Serra Ventures
Serra Ventures is a U.S. venture capital firm investing Seed through Series A in early-stage technology companies, with sector specialization in Ag Tech and Food Tech across multiple fund vehicles and offices in Champaign, Chicago, San Diego, and Park City.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersChampaign, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Serra Ventures does
Serra Ventures, LLC is a private U.S. venture capital firm founded in 1998 (first ag tech investment 2010) and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, with additional offices in Chicago, San Diego, and Park City. The firm invests in Seed, Seed Plus, and Series A technology companies, with a sector specialization that has increasingly tilted toward Ag Tech and Food Tech since 2010. Serra operates a multi-fund platform comprising Serra Capital I, II, II Follow-On-Fund, III, III SBIC, the dedicated Serra Capital Ag Tech Fund (closed at over $45 million), and the Serra-Grondex Ag & Food Tech Fund II created with Netherlands-based Grondex International. Across all funds the firm reports more than 100 portfolio company investments, including over 50 ag tech startups since 2011.
The firm generates returns through equity appreciation in portfolio companies, with exits realized via acquisitions by strategic acquirers. Notable exits include Evisort (Workday), Network Perception (Dragos), Surefyre (Vertafore), Cardea Bio (Paragraf), Smart Apply (John Deere), Combyne/Bayer Crop Science, Ryvit (Trimble), Label Insight (NielsenIQ), and WebCareHealth (CoachCare). Go-to-market is sales-led, sourced through direct network outreach, a public company submission form, university ecosystem ties (notably the University of Illinois), and co-investment syndicates with leading venture firms (S2G, Insight Partners, Acre, Fulcrum, Open Prairie). The firm also operates a Serra Advisors division providing M&A advisory services to portfolio and non-portfolio middle-market companies, and was selected as a fund manager for Wisconsin's $100 million state-led investment initiative through WEDC.
Customer segments fall into two groups: portfolio companies receiving equity capital plus strategic and operational support, and limited partners providing fund commitments (approximately 100 LPs in the Ag Tech Fund alone, including corporate LPs such as Busey Bank, AgriFab, Otterbox, Brandt, and institutional LPs including the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund). Fund terms, AUM, and revenue are not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains three managing partners (Tim Hoerr, Dennis Beard, Rob Schultz), one partner (Eric Wilson), one principal (Drew Beard), and an advisor network including venture partners Bruce Sommer and Karin O'Connor plus Ag advisor Lamar Stieger.
Serra Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Serra Ventures
- Legal name
- Serra Ventures, LLC
- Website
- https://serraventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Serra Ventures is a U.S. venture capital firm investing Seed through Series A in early-stage technology companies, with sector specialization in Ag Tech and Food Tech across multiple fund vehicles and offices in Champaign, Chicago, San Diego, and Park City.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Serra Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early-Stage Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SBIC Venture Debt Funds (FSANAIAD)
Keywords
Where Serra Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Champaign
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Serra Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Portfolio equity returns: Serra generates returns through equity investments in early-stage technology companies. Returns are realized through portfolio company exits including acquisitions and IPOs. Notable exits include Evisort (acquired by Workday), Network Perception (acquired by Dragos), Smart Apply (acquired by John Deere), Cardea Bio (acquired by Paragraf), Combyne (acquired by Bayer), Surefyre (acquired by Vertafore), Myagi (acquired by Rallyware), Ryvit (acquired by Trimble), WebCareHealth (acquired by CoachCare), Label Insight (acquired by NielsenIQ), and Mast Reforestation / Droneseed (acquired by new entity).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Equity investment in early-stage technology companies |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Serra Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests Seed, Seed Plus, and Series A equity capital into technology startups across the United States, with a dedicated focus on Ag Tech and Food Tech sectors. The firm raises and deploys multiple venture funds (including SBIC vehicles) on behalf of Limited Partners and adds value through board participation and follow-on funding. Through Serra Ventures Advisors, the firm also delivers M&A advisory services to growth-stage companies, complementing its investment activities.
Product overview
Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm offering early-stage investment across multiple fund vehicles, including Serra Capital I, Serra Capital II, Serra Capital II Follow-On-Fund, Serra Capital III, Serra Capital III SBIC, Serra Capital Ag Tech Fund, and Serra Ag & Food Tech Fund II. In addition to capital deployment, the firm provides consulting services to middle market companies, including strategic planning, business development support, and capital formation assistance for portfolio companies. The firm focuses primarily on Ag Tech and Food Tech sectors, with investments spanning early-stage technology companies throughout the U.S. and selected international regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Serra Capital I: First venture capital fund
- Serra Capital II
- Serra Capital III
- Serra Capital Ag Tech Fund
- Serra-Grondex Ag & Food Tech Fund
- Serra Ventures Advisors
Products and services
- Serra Capital I
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 early-stage tech startups funded throughout the U.S.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Serra Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Serra Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Serra Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Grondex International, B.V.coreSerra Ventures partnered with Grondex International, a Netherlands-based farmland management firm and Europe's leading regenerative farming asset manager, to create the Serra-Grondex Ag & Food Tech Fund II, LP. Grondex directors Joost Pennings (agricultural economist, former Wageningen University) and Peter Prins (risk manager and data analytics expert) bring agriculture and finance experience, managing thousands of acres of farmland for institutional investors. The partnership combines Serra's ag tech venture expertise with Grondex's European agricultural network and supply chain insight.
- JBSminorVölur (Serra portfolio company) has implemented its system in one of JBS's largest plants in Hyrum, Utah. JBS is a major meat processor.
- Venture AdvisorscoreSerra has a network of venture advisors including Bruce Sommer (Venture Partner), Karin O'Connor (Venture Partner, Northwestern Kellogg clinical professor), and Lamar Stieger (Ag Venture advisor who introduced Volur to Serra). These advisors assist in fundraising, deal sourcing, and serving portfolio companies.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Serra Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fulcrum Global Capital: Kansas-based ag-tech venture firm that co-led Vytelle's $13.2M Series A with Open Prairie and Serra participation. Directly comparable geography, sector focus, and stage preference.
- S2G Investments: Multi-stage venture firm focused exclusively on food and agriculture. S2G co-led the $10M Series A for SWARM Engineering alongside Serra, making it a direct ag tech VC competitor for similar deal flow and LP relationships.
- Acre Venture Partners: Venture capital firm focused on the future of food and agriculture. Acre led Bonsai Robotics' $10.5M seed round with Serra participating, demonstrating a directly comparable ag tech investing thesis and stage.
- Open Prairie: Midwest-anchored private equity and venture firm with significant ag tech activity. Co-led Vytelle's $13.2M Series A and participated in SWARM Engineering's round, directly competing with Serra for similar ag tech opportunities.
- Radicle Growth: Ag tech and food tech accelerator/VC firm that participated in SWARM Engineering's Series A alongside Serra. Shares comparable early-stage ag tech investment thesis and portfolio overlap.
- AgRogue Growth Partners: Ag tech-focused growth investor that co-led SWARM Engineering's $10M Series A alongside S2G. Directly comparable sector specialization and stage focus.
- Cultivian Sandbox: Venture fund focused on emerging technologies in food and agriculture. Operates as a sector-specialist VC with comparable stage (Seed/Series A) and ag tech portfolio overlap to Serra.
- Trailhead Capital: Ag tech venture capital firm that participated alongside Serra in SWARM Engineering's Series A. Shares comparable ag tech sector specialization and early-stage investment focus.
- Middleland Capital: Midleland Capital is a venture capital firm with ag tech and technology investments that participated in SWARM Engineering's Series A round alongside Serra, sharing comparable stage and sector focus.
Emerging players
- Wheatsheaf Group: UK-based investor in agricultural technology and food production that participated in Vytelle's $13.2M Series A. Comparable ag tech thesis but operates primarily in EMEA, making it more of a co-investor than direct competitor in Serra's U.S. market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Serra Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceSerra Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Serra Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Serra Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Serra Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments219 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Serra Ventures
What does Serra Ventures do?
Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests Seed, Seed Plus, and Series A equity capital into technology startups across the United States, with a dedicated focus on Ag Tech and Food Tech sectors. The firm raises and deploys multiple venture funds (including SBIC vehicles) on behalf of Limited Partners and adds value through board participation and follow-on funding. Through Serra Ventures Advisors, the firm also delivers M&A advisory services to growth-stage companies, complementing its investment activities.
Is Serra Ventures a public or private company?
Serra Ventures is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Serra Ventures founded?
Serra Ventures was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Serra Ventures based?
Serra Ventures is headquartered in Champaign, United States, in the North America region.
How does Serra Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: portfolio equity returns.
Who are Serra Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fulcrum Global Capital, S2G Investments, Acre Venture Partners, Open Prairie, Radicle Growth, AgRogue Growth Partners, Cultivian Sandbox, Trailhead Capital and Middleland Capital. Wheatsheaf Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does Serra Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Serra Ventures.
What industry is Serra Ventures in?
Serra Ventures's product category is Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSANAIAD, SBIC Venture Debt Funds. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.