10 Agri-food Startups' Private Investment Pitch to Professional Investors

On the 19th, a special closed investment briefing session, offering a glimpse into the future of Korea's agri-food industry, commenced in Yeongdeungpo. This event, named '2025 Seoul Youth Cook × FAST TRACK CLOSED IR,' was organized to create synergy between the Seoul Metropolitan Government's 'Youth Cook' project and the 'Agri-food Tech Startup Accelerator Nurturing Support Project' hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. At this gathering, hosted by the Korea Agri-Tech Commercialization Foundation (KOAT) and aimed at fostering a private-led agri-food investment ecosystem, 10 agri-food startups with innovative visions and 8 specialized investment firms poised to recognize potential came together for enthusiastic exchanges. The event saw participation from startups in diverse fields, including NaNU (eco-friendly pulp containers), ROEAIN (automated vertical farms), Genabio (pet genetic diagnostic kits), Farmirese (AI-based new crop variety development), Humil (plant-based food ingredients), Romansive (sleep-functional foods), Slunch Factory (vegan convenience foods), Urban Labs (food upcycling technology), Enough U (infant and toddler baby food solutions), and FranKit (restaurant operation automation solutions). They presented business plans that showcased their unique technological prowess and significant growth potential, capturing the keen attention of the investors. Among the attending investment firms, a large number of evaluators from leading domestic companies participated, led by Magna Investment, an agri-food mother fund operator, along with CJ Investment, BNK Venture Investment, POSCO Technology Investment, and Ourhome. They critically assessed the startups' presentations and meticulously reviewed their investment potential as future growth engines. According to CNTTECH, which managed the event, this IR achieved results beyond expectations. A remarkable outcome was that as many as 9 out of 10 participating companies received proposals for follow-up meetings from investors. An official from CNTTECH stated, "We created a platform for in-depth discussions by matching carefully selected startups with specialized agri-food investors," adding, "Leveraging this IR as a stepping stone, we will continue our unwavering support to ensure that participating companies successfully attract follow-up investments and achieve sustained growth." This closed investment briefing suggests that it became not just a simple meeting, but a crucial stepping stone and a springboard for the bright future of Korea's agri-food industry.