First Bite India Grant

About this grant

Better Bite Ventures (also written Better Bite) is an early-stage impact investor backing innovation in food and agriculture across Asia Pacific. The page describes its First Bite programme as early investment into startups, with its checks normally in the range of $100-200k and up, typically using SAFE instruments at pre-seed and seed stages. The firm says it has invested early into 34 startups tackling climate opportunities in the region. The focus areas named on the page are food and agriculture, including reducing emissions in rice farming, improving yields and reducing synthetic fertilizer use, food waste reduction, sustainable ingredients and proteins, and algal innovation. The firm also addresses land use, for example palm oil alternatives that lower deforestation. The page lists a portfolio of startups across consumer food and beverage, decarbonising rice, fertiliser and yields, deforestation and palm oil, algae, sustainable ingredients, and climate-friendly protein transition, including plant-based, precision fermentation and cultivated meat companies. Founders are invited to send a deck to the firm's pitch address, after which a first call, a diligence phase, a term sheet and a funds transfer follow. The firm also runs Asia Climate Hub, a free open database of climate startups and investors in the region.

Eligibility

Startups tackling climate and food or agriculture opportunities in Asia Pacific are the implied applicants, with investment described at founding, pre-seed and seed stages. The page does not state formal organisation-type, incorporation, or prior-recipient rules. No warm introduction is required; founders submit a pitch deck by email. The page does not state a formal geographic restriction beyond the Asia Pacific focus.

How it's scored

The page says the firm assesses projects on their impact and proceeds through a go/no-go decision after a first call and a diligence phase covering market, technology and team. It does not disclose scoring criteria, weightings or panel composition.

Key requirements

• ✓Food and beverage brand operating in India
• ✓Focus on alternative proteins and/or sustainable ingredients
• ✓Pre-seed stage company seeking breakout growth
• ✓Application deadline 23 September

Recent past awardees

Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.

• Pivot Eat
• Blue Canopy
• Green Rebel
• Liberate Foods
• Next Gen Foods
• Miruku

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Better Bite Ventures offer?

First Bite India offers up to $300K.

Who can apply for First Bite India?

Eligibility covers organisations in IN; startup, sme. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Alternative protein funding backs plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated proteins, along with the ingredients and processing they depend on. Support includes research grants, scale-up programmes and investment from specialist funds. Calls usually look for regulatory awareness, a route to lower production cost and partnerships with food manufacturers.