Key Takeaways
- Yanmar Ventures joins StartLife as an Investor Partner to support early-stage agrifoodtech startups.
- The partnership follows Yanmar’s expansion into Europe with a new office in Amsterdam.
- Both organizations aim to accelerate sustainable food and farming innovations.
- The VC firm is already active in the StartLife ecosystem through its investment in Vegger.
- The partnership includes participation in the upcoming F&A Next summit in Wageningen.
Yanmar Ventures Partners with StartLife to Advance Agrifoodtech
Yanmar Ventures, the investment arm of the Yanmar Group, has become an official Investor Partner of StartLife, a leading agrifood startup accelerator based in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The partnership aims to accelerate innovations in sustainable agriculture and food systems by combining the VC’s global experience with StartLife’s startup network and innovation ecosystem.
The announcement comes as the VC strengthens its European presence with a new office in Amsterdam, positioning itself at the center of the continent’s agrifoodtech developments.
Shared Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture
“At Yanmar Ventures, we are committed to supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are transforming food and agriculture with cutting-edge, sustainable technologies,” said Nobuyuki Oda, speaking on behalf of Yanmar Ventures.
The collaboration with StartLife is expected to offer funding, strategic mentorship, and access to industry networks to help emerging startups scale their operations while remaining focused on sustainable outcomes, such as climate resilience and labor efficiency.
StartLife and Yanmar Ventures: A Strategic Fit
Bert-Jan Woertman, Managing Director ad interim at StartLife, described the partnership as a strong strategic match: “Yanmar Ventures is an ideal partner for StartLife, combining deep industry expertise with a shared vision for startup-driven innovation.”
One example of this synergy is the VC’s earlier investment in Vegger, a vertical farming startup from StartLife’s portfolio. The partnership dates back to 2017, when Yanmar installed Vegger’s vertical flax farm on its Tokyo building to promote sustainable urban agriculture.
Partnership Highlighted at F&A Next 2025
StartLife will also feature Yanmar Ventures as a partner at this year’s F&A Next summit on May 21–22 in Wageningen. Sebastiaan Masselink, Senior Investment Manager at Yanmar Ventures, will serve as a judge in the “Next Heroes in Food & Agtech” showcase.
Samuel Rapolu, Investor Partnership Manager at StartLife, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and thanked Ana Ward from Yanmar for helping to bring the agreement to fruition.
Looking Ahead
With the addition of Yanmar Ventures, StartLife continues to grow its network of industry-aligned investors committed to transforming the future of food and agriculture. The partnership underscores both organizations’ dedication to fostering innovation that supports sustainable food systems worldwide.
