The United Nations has officially designated this the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This serves as a formal recognition that women, who make up 43% of the global agricultural workforce and more than 60% in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, are foundational to the food system. It is a meaningful moment. It is also long overdue.
At Forward Fooding, International Women’s Day and March as Women’s Month matter because the entire food system relies on the hard work of women, and the women building in AgriFoodTech deserve to be honored. However, it is also a reminder to confront the data-driven gaps that demand action.
A Genuine Milestone
In the 2025 FoodTech 500 finalists, 38% are female-founded. That is 190 companies out of 500, which is up from 34% in 2024 and 28% in 2023. These companies are not concentrated in any single corner of the ecosystem. The 190 female-founded and led companies in this year’s list span Ag Biotech (24 companies), fermentation and biotech (23), precision farming (19), food waste and upcycled ingredients (17), cellular agriculture (12), and more. Women are doing technically demanding, capital-intensive, long-horizon work at every level of the food system.
Where the Data Gets Harder
Within the FoodTech 500, female-founded companies raised a median of $2.76M compared to $5.17M for others. That is a 47% gap among companies selected through the same process, evaluated against the same criteria, operating in the same ecosystem. It is the clearest signal in the data.
This is not a claim about the industry as a whole. The FoodTech 500 is a self-selected cohort of companies that applied and were chosen based on innovation and performance. But that is precisely what makes the funding gap notable. These companies already cleared the bar. The difference in capital raised is not a reflection of quality or potential. It is a reflection of access.
In total, only 6.8% of female-founded companies in the FoodTech 500 are at Series B or later, compared to 17.1% of others. That is a 2.5x difference, and it grows at every subsequent stage.
The global context makes clear this is structural, not coincidental. In 2024, all-female founding teams worldwide received 2.3% of total venture capital. In Europe, that figure was 0.5%. In the US, a record headline total masked the fact that two-thirds of the dollars flowing to female-founded companies went to just two AI megadeals, meaning the picture for most founders was far more constrained than the number suggests.
Across all industries, including AgriFoodTech, VCs and other funding vehicles and initiatives that support women and mixed-gender teams are needed. But more importantly, equal access to the main one. This funding cliff is structural and discriminatory.
The Business Case Is Clear
This matters as an investment thesis. Female-founded startups generate, on average, more than twice the revenue per dollar invested compared to male-founded companies. Venture funds with mixed-gender decision-making teams outperform all-male funds. Women-led companies consistently demonstrate higher capital efficiency and lower burn rates, in part because access to capital has required it.
The FAO estimates that closing the resource gap for women farmers could increase yields by 20–30%. Additionally, FAO estimates that closing the gender gap to resources for women farmers (closing productivity gaps on farms and wage disparities in agrifood jobs) could boost global GDP by 1% (nearly $1 trillion) while cutting food insecurity by ~2 percentage points, lifting 45 million people out of hunger. The same principle applies up the value chain. Every female-founded company that doesn’t get funded past Series A is a problem that doesn’t get solved, a product that doesn’t reach market, a supply chain that doesn’t get fixed.
The argument for investing in women in AgriFoodTech is one of the clearest underexploited opportunities in the sector.
Proof of What’s Possible
Nuritas CEO & Founder, Dr. Nora Khaldi (Courtesy of Nuritas)
While few female-founded companies in the 2025 FoodTech 500 have reached Series C and beyond, their trajectories offer a useful reference point:
Nuritas (Ireland | $153M raised), founded by computational biologist Dr. Nora Khaldi, uses AI to discover bioactive peptides in natural food sources with applications in metabolic health and healthy ageing. The company has spent over a decade building proprietary science and a patent portfolio that now positions it at the leading edge of functional ingredients.
ENKO (United States | $145M raised), founded by Jacqueline Heard, applies AI to discover next-generation crop protection molecules that are safer for people and ecosystems than conventional pesticides. Its discovery platform, ENKOMPASS™, operates at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and machine learning.
Each of these companies built deep, defensible science over the years. They are examples of what the ecosystem looks like when investment follows performance and a reminder of how much is waiting to be unlocked further down the funding ladder.
What Comes After Recognition
The FoodTech 500 measures builders; funding measures who scales. At Forward Fooding, we believe both matter and that the gap between them is the defining challenge for this ecosystem in the years ahead.
Investors must track gender diversity beyond Seed. Corporates should pilot with female founders to develop the pipeline. And women in AgriFoodTech building these companies must keep making these gaps impossible to ignore.
190 female-founded FoodTech 500 companies is a record. It’s also just the start. The food system needs their solutions every month, not just March.
Download the full 2025 FoodTech 500 list here
Meet the Women Shaping the Future of AgriFoodTech in the 2025 FoodTech 500
Tisha Livingston, Co-Founder at 80 Acres Farms
Linda Studer, Co-Founder at Abrinca Genomics
Dr. Michal Amit, Founder & CEO at Accellta
Aviaja Riemann-Andersen, Co-Founder & CEO at Agrain
Irene Rupert, Co-Founder at AgrigateOne
Debora Campos, Founder & CEO at AgroGrIN Tech
Olga Dubey, Co-Founder at AgroSustain
Maia Bristedt (f.d. Lidbeck), Co-Founder at Agteria
Mia Bäckwall, Co-Founder at Agtira
Martha Montoya, Co-Founder & CEO at Agtools
Joelle van den Brand, Co-Founder at Agurotech
Nemailla Bonturi, Co-Founder at ÄIO
Kim SoJung, Co-Founder at Aniai
Stefanie Lobnig, Co-Founder at Aquanzo
Daniela Allerbon, Co-Founder at AQUIT
Jackie Stanton, Co-Founder at Area 2 Farms
Helga Dögg Flosadóttir, Co-Founder at Atmonia
Valeria Arredondo, Co-Founder & CEO at Beam CropTech
Anastasia Gutkevich, Founder & CEO at Bifidice
Elena Petukhovskaya, Co-Founder & CEO at Big Akwa
Maria Fernanda Silva, Co-Founder & CSO at Bioeutectics
Fiona Turner, Co-Founder & CEO at Bitwise Agronomy
Ximena Adriazola, Co-Founder & COO at BNS
Jay Naidu Desan, Co-founder at BoomGrow
Alicia Showering, Co-Founder at BugBiome
Rocio Espinosa Torres, Co-Founder at ByBug
Evaluna Marquez, Founder & CTO at Caffe Inc.
Alyson Schill, Co-Founder at Careit
Michele Stansfield, Co-Founder & CEO at Cauldron Ferm
Hanne Volpin, Co-Founder at Celleste Bio
Michal Beressi Golomb, Co-Founder at Celleste Bio
Heejung Kim, Co-Founder at CellMeat
Marianne Ellis, Co-Founder & CTO at Cellular Agriculture
Alexandra Stuthridge, Co-Founder at Cetogenix
Doriane Leleu, Co-Founder at Cherico
Maria Astigarraga, Partner at CLCircular
Amy Keller, Co-Founder at Climate Candy
Dr. Sue Smalley, Co-Founder at Climate Candy
Safia Qureshi, Founder & CEO at ClubZero
Maxine Roper, Co-Founder at Connecting Food
Alcione Pereira Silva, Founder at ConnectingFood
Annelise Brbora, Co-Founder at Cordon
Allie Broddy, Co-Founder at Crush Dynamics
Lidia Garcia Pou, Co-Founder at Dapibuset
Cristina Vilanova, Co-Founder at Darwin
Dana Marom, Co-Founder at Day 8
Sushma Shankar, CEO & Co-Founder at Deep Planet
Natalia Efremova, Co-founder at Deep Planet
Nil Nurlu Deniz, Founder & CEO at DepoDone
Joyce Rugano, Co-Founder at Ecorich Solutions
Menna Shahin, Founder & CEO at eJaby
Sachini Nimansha, Co-Founder & Chief Agricultural Researcher at Elzian Agro
Jacqueline Heard, Founder & CEO at ENKO
Rachel Thu Nguyen, Co-Founder at eversyn
Angela de Manzanos, Co-Founder and CEO at FA Bio
Claire van Enk, Founder at Farm to Feed
Zara Benosa, Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer at Farm to Feed
Anouk Boertien, Co-founder, Chief Product & Impact Officer at Farm to Feed
Sylvia Ng’eno, Co-Founder at Farmbetter
Dafna Gabbay, Co-Founder at Finally Foods
Dr. Basia Vinocur, Co-Founder at Finally Foods
Nina Coolsaet, Co-Founder at Fishway
Géraldine Senn, Co-Founder at Food Brewer
Corinne John, Co-Founder at Food Brewer
Alexandra Ferreira, CEO & Co-Founder at FoodFacts
Camille Lacourt, Co-Founder at Fotortec
Soledad Gurovic, Founder at Future Biome
Souha Alameddine, Co-Founder at Gaia Software
Shi Qi Ng, Co-Founder at Global Cerah
Dr. Billie Hong, Co-Founder at Global Cerah
Emma Rozada, Co-Founder at Green City Farming
Annette Graneli, Co-Founder at Green On
Ninna Granucci, Co-Founder & CEO at Green Spot Technologies
Camilla Watz Johannessen, Co-Founder at Greentech Innovators
Malin Bruset, Founder & CEO at GroGro
Laura van de Kreeke, Co-Founder at Growy
Amy Garber, Co-founder at Hazel Technologies
Francesca Varvello, Co-Founder & CEO at Heallo
Laura Katz, Founder & CEO at Helaina
Anna Ogar, Founder & CEO at Insignes Labs
Cathy Ye, Co-Founder at Ivy Farm Technologies
Riana Lynn, Founder & CEO at Journey Foods
Meena Sankaran, Founder & CEO at KETOS
Sanem Argin, Co-Founder at Kiana
Lourdes Juan, Co-Founder at Knead Technologies
Audra Stevenson, Co-Founder at Knead Technologies
Deborah Gaël, Co-Founder at Koolboks
Sina Albanese, Co-Founder at Koralo
Florence Leong, Co-Founder at Kosmode Health
Silvana Virginia Spinelli, Co-Founder & CEO at Kresko RNAtech
Aygen SAVAŞ ALKAN, Co-Founder at Kybele’s Garden
Dr. Kyoko Morimoto, Co-Founder at Kyomei
Maury Leyland Penno, Co-Founder at Leaft Foods
Zohar Barbash, Co-Founder & CTO at Lembas
Karen Schuett, Founder & CEO at Livestock Water Recycling
Lola Bonnin, Co-Founder at Maltivor
Laetitia Gutton, Co-Founder at Maltivor
Maya Otmazgin Ashkenazi, Founder & CEO at MAOLAC
Dr. Sarah Carroll, Co-Founder & CEO at MariHealth Solutions
Leonie Jahn, Co-Founder at MATR Foods
Randi Wahlsten, Co-Founder at MATR Foods
Hadar Ehoiz Razmovich, Co-Founder at Meala
Tali Feldman Sivan, Co-Founder at Meala
Anastasia Krivoruchko, Co-Founder & CEO at Melt & Marble
Estela Pacheco, Co-Founder at Microfy Systems
Iratxe Perales CEO & Co-founder at Microfy Systems
Katelijne Bekers, Co-founder/ CEO at MicroHarvest
Luísa Cruz, Co-Founder/ CTO at MicroHarvest
Professor Anwesha Sarkar, Founder at MicroLub
Marissa Cuevas, Founder at microTERRA
Solveiga Pakštaitė, Founder at Mimica
Susana Sánchez, Co-Founder & CSO at MOA Foodtech
Melissa Sharp, Co-Founder at Modern Baker
Marie-Laure Krafft, Co-Founder & Director at MyEasyFarm
Didi Gan, Co-Founder at N&E Innovations
Dr. Jaslyn Lee, Co-Founder at N&E Innovations
Carolina Aguila, Founder & CEO at NanoInGreen
Buse Berber Orcen, Co-Founder at Nanomik Biotechnology
Antonella De Lazzari, Co-Founder at Naturannova
Verónica García-Arteaga, Founder & CEO at Neggst
Zoe Yu Tung Law, Co-Founder & CEO at New Wave Biotech
Nix Hall, Co-Founder & CTO at New Wave Biotech
Ingrid Dynna, CEO & Co-Founder at NoMy
Alix Chausson, Co-Founder & Chief Growth & Commercial Officer at Nosh.bio
Nadja Heine, Founder at Novel Farms
Giovanna Meneghel, Co-Founder & CEO at Nude.
Eden Banon, Co-founder & CEO at Numi
Eugénie Pezé-Heidsieck, Co-founder & CTO at Numi
Nathalie Rolland, Co-Founder & CEO at Nutropy
Maya Bendifallah, Co-Founder & CSO at Nutropy
Dr Nora Khaldi, Founder & CEO at Nuritas
Rafaela Gontijo Lenz, Founder & CEO at NUU
Iria Varela Campo, Founder at ODS PROTEIN
Elén Faxö, Co-Founder at OlsAro
Maija Itkonen, Co-Founder & CEO at Onego Bio
Jennifer Cote, Co-Founder & CEO at Opalia
Katarzyna Dymek, Co-Founder at OptiCept Technologies
Ivonne Márquez García, Co-Founder at Optiprot
Françoise de Valera Rose, Co-Founder at Pack2Earth
Eve Plakk, Co-Founder at Paul-Tech
Diana Oliveira, Co-Founder at PFx Biotech
Adèle James, Co-Founder & CTO at Phagos
Margaret Wanjiku, Co-Founders at Pollen Patrollers
Julieta Wangui, Co-Founder at Pollen Patrollers
Charity Maina, Co-Founders at Pollen Patrollers
Dr. Maya Sapir-Mir, Co-Founder at PoLoPo
Dr. Raya Liberman-Aloni, Co-Founder at PoLoPo
Sonia Hurtado, Co-Founder at Poseidona
Maria Cermeño, Co-Founder at Poseidona
Dr Cathrina Edwards, Co-Founder & CSO at PulseON Foods
Elisa Bertini, Co-Founder & CSO at Puna Bio
Carolina Belfiore, Co-Founder & COO at Puna Bio
Ines Barros, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Raiz
Mariliis Mia Topp, Co-Founder & CEO at Raw Edge
Kristel Vene, Co-Founder at Raw Edge
Katarzyna Mlynarczyk, Co-Founder at Rebread
Wissal Ben Moussa, Co-Founder at Sand to Green
Kathleen Alexander, Co-Founder & CEO at Savor
Juliet Sword, Co-Founder & COO at Scindo
Katrien Begyn, Co-Founders at Shelfion
Wendy Ossieur, Co-Founders at Shelfion
Laura Knight, CEO at The Smarter Food Company
Laetitia Jessner, Co-Founder at SpareEat
Mariia Gavrilova, Co-Founder at SpawnX
Emily Malina, Co-Founder at Spoiler Alert
Liz Tzvetkoff, Co-Founder at Stacked Farm
Kiki Wu, Founder at STARFIELD
Chrissy Ford, Founder & CEO at Stor
Nabila Rodríguez, Co-Founder at SUMM Ingredients
Inka Liljeström, COO at SuperGround
Shannon Willness, Co-Founder at SWAT MAPS
Julia Roulet, Co-Founder at Syocin Biotech
Cherotich Rutto, Founder at Tawi Fresh
Louise Weireratne, Co-Founder at Tensorfield Agriculture
Maggie Kavalaris, Co-Founder at Terviva
Laura Hoogland, Founder at The Banana Factory
Joanna Bromley, Co-Founder at The Better Meat Co.
Andrea Kamara, Co-Founder at UfarmX
Claudia Casalongue, Co-Founder at Unibaio
Daniela Caprile, Co-Founder at Unibaio
Bhavna Tandon, Co-Founder at UnReal Milk
Ankita Garg, Co-Founder at Varaha
Maya Zeph Meena, Co-Founder at Verdant
Hélène Briand, Co-Founder at Verley
Diana Wairimu, Co-Founder at Vermi-Farm Initiative
Tabatha Siu, Co-Founder at Vertical Green
Milagros Romano, Co-Founder & CEO at Vexxel
Valeria Alina Campos Bermudez, Co-Founder at Vexxel
Mercedes Iborra, Co-Founder at VisualNACert
Lucia Iborra, Co-Founder & CEO at VisualNACert
Carrol Plummer, Co-Founder & CEO at Vivent
Jenny Lemieux, Co-Founder & CEO at Vivid Machines
Jarna Hyvönen, Co-Founder at Volare
Ahrum Pak, Co-Founder & CEO at WinWin
Anna Altner, Founder & CEO at Yangi
Alina Sartogo, Co-Founder at Zest
Dini McGrath, Co-Founder at Zest
Want to know the full ranking of each company? Find out on March 31, 2026, and join us to celebrate with the finalists at our official ranking unveiling event on April 1, 2026.
For deeper insights into the complete rankings and detailed analysis, explore our comprehensive white paper and interactive platform.
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