As part of Tyson’s commitment to grow bolder through innovation and achieve our mission of raising the world’s expectations for how much good food can do, Tyson Foods, Inc. launched a venture capital fund in the Fall of 2016. Tyson Ventures will invest in companies developing breakthrough technologies, business models and products to sustainably feed the growing world population.
During first year of operation, Tyson invested in the plant-based protein business Beyond Meat with 5% ownership of the company and recently increased that stake in the latest financing. During its first year, Tyson Ventures quickly saw the benefit strong connections with entrepreneurs and investors in the venture capital industry and determined that a strong integration with the core Tyson businesses could pay significant dividends.
In its second year of operation, Tyson Ventures is focused on building a stronger bond between Tyson Ventures’ key investment pillars and Tyson Foods’ core business units efforts towards innovation and corporate strategic long-term goals.
Our Approach
Tyson Ventures will collaborate with leading food entrepreneurs who are pioneering new products and technology that are making meaningful changes and improvements to food systems. Tyson Ventures is more than pure corporate venture capital.
The team works closely with the operators of Tyson’s core business segments to diligence potential investments and add measurable value post-investment. By seeking at least a Board Observer role in every investment, Tyson Ventures will be a true strategic investor, partnering with management teams to address operational issues and position the companies for success.
Our Focus
Tyson Ventures was established with a $150 million commitment from Tyson Foods and a mandate to make minority stake investments in promising entrepreneurial food businesses that are pioneering breakthrough products and technologies, as well as disruptive business models.
The team focuses investing in the core pillars of Sustainability and the Internet of Food.
Sustainability
Tyson Foods is committed to a holistic approach to sustainability, focused on environment, animals, the communities we serve, our team members, and our products and investing in emerging companies focused on sustainability is part of that approach.
Tyson Ventures views sustainability through four lenses:
- Alternative proteins – companies that are focused on engineering innovative and sustainable methods of supplying a growing global population with delicious and nutritious protein
- Food waste – companies that are focused on mitigating or eliminating food waste up and down the supply chain, from the farmer to the end consumer
- Food safety – companies that are focused on ensuring food safety including pathogen testing or supply chain logistics
- Food deserts – companies that are focused on innovative ways to sustainably feed a projected world population of 10 billion by 2050
The Internet of Food
Technology has impacted all business verticals across all industries and food is no different. Tyson Foods makes significant investments in technology every year to improve team member safety and drive innovation across its businesses. Tyson Ventures will augment those efforts by focusing on:
- Big Data – companies that facilitate the analysis of consumer and manufacturing information to better inform the food supply chain as to demand and consumer preferences
- Sensors – companies that provide technology-enabled sensor systems to monitor the supply chain
- Disruptive revenue models – companies that develop new methods of obtaining customers and delivering product leveraging digital channels and social marketing
- The connected kitchen – companies that are developing technologies to change the way food is prepared in both a commercial and residential setting
- Precision Agriculture – companies focused on technology-enabled tools to enable growers to more efficiently develop crop plans and apply water and nutrient resources
- Traceability – companies that are developing software and processes to allow for deeper insights into the food supply chain, enabling tracking, tracing, recall and recapture capabilities
- Automation – companies focused on software and hardware tools to create safer, more efficient workflows in our processing facilities
Our Portfolio
Future Meat Technologies is a ground-breaking biotechnology company advancing a distributive manufacturing platform for the cost-efficient production of cultured meat.
Our mission is to map the world’s food chain, make it as safe as possible, and empower people to make informed decisions about the food they eat.
Tovala combines an internet-connected steam oven with fresh meal deliveries to make healthy, delicious meals as easy as scanning a barcode.
Provider of animal-free meat products created as alternatives to animal protein.
Producer of cultured meat products intended to transform the way meat is made.
Our Team
Justin Whitmore, Chief Sustainability Officer & EVP, Corporate Strategy
Reese Schroeder, Managing Director - Tyson Ventures
Tom Mastrobuoni, CFO - Tyson Ventures
Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments or business inquiries you may have.