Fidante launches Cultiv8 Agriculture and Food Technology Fund

Fidante has added another boutique fund manager to its suite - Cultiv8 Funds Management - and launched a new venture capital fund in the agriculture space.

Cultiv8 Agriculture and Food Technology Fund will invest in 20 to 30 series B investments in Australian and global agri-food technology companies. Fidante parent Challenger is the cornerstone investor in the first raise and the fund has a target size of $100 million.

Portfolio managers of the fund Jonathon Quigley and Malcolm Nutt have a successful history in agriculture tech venture capitalism.

"We support companies to evolve from ideas to commercialisation. We are looking to invest in management teams that are developing solutions to increase farm productivity, profitability and connectivity, modernise supply chains and create novel, high-value products that solve real challenges or capitalise on opportunities," Quigley said.

"We cultivate these management teams and companies by integrating the expertise of researchers, farmers, investors and global corporate partners to digitise agriculture and contribute to a sustainable future."