Continuously innovate to offer unique products
  • Build a loyal community
  • Form strategic partnerships
  • Adapt quickly to market and industry changes
  • Provide exceptional customer service

Securing funding:

Many investors are still unfamiliar with the plant-based food industry. And it leads to skepticism and hesitation about its profitability and growth potential.

Why it matters:

Failing to secure venture capital, plant-based food startups may face:

  • Stunted growth, being unable to scale effectively
  • Innovation hurdles
  • Market exit, failing to sustain operations.

What it takes:

Must-have for startups to do to become investors’ darling:

  • Craft a strong business plan and financial model
  • Build a strong expert team
  • Develop innovative products
  • Target relevant investors
  • Present your unique value propositions in a compelling, visually striking plant-based pitch deck

FAQs

How attractive is the industry to potential plant-based food investors?

This industry is increasingly interesting for plant-based venture capital firms because it’s a relatively new and enchanted sector with a lot of room for innovation. Plus, it has a rapidly growing market.

If you are a plant-based startup, how easy is it to raise funding today?

There are a number of significant roadblocks on the startup’s way to securing plant-based food funding. Yet, the good news is that the process becomes much easier.

How long does it take to create a pitch deck and financial model for a plant-based startup?

Normally, it takes our team two or three weeks to complete everything. Yet, it may take us a bit longer in case we have a lot on our plate.

What are the key mistakes plant-based startups make in their pitch decks?

Most plant-based pitch decks don’t have a compelling investment storyline. Plus, they fail to showcase their business strategies and financial models effectively. Founders may overdose slides with technical information, skipping such pivotal aspects as competition analysis and team presentation.

How competitive is the plant-based food market?

According to our plant-based food market research, it’s a highly competitive sector. Despite being an emerging market, it’s already brimming with numerous startups and top industry players.

What services do you provide for investors looking to invest or already investing in plant-based foods?

Our team helps investment funds dig deep into promising plant-based food projects through comprehensive due diligence, ensuring they’re not supporting the wrong initiative. Additionally, we ensure full-fledged fundraising support for our partner fund’s associated companies.

Do you provide plant-based food M&A support?

Definitely! Whether you need to identify plant-based M&A opportunities, create a CIM, or require a model for buy-side and sell-side deals, we are at your service.

Do you make intros to plant-based food VCs?

Absolutely! We help link you up with the right esports venture capital firms. By assessing your project’s team setup, round size, and product, we’ll guide you in partnering with investors throughout the entire deal and beyond.

Do you have available data or research to purchase on the plant-based food market?

Certainly! We provide tailored insights into the plant-based food sector. Our research encompasses in-depth industry evaluations, competitive analyses, and comprehensive market surveys for you to get a distinctive edge. Leveraging reliable data sources, we ensure you understand the intricacies of the plant-based food landscape, covering its potential and hurdles.

Which growth stage of companies have you worked with in the past?

Our team specializes in helping plant-based food companies grow from the early Seed stage to the Series B stage. We also assist startups at the pre-seed and Series C+ stages and cooperate with established companies and investment funds.

Have a plant-based food project in mind? We are here to help

From end-to-end fundraising support to M&A advisory and growth hacking, Waveup will help catapult your plant-based food project to new heights. Leave your email, and let's talk!

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