Vive Crop Protection has raised $10 million in additional Series B funding with existing and new investors including Middleland Capital, BDC Capital Cleantech Practice, Canadian and international private investors. The financing closed in tranches.
Vive Crop Protection intends to use new funding to support commercialization of three new crop protection products and continued field development of Vive’s deep pipeline.
Founded in 2006 out of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto by Prof. M. Cynthia Goh and co-developers of the company’s technology, Dr. Darren Anderson, Dr. Jordan Dinglasan, Dr. Jane Goh, Dr. Richard Loo and Dr. Gwynn Curran-Sills, Vive makes proven products cutting edge with the Allosperse Delivery System. Allosperse improves the targeting and performance of pesticide active ingredients, helping farmers do more with less, while increasing crop quality and yield.
photo credit: Vive Crop
News Release
$10 million investment will allow Vive Crop Protection to produce high value products for sustainable agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Toronto, Canada (August 27, 2019) Vive Crop Protection is pleased to announce the closing of its $10 million financing from existing and new investors, including Middleland Capital and the Business Development Bank of Canada’s (“BDC”) Cleantech Practice. This capital will support commercialization of three new crop protection products and continued field development of Vive’s deep pipeline.
Darren Anderson, CEO of Vive Crop Protection says, “Thanks to the leadership of Vive Executive Chairman Keith Thomas, we were able to close this financing round led by investors who understand the value of Vive’s technology.”
Vive’s patented Allosperse® Delivery System has unlimited potential in the North American and global crop protection markets because it allows agricultural chemicals that were previously incompatible to now be mixed with liquid fertilizer and applied at the right time for maximum benefit to the crop. It also saves farmers time and money by limiting the number of times they need to drive equipment over the field to manage their crop.
In the 2020 crop season, the Allosperse Delivery System will be included in five Vive-branded products and a number of products available through other manufacturers.
“We are delighted to be working with this group of investors because it puts Vive in a strong position for rapid growth in this exciting industry,” says Anderson.
This investment is part of BDC’s $700-million, five-year commitment announced in 2018 to help high-potential Canadian cleantech firms with market-ready technology or products meet the capital-intensive needs of scaling and achieving timely growth.
“Vive’s impressive growth and market traction speak to its management’s ability to bring this innovative technology to a market with a challenging sales cycle” said Susan Rohac, Vice President, Cleantech Practice at BDC. “This investment will accelerate Vive’s mission of increasing farm efficiency and productivity while reducing the farmer’s environmental impact.”
Jahangir Bhatti, Director, Cleantech Practice, who led the investment for BDC’s Cleantech Practice, added “Vive’s proprietary Allosperse technology creates a compelling ROI for the farmer by simplifying the pesticide application process. With multiple product launches in the near future, Vive is poised for rapid scale-up as their products have potential to become a critical component of a farmer’s operation.”
Canada’s Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, the Honourable Mary Ng, noted that “Canada is a world leader in clean technology. That’s why our government is making unprecedented investments to help Canada’s best small and medium-sized businesses working in clean technology scale into innovative global champions. Our government is committed to growing the economy and protecting the environment.”
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About Vive Crop Protection: Vive makes proven products cutting edge with the Allosperse Delivery System. Allosperse improves the targeting and performance of pesticide active ingredients, helping farmers do more with less, while increasing crop quality and yield. Visit www.ViveCrop.com for more information.
About BDC: BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. It provides access to financing, both online and in-person, as well as advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions. For 75 years and counting, BDC’s purpose has been to support entrepreneurs in all industries and all stages of growth. For more information and to consult more than 1,000 free tools, articles and entrepreneurs’ stories, visit www.bdc.ca.
Vive media contact:
Arlene Warner, Marketing and Communications Manager
519-222-2226
awarner@vivecrop.com