Yara Growth Ventures
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Yara Growth Ventures does
Yara Growth Ventures (YGV) is the corporate venture capital division of Yara International ASA, a Norwegian publicly listed crop nutrition company. Established in 2021 and headquartered in Oslo, YGV invests patient capital in startups and venture capital funds at the intersection of science, technology, food, and agriculture, with stated focus areas in agriculture and clean hydrogen. The unit operates two distinct products: a direct startup investment program with typical initial checks of USD 3 million (with willingness to lead, follow, and take board seats), and a fund investment program as a limited partner in regionally specialized venture funds, also at USD 3 million per commitment.
The current portfolio spans approximately 17-19 direct startup investments and 3 fund investments. Direct investments cover agrifintech for Latin America, Brazil, Africa, India, Turkey, and Mexico (Agrofy, Agrolend, Apollo Agriculture, Jai Kisan, Tarfin, Verqor); precision and autonomous agriculture (Ecorobotix, Sabanto); biologicals and crop inputs (Boost Biomes, Plant Response, with Plant Response acquired by Mosaic); carbon and soil health (Boomitra); clean hydrogen production and separation (Azane, Dynelectro, H2Pro, HMT, Verdagy); and industrial AI (Intelecy). Fund investments are AP Ventures Fund II (clean hydrogen, London), Omnivore Fund III (Indian AgriFood, Mumbai), and SP Ventures Agventures Fund II (LatAm ag, São Paulo). Most recently, in March 2026, YGV co-led the A$30 million Series A for PlasmaLeap Technologies alongside the Gates Foundation and Investible, its highest-profile lead position to date, targeting zero-emissions modular ammonia and nitric acid reactors.
YGV is staffed by a five-person team distributed across Finland, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom: Managing Director Erkki Aaltonen (20+ years CVC, 100+ investments, 20 boards), Investment Directors Dr. Björn Heinz (agriculture, food, green chemistry, advanced materials) and Dr. Stian Nygaard (cleantech and process industries, PhD), Portfolio Manager Abdo Drrah (PwC-trained chartered accountant), and Associate Emily Jones (environmental science and data analytics). The team's go-to-market is direct, sourced through inbound email, industry events, and network; the investment process typically takes 1-2 months. YGV's principal competitive differentiator is structural access to Yara International's global R&D, agronomic advisory, field trial, and distribution networks, offered to portfolio companies without exclusivity or preferential terms.
Yara Growth Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yara Growth Ventures
- Legal name
- Yara Growth Ventures
- Website
- https://yaragrowthventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yara Growth Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Venture Capital
- NAICS
- All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Energy & Sustainability / Climate Growth Equity (FSANACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB), SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN), Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)
Keywords
Where Yara Growth Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Yara Growth Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Investment returns: Yara Growth Ventures generates returns through equity investments in startups and venture capital funds. They invest patient capital in companies making an impact in agriculture, seeking financially sound investments while supporting innovation in the sector.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Yara Growth Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Yara Growth Ventures is the corporate venture capital division of Yara International ASA, making equity investments of typically USD 3 million in early-to-growth stage startups at the intersection of science and technology in food, agriculture, and clean hydrogen. The firm also makes limited partner commitments of typically USD 3 million in aligned venture capital funds with deep ties to local startup ecosystems. Active globally, YGV prefers to lead rounds, takes board seats, and supports portfolio companies with Yara's R&D, agronomic advice, field trial resources, and global network.
Product overview
Yara Growth Ventures operates as the corporate venture capital division of Yara International ASA, offering two distinct investment products: a startup investment program providing equity capital to early-to-growth stage companies in agriculture and clean hydrogen sectors, and a fund investment program as a limited partner in aligned venture capital funds. The startup program focuses on 'no compromise farming' solutions with verticals including biologicals, agronomic support, supply chain optimization, and agricultural financing, while the fund program targets venture investors with proven track records in agriculture-focused strategies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Yara Growth Ventures Startup Investment Program Corporate venture capital equity investment program offering typically USD 3 million initial investments to early-to-growth stage startups in agriculture technology and clean hydrogen. YGV prefers to lead investments but is willing to follow, takes board seats, and supports portfolio companies with introductions to Yara International's R&D professionals, shared field trials, and global channel and industry partner network. Active investor model with global geographic coverage.
- Yara Growth Ventures Fund Investment Program Limited partner investment program committing typically USD 3 million into venture capital funds with deep local ecosystem ties and clear alignment with Yara Growth Ventures' verticals, themes, and business models. Focuses on agriculture-themed funds with sectors spanning agrifood life sciences, rural fintech, and climate-smart agriculture. Examples include AP Ventures Fund II, Omnivore Fund III, and SP Ventures Agventures Fund II.
Companies that use Yara Growth Ventures
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Yara Growth Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Yara Growth Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Yara International ASAcoreYara Growth Ventures is a division of Yara International ASA - a global crop nutrition company headquartered in Norway with operations or products sold in nearly every country of the world. YGV leverages Yara's network including R&D professionals, industry partnerships, and distribution channels to support portfolio companies.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Yara Growth Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cargill Ventures: Cargill's corporate venture and innovation arm invests in food, agriculture, and sustainability startups. Comparable to YGV as a global food-and-ag major operating a strategic CVC with similar sector focus.
- ADM Ventures: ADM Ventures is the CVC of Archer Daniels Midland, investing in agriculture, food, and climate-tech startups. Highly comparable to YGV in mandate, ticket size, and sustainability/agri thesis.
- AGCO Ventures: AGCO Ventures is the CVC arm of AGCO Corporation, a global agricultural equipment manufacturer, investing in agtech and precision farming startups. Comparable to YGV's agtech and precision agriculture (e.g., Ecorobotix, Sabanto) investments.
- Syngenta Group Ventures: Syngenta Group Ventures is the CVC arm of Syngenta Group, focused on agriculture and crop technology startups globally. Directly comparable to YGV as another crop-input-major-backed CVC investing in agtech innovation.
- Leaps by Bayer: Leaps by Bayer is the corporate venture capital arm of Bayer AG, investing in agriculture, health, and biotech startups. It is the closest comparable to Yara Growth Ventures as a strategic CVC operated by a global agribusiness major with similar patient-capital thesis.
Regional players
- Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporate Venture Capital: Mitsubishi Chemical Group's CVC invests in advanced materials, green chemistry, and clean energy/hydrogen startups, primarily in Asia. Comparable on the green chemistry and hydrogen thesis to YGV's HMT and Dynelectro bets, but regionally focused on Japan/APAC.
Broad incumbents
- Equinor Ventures: Equinor Ventures is the CVC arm of Equinor ASA, investing broadly in clean energy, hydrogen, and climate-tech startups. Comparable to YGV on the clean hydrogen vertical (e.g., H2Pro, Verdagy, Dynelectro investments) but operating from a broader energy mandate.
- Shell Ventures: Shell Ventures is the CVC of Shell plc, investing in clean energy, hydrogen, and mobility startups. Comparable on YGV's hydrogen/ammonia bunker theme (Azane) though operating from a much larger oil-major balance sheet.
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Breakthrough Energy Ventures is a Bill Gates-backed climate-tech fund investing across agriculture, hydrogen, and industrial decarbonization. Comparable to YGV on both sustainable agriculture and clean hydrogen themes, and notably a co-investor alongside YGV on PlasmaLeap.
Emerging players
- Climate Capital: Climate Capital is an emerging climate-tech venture firm investing across food, agriculture, and decarbonization themes. Comparable as an emerging, mission-aligned investor in overlapping agricultural sustainability and climate ventures, though structured as a financial VC rather than CVC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Yara Growth Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceYara Growth Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yara Growth Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Yara Growth Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yara Growth Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments21 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Yara Growth Ventures
What does Yara Growth Ventures do?
Yara Growth Ventures is the corporate venture capital division of Yara International ASA, making equity investments of typically USD 3 million in early-to-growth stage startups at the intersection of science and technology in food, agriculture, and clean hydrogen. The firm also makes limited partner commitments of typically USD 3 million in aligned venture capital funds with deep ties to local startup ecosystems. Active globally, YGV prefers to lead rounds, takes board seats, and supports portfolio companies with Yara's R&D, agronomic advice, field trial resources, and global network.
Is Yara Growth Ventures a public or private company?
Yara Growth Ventures is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Yara Growth Ventures founded?
Yara Growth Ventures was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Yara Growth Ventures based?
Yara Growth Ventures is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Yara Growth Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment returns.
Who are Yara Growth Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cargill Ventures, ADM Ventures, AGCO Ventures, Syngenta Group Ventures and Leaps by Bayer. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporate Venture Capital is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Equinor Ventures, Shell Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Climate Capital is listed as an emerging player.
Does Yara Growth Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yara Growth Ventures.
What industry is Yara Growth Ventures in?
Yara Growth Ventures's product category is Corporate Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAG, Energy & Sustainability / Climate Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 52399 and its SIC code is 6282.