Waterfund Invests $50M in OurCrowd Water & Agtech Portfolio

Waterfund and OurCrowd Announce $50 Million Agtech Investment

Waterfund, a firm specializing in the investment and trading of water-related infrastructure, has revealed a collaboration with OurCrowd, an Israel-based crowdfunding platform.

This partnership will involve the Waterfund team dedicating $50 million to the development of a portfolio comprising 15 companies focused on water and agricultural technology.

Initial Investment in Vertical Farming

The first investment stemming from this initiative is directed towards Plenty, a vertical farming startup that has already secured substantial funding.

Development of the Aquantos Platform

Beyond direct investments, Waterfund and OurCrowd are jointly creating Aquantos, a new platform centered around water-related finance.

Aquantos intends to issue Blue Bonds, alongside other financial instruments linked to the water industry.

Blue Bonds: A Novel Financial Approach

Blue Bonds, similar to established Green Bonds which support environmentally beneficial projects, are a relatively new concept.

They specifically target initiatives designed to improve ocean health.

Enabling Water Projects in the Middle East

“We aim to issue Blue Bonds that meet climate bond certification standards and are supported by governmental borrowers,” stated Scott Rickards, CEO of Waterfund.

“These financial tools are being developed to facilitate the adoption of advanced technologies in Middle Eastern water projects, addressing water scarcity in innovative ways.”

Addressing the Capital Gap in Water Innovation

Rickards emphasizes that insufficient private investment has historically hindered progress within the water sector.

He believes this new partnership, and the associated financing options, will catalyze positive change.

OurCrowd’s Investment Portfolio and Experience

OurCrowd currently manages approximately $1.5 billion in committed funding and has invested in around 250 companies across its 25 funds.

Notable investments include Lemonade, Jump Bikes, and Beyond Meat.

The platform also boasts a portfolio of existing agtech startups and, in November of last year, collaborated with Sprout Agritech to launch an agtech accelerator program in New Zealand.

Leveraging the Abraham Accords for Regional Impact

“The Abraham Accords create a significant opportunity to introduce cutting-edge water and agricultural technologies to address water scarcity throughout the Middle East,” explained Jon Medved, founder and CEO of OurCrowd.

“Together with Waterfund, our mission is to invest in and nurture groundbreaking technology companies.

We are enthusiastic about collaborating with Waterfund to attract more private capital to tackle the critical challenges surrounding water resources.”