Silicon Valley, CA. US., June 30, 2021, SVG Ventures | THRIVE, a leading global agrifood venture and innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, announced during today’s  Forbes | THRIVE Future of Food Summit, the establishment of THRIVE Canada, their Canadian subsidiary to be headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The summit hosted by Steve Forbes featured global agrifood leaders and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.

Leveraging support from Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), Alberta Innovates, and the Government of Alberta, THRIVE Canada will establish a full innovation and investment platform that will support early-stage Canadian startups from all areas of the food supply chain whose technologies drive towards a more efficient, sustainable, and secure agriculture future.

“We are excited to welcome THRIVE Canada to Alberta. Our province is a world-leader in food and agriculture innovation, and the sector is a key part of Alberta’s economic recovery,” said Devin Dreeshen, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. “We are actively working to attract investment and grow the sector, as shown by our commitment to our partnership with THRIVE and Olds College. We look forward to seeing what the future will bring.”

“Canada is one of the largest agricultural producers and exporters in the world and we are delighted to announce the establishment of our THRIVE Canada subsidiary,” said John Hartnett, Founder & CEO, SVG Ventures | THRIVE. “We look forward to engaging with the ecosystem to invest, accelerate, and scale high-potential Canadian startups.”

SVG Ventures I THRIVE is recognized by Crunchbase as the most active agtech investor, currently has a portfolio count of more than 50 investments in the agriculture sector, and also plans to launch a Canadian fund later this year.  SVG | THRIVE works with over 40 corporations, government, and ecosystem partners that include Bayer, Forbes, Corteva, Farm Credit Canada, United Farmers of Alberta, Kubota, Trimble, Land O’Lakes, Taylor Farms, Western Growers, Olds College, and ATB Financial, along with numerous other North American and global corporations.

SVG Ventures | THRIVE have already invested in seven Canadian companies through its global fund and will raise a Canadian fund by 2022 to invest in Canadian agricultural startups. THRIVE Canada’s introduction to Calgary’s innovation ecosystem will help increase investment in Calgary-based, early-stage and growth-stage companies.

“Our agribusiness sector has companies along the entire value chain from production to consumption that are growing and evolving with technological advances, and this investment from OCIF will accelerate their growth in an industry that has global opportunities for our city and region,” said Mark Blackwell, Chair of the Board of Directors, Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.

“Unprecedented future demand for agrifood products spells opportunity for Alberta’s agtech entrepreneurs,” said Alberta Innovates CEO, Laura Kilcrease. “Partnerships like this one will help position Alberta businesses to take on world markets and be successful. This investment is part of Alberta Innovates’ larger accelerator strategy aimed at amplifying the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem and vault startups and SMEs to success.”

About SVG Ventures | THRIVE

SVG Ventures | THRIVE is the leading global Agrifood investment and innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, and comprised of top agriculture, food & technology corporations, universities, and investors. With a community of over 5,000 startups from 100 countries, the THRIVE platform invests, accelerates, and creates unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries. SVG’s existing global partners include Media Partner Forbes and leading government, agriculture, and technology corporations such as Corteva, Driscoll’s, FCC, CED, Gallo, Bayer,Kubota, Land O’Lakes, ICL, UFA, CSIRO, BayWa, Trimble, Taylor Farms, Valmont, Yamaha Motor Ventures, Wilbur-Ellis & Victoria Government.

Crunchbase recognizes SVG Ventures as the most active AgTech investor with a portfolio count of over 50 investments in the sector.