# THRIVE AGTECH

THRIVE AGTECH is an AgTech accelerator and innovation platform based in Los Gatos, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** AgTech accelerator and innovation platform
- **Headquarters:** Los Gatos, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Los Gatos, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 2016
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** thriveagtech.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/thriveagrifood

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

THRIVE AGTECH was founded in 2016 by a group of investors and industry veterans, including John Kavilanz and Dan Vredenburg, to bridge the gap between food and agribusiness corporations and early-stage technology startups. The firm operates out of Los Gatos, California, and has built a network of corporate partners that includes Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Land O'Lakes (per the firm's official communications). The firm focuses on seed through Series B investments across the agricultural supply chain — from precision farming and robotics to supply chain software and alternative proteins. Notable portfolio companies include Pivot Bio (a microbial nitrogen developer), Apeel Sciences (plant-based produce coatings), and Bowery Farming (vertical farming). THRIVE AGTECH also runs an accelerator program that provides startups with pilot opportunities, corporate mentorship, and potential follow-on capital. Geographically, the firm targets North America, Europe, and Asia, with a growing emphasis on climate-resilient technologies. THRIVE AGTECH does not publicly disclose assets under management or total deployment. The firm's team size is undisclosed, though it operates with a lean investment professional base. In November 2024, the firm announced a partnership with the World Economic Forum's Food Alliance to scale agtech innovations (per the firm, November 2024). The firm also maintains a philanthropic arm, THRIVE Foundation, focused on sustainable agriculture education. THRIVE AGTECH's structural differentiator lies in its corporate-backed accelerator model — rather than operating as a pure venture capital fund, it functions as a strategic platform that aligns startup growth with the operational needs of large food companies. This structure gives portfolio companies direct access to supply chains and commercial pilots, a governance dynamic that reduces time-to-revenue for agtech startups.

## Sectors

- AgriTech & FoodTech
- ClimateTech
- Industrial Tech
- Robotics & Automation
- Enterprise Software

## People

- John Kavilanz — CEO
- Dan Vredenburg — Managing Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at THRIVE AGTECH?

CEO John Kavilanz leads the firm alongside Managing Director Dan Vredenburg. Both have backgrounds in agribusiness and venture capital, though specific investment committee details are not publicly disclosed.

### How does THRIVE AGTECH source proprietary deal flow?

The firm leverages its corporate partner network — including Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Land O'Lakes — to identify startups that can address specific supply chain or production challenges. Its accelerator program also serves as a pipeline for early-stage investments.

### What investment stages does THRIVE AGTECH typically target?

The firm targets seed through Series B investments, with a focus on early-stage companies that have developed working prototypes or initial commercial traction. Later-stage investments are less common.

### Which sectors does THRIVE AGTECH explicitly avoid?

The firm does not publicly list excluded sectors, but its disclosed portfolio and focus areas suggest it avoids pure-play enterprise software unrelated to agriculture, financial services, and non-tech industrial assets.

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- [Gelita](https://altss.com/profile/gelita)
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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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