CULTIVIAN SANDBOX

Thesis

Cultivian Sandbox Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2008, focusing on innovative startups in the food and agriculture technology sectors. Their investment thesis centers on commercializing solutions for sustainable production, equitable distribution, and healthy consumption within the food system. They target companies addressing critical challenges across the entire food and agriculture value chain, emphasizing sustainability, security, and safety. The firm's sector focus includes sustainable production (regenerative agriculture, soil health), crop protection & plant science (peptide-based crop protection, genetic engineering), animal health & welfare, supply chain & distribution (marketplaces, logistics), and food innovation (alternative proteins, functional foods). They primarily invest in early-to-growth stages, focusing on Seed and Series A rounds, with selective follow-on investments in Series B and C. Their geographic scope is mainly the United States, particularly the Midwest, but they also consider international investments. Cultivian Sandbox employs a lead and follow strategy, utilizing strategic LP relationships for larger rounds. As of April 2026, their AUM is approximately $250M-$300M, with their third fund closed in 2019 at $135 million. They typically write initial investment checks ranging from $1 million to $10 million.

Related lists

• Seed investors based in Chicago, IL
• Series A investors based in Chicago, IL
• Series B investors based in Chicago, IL