Probios, an Italian leader in organic and gluten-free food products, is making significant strides by launching a venture-capital initiative aimed at supporting start-ups focused on health and wellness. This new initiative, named Probios Ventures, is backed by its parent organization, Agreen Capital, and is poised to empower innovative businesses that are revolutionizing the food and beverage industry trends.
Founded in 1978 and based in Florence, Probios seeks to foster the growth of start-ups, scale-ups, and emerging companies committed to enhancing both human and environmental well-being through improved nutrition. The companies selected for investment will operate within the healthy food, food-tech, and wellness sectors.
Probios Ventures plans to provide not only financial support but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a vast global network comprising partners and suppliers. This resource pool reflects Probios’s 45 years of experience in the healthy food sector. According to Andrea Rossi, president of Probios and managing partner of Agreen Capital, “Probios Ventures is the first Italian corporate venture capital initiative dedicated exclusively to innovative companies focused on healthy eating and food-tech.”
The mission extends beyond mere investment; it emphasizes social impact as well. Probios Ventures aims to assist visionary entrepreneurs by offering access to its expertise in research, development, marketing, and sales. The goal is to create a fertile networking environment that stimulates innovation in the food and drink business.
The CEO of Probios, Renato Calabrese, further elaborated, “Our vision is clear: the future of well-being passes through healthy and innovative nutrition. With Probios Ventures, we want to become a strategic partner for those start-ups that share our values and are ready to revolutionize the food sector.”
Applications for participation can be submitted through a specialized website set up for Probios Ventures. This initiative is designed to bridge connections among companies, investors, industry experts, and stakeholders, facilitating collaboration that can drive groundbreaking advancements in the food and drink consumer trends.
Probios boasts an extensive product portfolio, featuring over 850 branded offerings centered around organic and allergen-free products, along with milk-free and keto-friendly options. In a recent development, Probios acquired its Italian counterpart, BiotoBio, from the local organic-foods company EcorNaturaSì.
In summary, Agreen, an investor with a focus on the sustainable agri-food sector, secured a majority stake in Probios last year, signifying a strong commitment to fostering innovative ventures that align with the evolving landscape of the food and beverage industry.
