The Yield Lab
A federation of four regional agrifood-tech venture funds, plus a non-profit institute and the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech validation platform.
The Yield Lab at a glance
| Address | St. Louis, MO, United States |
|---|---|
| Programmes | 4 standing programmes |
| Official website | theyieldlab.com |
| info@theyieldlab.com |
Which The Yield Lab programme fits you
4 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Yield Lab Asia Pacific fund | Early-stage AgTech and FoodTech companies solving Asia Pacific food and agriculture challenges, from any country | — | — | — | — |
| The Yield Lab Europe fund | Early-stage agrifood-tech startups from across Europe | — | — | — | — |
| The Yield Lab Latam fund | Early-stage agrifood-tech startups based in Latin America | — | — | — | — |
| H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech | Agrifood and agtech startups ready for technical or field validation | — | — | — | No equity |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at The Yield Lab, separate from the funding calls above.
Venture fund for early-stage AgTech and FoodTech companies solving Asia Pacific's food and agriculture challenges.
Best for: Early-stage AgTech and FoodTech companies solving Asia Pacific food and agriculture challenges, from any country
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Asia Pacific fund invests in early-stage AgTech and FoodTech companies that address the food and agriculture challenges of Asia Pacific. It is part of The Yield Lab federation and covers six focus areas, from crop science to food ingredients.
What you get
- Venture investment in early-stage companies, from a fund the site describes as a VC fund
- Access to shared deal flow and co-investment opportunities across the federation's global portfolio
- Global market access through the federation, which the site says helps companies enter new markets
- Sector expertise from a bench of agrifood-tech operators, scientists and advisors
Who can apply
- Early-stage AgTech and FoodTech companies. They do not have to be from Asia Pacific, but they must solve the region's most pressing challenges first.
How to apply
- Use the Submit a Pitch button on the fund's site. No batch window or deadline is stated.
Venture capital fund for early-stage agrifood-tech companies in Europe, from pre-seed to Series A.
Best for: Early-stage agrifood-tech startups from across Europe
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Yield Lab Europe is the Dublin-based fund in the federation. It provides venture capital from pre-seed to Series A, and it helps companies scale internationally through the federation's network of experts, corporates and investors.
What you get
- Venture capital funding from pre-seed to Series A
- Access to the federation's network of experts, corporates and investors
Who can apply
- Startups from across the European region. The page does not describe a route for companies based in India.
How to apply
- Contact the team through the Europe site, or write to europe@theyieldlab.com.
Venture capital fund for early-stage agrifood-tech startups based in Latin America.
Best for: Early-stage agrifood-tech startups based in Latin America
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Yield Lab Latam is the federation's Latin America fund, with offices in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. It invests in early-stage, high-potential startups based in Latin America that address the challenges of the agri-food industry.
Who can apply
- Early-stage startups based in Latin America. The page does not describe a route for companies based in India.
How to apply
- Use the "Let's meet up and know your venture" call on the fund's site.
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech
PlatformNon-dilutive agtech validation platform led by The Yield Lab Institute. Applications have not opened yet.
Best for: Agrifood and agtech startups ready for technical or field validation
- No equity
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech connects agtech startups with research institutions and ecosystem partners for technical validation. Its first cohort of seven agricultural biologicals startups was announced in April 2026.
What you get
- A non-dilutive award that combines technical research with direct funding
- Connection to ecosystem partners, field trial networks, an external advisory board and alumni companies
- Visibility at industry events and access to investors
Who can apply
- Entrepreneurs with agrifood technologies, from early-stage concepts to proven innovations ready for on-field validation. Current scope is US-led, and international companies are listed as a future growth plan.
How to apply
- Applications have not opened. Join the launch list on the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. site, or write to info@harvestagtech.org.
How to apply to The Yield Lab
Choose the right route
- Asia Pacific fund: the only route on the site without a country limit. Companies from anywhere can pitch if they solve an Asia Pacific food or agriculture challenge.
- Europe and Latin America funds: only for companies based in those regions.
- H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech: join the launch list. Applications have not opened.
How to pitch
- Use the Submit a Pitch button on the Asia Pacific site, and say which of its six focus areas you fit.
- The site does not state a deadline, batch window or selection timeline. Ask about timing when you pitch, or write to info@theyieldlab.com.
What reviewers look for
- An early-stage AgTech or FoodTech product, since that is what the fund says it invests in.
- A clear link to a critical Asia Pacific food or agriculture challenge, which the fund names as the test for any startup, wherever it is based.
About The Yield Lab
The Yield Lab is a federation of four regional agrifood-tech venture funds, with a non-profit sister body, The Yield Lab Institute. The funds are based in St. Louis (North America), Ireland (Europe), Argentina (Latin America) and Singapore (Asia Pacific), and they invest in early-stage companies working on food and agriculture. For founders in India, the one route the pages describe without a country limit is The Yield Lab Asia Pacific fund in Singapore. The Europe and Latin America funds invest only in their own regions, and the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech platform has not opened applications yet.
How the funds work
Each fund has its own geographic focus, team and investor base. The funds share deal flow and co-investment opportunities, and they pool their knowledge of sectors and markets. The Asia Pacific fund describes its approach as a dedicated one for a region that needs local knowledge and patient capital. The network began in 2015 with a fund in St. Louis, and its most recent fund is in Singapore, according to the Asia Pacific page. Founders pitch the funds directly. The Asia Pacific site has a Submit a Pitch button, and the Europe site asks visitors to contact the team.
Who can apply
The Asia Pacific fund says its startups do not have to come from Asia Pacific, but they must solve the region's most pressing food and agriculture challenges first. It invests across six areas: crop science, animal health, aquaculture, precision agriculture, supply chain and traceability, and food ingredients. According to the page, more than half of its active portfolio is in aquaculture, water quality and ocean technology.
The Europe fund has a mandate to invest in startups from across the European region, from pre-seed to Series A. The Latin America fund invests in early-stage startups based in Latin America. The Europe site lists five sectors: genetics, crop protection and animal welfare; big data and precision farming; bioenergy, biomaterials and other renewables; innovative food and beverages; and novel farming systems. Neither page describes a route for companies based in India.
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech is a validation platform led by The Yield Lab Institute. It connects agtech startups with research institutions for technical validation, and it offers a non-dilutive award that combines technical research with direct funding. It announced a first cohort of seven agricultural biologicals startups in April 2026. Applications have not opened, and the site invites visitors to join a launch list. Its growth plans include welcoming international companies, so the platform is not yet stated to be open to them.
The Yield Lab Institute
The Institute is a non-profit that provides educational resources and ecosystem-building support. Its site carries white papers and news releases, and it leads H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech. The Institute says it identifies gaps in the AgTech ecosystem, and it offers non-dilutive initiatives with open access to The Yield Lab's global network of subject matter experts for nascent companies and entrepreneurs.
Scale
The pages give different portfolio counts. The Asia Pacific fund lists 18 portfolio companies and the Europe fund lists 35. The homepage cites 90+ portfolio companies across the network, while the Asia Pacific page cites 118+ companies in the federation's global portfolio. These counts are self-reported, and the pages do not say when they were last updated.
Who runs it
The Asia Pacific fund's team page lists a managing director and co-founder, a co-founder, venture partners and an investment team, and it names an advisor network of domain experts. Each of the four funds has its own team.
Locations
St. Louis, Dublin, Argentina and Singapore host the four funds. The Latin America fund has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile.
Get in touch
Send a message to The Yield Lab — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Who they work with
Tags
Frequently asked questions about The Yield Lab
What is The Yield Lab?
The Yield Lab is a venture capital investor based in St. Louis, MO.
What does The Yield Lab do?
The Yield Lab is a federation of four regional agrifood-tech venture funds, with a non-profit sister body, The Yield Lab Institute. The funds are based in St.
Where is The Yield Lab located?
The Yield Lab is located at St. Louis, MO, United States.
What programs does The Yield Lab run?
The Yield Lab runs The Yield Lab Asia Pacific fund, The Yield Lab Europe fund, The Yield Lab Latam fund and H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech.
Does The Yield Lab provide funding?
Selected startups in some The Yield Lab programmes can receive grant support, including H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
How do I apply to The Yield Lab?
- Asia Pacific fund: the only route on the site without a country limit. Companies from anywhere can pitch if they solve an Asia Pacific food or agriculture challenge. - Europe and Latin America funds: only for companies based in those regions. - H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech: join the launch list. Applications have not opened.
Recommended grants & schemes
Other open programmes matching The Yield Lab's focus areas.