FoodTech start-up ChickP has finalised its Round A investments at $8m and named Liat Lachish Levy as its CEO. This investment round was led by a group of executive investors from Singapore under Genisys Capital Private, and backed by Growthwell Foods with its leading investor, Temasek Holdings. This follows earlier investments totalling $10m.
Lachish Levy brings more than 20 years of executive experience in global corporations, specialising in FMCG retail and food service. She has led a number of global business ventures, accelerating growth while building strategic partnerships with top multinational companies including Kraft-Heinz and The Kellogg Company. She has an MSc in Organisational Behaviour Studies, and a BA in Criminology & Sociology from Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
“I am excited to join ChickP and lead it to global scale-up in an area that is, without a doubt, the most relevant in the food industry today,” said Lachish Levy. “Completion of the current round of funding is an expression of confidence from our investors and partners in the company. I am glad to join ChickP at this unique moment, and to lead business expansion into the global market.”
“Over the past few months, ChickP has been planting the seeds for accelerated growth in the US, Europe, and Asia,” said Lachish Levy. “This investment will bring greater scale-up and commercialisation capabilities with our partners for our chickpea isolate ingredient, in multiple territories. Moreover, the expansion of ChickP’s team and opening of our new offices, including an R&D centre and applications lab, will support local commercial activities.”
The company recently doubled the annual production capacity of its concentrated non-GMO, chickpea protein isolate. The company also signed agreements with distribution partners in the US, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa and is exploring further opportunities in other markets to bring its products into new countries and regions in the near future.
ChickP was founded in 2016 by Ram Reifen, MD, a paediatric gastroenterologist and professor of human nutrition.