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Image credits: Harmen Smid

Nederweert, Limburg-based S+dB, an agtech company that aims to disrupt agricultural practices, announced on Wednesday, September 7, that it has raised €1.5M funding from Brightlands Venture Partners and its new CEO. 

The company says the funding will help it to scale and accelerate the validation of its seed-enhancement platform technology and further expansion. 

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The Dutch company appointed seasoned entrepreneur Harmen Smid as its CEO. Together with founder Gerard Otten, Harmen will lead the company into the next stage, the company mentions in a press release.

Confronted with the global issues of rapid population growth, continued malnutrition, climate volatility, and dwindling exploitable resources, the Dutch company is devoted to developing solutions through enhanced crop productivity. 

S+dB: What you need to know

Based out of Limburg, Netherlands, S+dB has developed a proprietary plant seed-embedding technology (SET) to ensure an optimal germination environment (for any plant seed) in open field cultivation and indoor farms. 

The SET platform blends seeds with bio-based and biodegradable raw materials to support and protect early plant growth. It also reduces the effect of nature’s bio-stresses, boosts seed vigour, and guarantees uniform crop growth with a strong root foundation.

Currently, the company has two product lines — grass seed rolls (gSET) and vegetable seed tapes. The two key target markets for vegetable seed tapes are hydroponics (hSET) and open field (vSET). 

S+dB says it will roll out grass seed rolls (gSET) to the retail channel. 

S+dB has running partnerships and programmes with various global seed houses and at field facilities of Wageningen University & Research (programme ‘Boerderij van de Toekomst”) to accelerate the validation of the vSET concept. 

Further, the company is in the closing stage of signing a partnership with a retail party for a large-scale rollout in Europe. 

The company has a pilot manufacturing line that will be used to prepare prototypes and small orders.

Harmen Smid says, “After a challenging early-stage experience, S+dB is ready for the next phase. We are proud to have BVP on board as a new investor. Together with the existing shareholders and the extended organisation, we are ready to seize our technology’s opportunities in the global AgTech and seed industry.”

Investor

Brightlands Venture Partners (BVP) is the fund manager of Brightlands Agrifood Fund. The VC invests in companies benefiting from and contributing to the Brightlands campuses in the south of The Netherlands. 

Other funds under management are BVP Fund IV, Chemelot Ventures, and Limburg Ventures.

Kim de Boer of Brightlands Venture Partners, says, “We see an innovative seed-embedding scalable manufacturing platform and a potentially impactful technology, especially for the vegetable seeds markets. Market traction is gaining momentum, with several reputable and relevant parties keen to partner. In addition, strengthening the management team sets a solid foundation for the next step.”