iSelect Fund

10/22/2025

Harnessing Bioactives for Better Gut Health

Meet Bio Gut Core—Brightseed’s new ingredient clinically proven to strengthen the gut barrier and reduce bloating and abdominal pain within just three weeks. This ready-to-use formulation combines two plant‑derived bioactives discovered by Brightseed’s AI platform. It’s another example of how the ingredients we invest in have tangible health benefits.

Food isn’t just fuel; it’s information that tells our bodies how to function. Brightseed shows how science can unlock nature’s secrets to improve digestive wellness.



Learn more:

Today, Brightseed announced Bio Gut Core, a ready-to-use bioactive ingredient that delivers clinically-proven gut health benefits in low-dose, versatile ingr...

10/17/2025

Drone Data Meets the Field

John Deere has acquired Sentera to bring high-resolution drone imagery and AI‑based w**d mapping into its Operations Center. This integration will allow farmers to convert aerial scouting into real-time decisions that reduce pesticide use, improve yields and boost profitability.

Better data leads to healthier soils and crops. By investing in companies like Sentera, we’re helping create a farming system where technology drives sustainability and food quality.



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Drones equipped with Sentera's tech fly over fields at high speeds to identify the exact location of specific w**ds.

10/13/2025

Saving Water, Boosting Nutrition

Smart irrigation isn’t just about conserving water—it’s about growing better food. Google recently invested $4M to deploy Arable Labs’ smart‑irrigation devices across 20,000 acres, aiming to save 500 million gallons of water over eight years. Arable’s devices provide real‑time data on weather, soil moisture and crop health so farmers can optimize irrigation and reduce stress on crops.

Precise irrigation supports nutrient‑dense produce and conserves resources—a win for farmers, consumers and the planet. We’re proud to support technologies that make agriculture more resilient and our food more nourishing.



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Google and agtech solutions provider Arable announced a water replenishment-focused collaboration, with Google agreeing to fund projects to bring Arable’s efficient irrigation technology to farmers in North and South Carolina. According to the companies, Google plans to invest more than $4 million...

10/10/2025

Designing Better Proteins for People & Planet

We’re excited to see Geltor close a new funding round—co‑led by iSelect—bringing its total funding to $137M. With this capital, Geltor will expand its biodesigned polypeptide portfolio into new geographies. The company recently launched a vegan collagen polypeptide in Latin America and received FDA GRAS approval for its Type 21 collagen (PrimaColl).

Geltor uses AI to design animal-free proteins that deliver the performance consumers expect while reducing environmental impact.

Innovative ingredients like these are exactly what our Food Is Health thesis is about: providing better nutrition through sustainable science.

US personal care ingredient maker Geltor has raised fresh funding via an equity financing round led by Miami venture capital outfit Starlight Ventures.

10/08/2025

Food is Health: Proving the Power of Regenerative Farming

How does regenerative agriculture influence the nutrients on your plate? Our portfolio company Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are answering that question. Over the next four years they’ll rapidly test more than 200 Regenerative Organic Certified foods, measuring nutrient density and screening for contaminants. The data will help farmers and brands show consumers how soil practices translate into healthier, safer food.

At iSelect, we invest at the intersection of soil, food and health. Edacious’ work demonstrates how healthy soils create healthy food, and how transparency empowers people to make better choices. Stay tuned for updates from this groundbreaking study.



Link:

Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are partnering to quantify the nutritional impact of regenerative organic farming, creating a data-driven roadmap that links growing practices to human and planetary health.

01/10/2025

We are excited to announce iSelect Fund’s participation in Geneoscopy’s $105 million Series C funding round. This investment will support the commercialization of Geneoscopy's FDA-approved ColoSense® test for colorectal cancer screening and advance diagnostics for inflammatory bowel disease.

Colorectal cancer rates are rising alarmingly, particularly among younger adults, and it remains the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection through innovative, non-invasive tools like ColoSense® can save countless lives by identifying cancer in its most treatable stages.

Geneoscopy’s platform isolates human RNA from stool samples for accurate detection, with enhanced accessibility through collaborations with Bio-Rad and Labcorp. iSelect Fund is proud to back transformative healthcare solutions like these.

ST. LOUIS & HERCULES, Calif. – Jan. 8, 2025 – Geneoscopy, Inc., a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for the advancement of

11/18/2024

Brightseed’s Forager was recently honored as a TIME Best Invention of 2024, recognizing their breakthrough technology that is using AI to create the world’s largest library of natural small molecule compounds from plants and link them to potential health benefits.

Congratulations to the Brightseed team!

https://time.com/7094643/brightseed-forager/

Find out why Brightseed Forager made this year's listFind out why INVENTION is one of the best inventions of 2024

09/05/2024

SAN FRANCISCO, August 26, 2024 – Arable, a leading innovator in climate-smart agriculture, today announced a collaboration with Google aimed at accelerating the adoption of agricultural technology that promotes water conservation and crop productivity simultaneously. The collaboration will equip f...

06/27/2024

iSelect Portfolio Spotlight: NextSense

NextSense has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer for 2024. This prestigious honor celebrates their innovative brain technology designed to enhance daily life by restoring energy, joy, and purpose. As a new Technology Pioneer, NextSense's CEO, Jonathan Berent, will speak at Summer Davos in Dalian, China, where he will explore groundbreaking advancements in digital neurotherapeutics. In addition, Jonathan Berent has been named to Fast Company's Impact Council, a network of visionary leaders committed to shaping the future through creativity and mission-driven innovation.

Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextsense-honored-as-world-economic-forum-technology-pioneer-302166390.html

06/11/2024

iSelect is proud to have been named by PitchBook as one of the “10 most active VC investors cultivating agtech’s future.”
See the list: https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/top-most-active-agtech-vc-investors

Despite a recent bad harvest, investors are still bullish on agtech, raising large vertical-specific funds.

05/29/2024

Brightseed recently announced the expansion of their A.I.-driven microbiome discovery program using their Forager platform to identify bioactives from fermented ingredients and prebiotics. This program aims to find health benefits from interactions between gut bacteria and these bioactives. Brightseed collaborates globally, including with CJ Foods, to analyze sources worldwide. The program supports companies in developing novel, clinically validated products, enhancing synbiotic product offerings. Forager can map compounds rapidly, aiding quick commercialization of health solutions targeting gut health, metabolism, and cognition​. The company already has established partnerships with ADM, Ocean Spray, Danone, Pharmavite, and Olam food ingredients.

https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2024/05/21/Brightseed-expands-A.I.-microbiome-discovery-program

AI pioneers Brightseed will present its new Forager AI Benchmarks and expanded microbiome discovery programs at the upcoming IPA World Congress + Probiota America 2024 in Salt Lake City.

05/28/2024

iSelect Fund Portfolio Spotlight: Harpe Bio

A recent Forbes article featuring Harpe Bio, "A New Tactic For The War With Weeds," highlights the urgent need for sustainable w**d control solutions due to increasing herbicide resistance. Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions, Inc. has developed a novel method using natural chemicals derived from mint species to combat this issue. Their approach not only restores the efficacy of key herbicides but also leverages the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status of mint-derived chemicals, streamlining regulatory approval. This innovation, led by scientists Manish Bansal and Randall Hess, focuses on combining mint extracts with herbicides, showing promising results in overcoming w**d resistance. The integration of advanced spraying technologies further enhances this natural, eco-friendly solution. Harpe Bio's experienced leadership, including COO Daniel Pepitone, bolsters the development and success of this approach​​.

Read full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2024/05/07/a-new-tactic-for-the-war-with-w**ds/

**dmanagement

Herbicide tolerant w**ds are an increasing issue that interferes with the progress that has been made to avoid mechanical tillage and protect soil health