Sources: 
Lever VC is adapting its Fund II investment strategy amid current market volatility, focusing on agtech startups that deliver tangible, short-term returns. The firm, managing a $50 million Fund II, has invested in digital livestock companies HerdDogg and Flox, which provide software solutions that reduce animal mortality and disease while improving production efficiency.
Nick Cooney, managing partner at Lever VC, highlighted at the Future Food-Tech event in Chicago that "the investment thesis has changed 'a little bit,' given the volatility and uncertainty." Despite challenges in funding availability, Cooney emphasized the abundance of whitespace opportunities in agtech compared to food tech.
"HerdDogg and Flox are good examples of software inputs and monitoring software that has direct short-term ROI for producers — less [animal] mortality, less disease, some efficiencies, production improvement and some site reduction in labor needs," Cooney explained.
Lever VC's strategic pivot reflects a broader trend of venture capital firms recalibrating their approaches to agtech investments, prioritizing startups that can demonstrate immediate value and resilience in uncertain markets. The firm remains committed to identifying innovative startups that can drive efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.
This approach underscores the evolving landscape of agtech investment, where market conditions demand a balance between innovation and practical, measurable outcomes.
"Now is not the easiest time to find funding, but there are so many whitespace opportunities in agtech — many more than food tech," Cooney noted, signaling optimism despite market headwinds.
Sources: Lever VC is advancing its $50 million Fund II with a refined agtech investment strategy amid market volatility, focusing on startups like HerdDogg and Flox that offer direct ROI through digital livestock monitoring, says managing partner Nick Cooney at the Future Food-Tech event in Chicago.
