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We need to find out why Japan has so few cases of coronavirus
Talks about Coronavirus, Covid-19 and Japan
RL
Rob Leclerc
Founding Partner at AgFunder
San Francisco, California
Overview
Rob Leclerc is a prominent Deeptech and deep science Venture Capitalist based in San Francisco, California. With a strong background in computational biology and artificial intelligence, he has successfully invested in innovative companies like Atomo Coffee and Integriculture, among others, at various stages such as Series A and Seed funding rounds.
Leclerc's career highlights include being a Founding Partner at AgFunder and making strategic investments in cutting-edge startups like Bear Flag Robotics and Root AI, showcasing his expertise in identifying and supporting emerging technologies in sectors such as AgTech and robotics.
Work Experience
Founding Partner
2012 - Current
AgFunder is one of the most active foodtech and agtech focused venture capital firms globally. We are a new kind of VC firm that leverages our media and research platform of over 65,000 members and subscribers to give us access to the best deal flow and network to support our portfolio companies.
AgFunder invests in impactful companies that can positively transform the world's food system.
Raised $2,250,000.00 from PULSAR.
Investor
2020
(Acquired for $250m 13 months after our investment) Bear Flag Robotics is developing autonomous driving technology for farm tractors. Currently, we do this by equipping tractors and implements with technology that allows growers to automate many of their most common tasks.
Bear Flag Robotics is an AgTech company developing autonomous technology for farm tractors to increase productivity and improve safety.
Raised $11,400,000.00 from AgFunder, Graphene Ventures, D20 Capital, Green Cow Venture Capital, Valley Oak Investments, True Ventures, Lombardstreet Ventures, VU Venture Partners, Bossa Invest and North West Quadrant Ventures ( NWQ Ventures).
Investor
2020
(Greenlight went public in 2022 valued at $1.5b) GreenLight Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on sustainable production of chemicals and fuels using its patented Cell free bioprocessing technology platform. This revolutionary technology enables the biological conversion of economical, renewable substrates to valuable products with unprecedented flexibility and control.
Investor
2019
(RootAI was acquired by $APPHW in 2021) Root AI has developed a harvesting robot for greenhouses.
Root AI is a research company aiming to create intelligent robots that will help growers build the farms of the future.
Raised $10,459,891.00 from The Syndicate.com, LAUNCH, First Round Capital, Schematic Ventures, AgFunder, WestWave Capital, PJC and Outsiders Fund.
Investor
2018
Brightseed believes nutrition is medicine. They combine machine learning and systems biology to discover naturally occurring compounds with proven clinical benefits for health and wellness.
Brightseed uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to discover the potential of plant compounds for various applications.
Raised $120,800,000.00 from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Investor
2019
DeHaat is Indias largest agtech firm. They have built a digitial agronomy platform and marketplace connecting institutional sellers and buyers with smallholder farmers in India. DeHaat has over 2.5m farmers on their platform
Investor
2019
Verdant Robotics develops state-of-the-art spraying robots. The company was founded by foundational engineers at Waymo, Zoox, and Cruise Automation
Investor
2020
Kula Bio energizes nitrogen-fixing microbes to produce organic fertilizer. By rewiring the energy flow from sun to soil, Kula is disrupting synthetic fertilizer to eliminate the division between affordable practices and stewardship.
Kula Bio is a company that provides sustainable biological solutions for modern agriculture.
Raised $72,128,761.00 from iSelect Fund, Neglected Climate Opportunities, Lowercarbon Capital, Taihill Venture, Collaborative Fund, Embark Ventures, Pillar VC, Ying Fund, HT Capital and BOPU.
Investor
2019
Investor
2020
By reverse-engineering the coffee bean, Atomo has created a naturally-derived and sustainable coffee with the same caffeine you’d expect and no harsh acid or bitterness.
Atomo Coffee is a developer of molecular coffee.
Raised $53,221,908.00 from RSE Ventures, AgFunder, Blue Horizon Corporation, Reshape, Climate Capital, Rich Products Ventures, Horizons Ventures, S2G Ventures and Newtree Impact.
Education
PhD
2003 - 2009
Master of Science - MS
2003 - 2005
Master of Science - MS
2001 - 2003
Bachelor of Arts - BA
1995 - 2003
Bachelor of Science - BS
1998 - 2001