Chicago-based investment fund and incubator, Sandox was founded 10 years ago by Bob Shapiro, Nick Rosa, and Steven Engelberg, all formerly of Monsanto. Sandox will be partnering with Cultivian Ventures on a planned $150 million fund. Cultivian Sandox Food and Agriculture Fund II which focuses on agriculture and food technologies closed its first tranche May 31st raising approximately $70 million making it the biggest venture fund raised in Chicago this year. Cultivian Ventures was founded by Ron Meeusen and Andy Ziolkowski formerly of Dow AgroSciences. Cultivian launched a $34 million food and agriculture fund in 2008. The new joint fund will focus on technologies that improve yields from a crop perspective, the health of animals, food safety, food security and aquaculture.
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