Czech firm launches multi-million-euro ag-tech fund

Czech venture capital firm AgriBoom Ventures has newly launched a EUR 60 million (CZK 1.5 billion) agritech fund, the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. The company says it is aimed at transforming world agriculture and horticulture through advanced innovation. Headquartered in Hradec Králové, the fund offers startups real-world settings to develop and test their technologies.

The fund seeks to establish AgriBoom Ventures as a major global player in the agritech industry by partnering with startups and companies from Europe, Israel, the U.S., and Canada. It will also offer access to agricultural facilities belonging to AGRO CS, one of Europe’s largest fertilizer producers, which is also a Czech-founded company. 

AgriBoom’s focus includes solutions that increase crop yields, improve fertilizer efficiency, reduce pesticide use, and safeguard soil health.

“This is a unique opportunity for startups and private equity,” said the company’s managing director Ondřej Zbytek. “By testing their technologies in our agricultural operations, startups [can] gain practical insights and instant access to AGRO CS’s distribution channels. This accelerates the process from idea to market-ready product,” he added.

AgriBoom Ventures says it emphasizes practical, localized solutions tailored to farmers’ needs over broader environmental objectives like carbon reduction. "We are not interested in investing in startups that address global climate change because we simply do not understand it,” said Jan Harant, director of AGRO CS. The fund targets technologies that address immediate challenges in fields, greenhouses, gardens, and hop yards.

“European agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation,” Harant said. “Sustainability pressures and rising costs have created an urgent need for innovative technologies.”

According to Harant, “current technological advances and turbulent geopolitical situations” make agriculture tech particularly relevant today.

The fund also invests in early-stage ideas and academic research, collaborating with universities to mentor students and researchers. Financial support starts at EUR 10,000 (CZK 251,100), helping young innovators bring their concepts to life.

Entrepreneurs and innovators in agriculture and agritech can submit their proposals through the official website. The fund is actively seeking pitch decks from startups and visionaries with "solutions poised to revolutionize the agricultural sector."

Agriboom will be occupying the same market space as the Czech-based multinational conglomerate owned by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Agrofert. The large company specializes in agriculture, food processing, chemicals, and forestry.