What is TerViva?
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Oakland, California, TerViva operates at the intersection of biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. The company specializes in the pongamia tree, a high-yielding, non-food crop that thrives on degraded farmland, effectively turning underutilized acreage into productive, carbon-sequestering assets. Through its proprietary bean processing technology, TerViva extracts high-quality, sustainable oil and protein ingredients that serve as viable alternatives to traditional, resource-intensive commodities. By focusing on both the supply side—through patented tree genetics—and the processing side, TerViva provides a vertically integrated solution that addresses both food security and environmental sustainability. This dual-pronged market position allows the company to partner with farmers to restore soil health while simultaneously supplying the food industry with scalable, plant-based inputs.
How much funding has TerViva raised?
TerViva has raised a total of $84.7M across 6 funding rounds:
Series A
$4.1M
Series B
$2M
Series C
$3.6M
Series D
$20M
Debt
$1M
Series E
$54M
Series A (2012): $4.1M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series B (2015): $2M led by Evan Properties
Series C (2017): $3.6M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series D (2019): $20M, investors not publicly disclosed
Debt (2020): $1M backed by PPP
Series E (2021): $54M with participation from Evans Properties, Astera Institute, Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, and Trustbridge Partners
Key Investors in TerViva
Evans Properties
Evans Properties is a family-owned agricultural and land-management firm based in Florida, specializing in large-scale citrus and cattle operations with a strategic interest in farm-to-fuel crops.
Trustbridge Partners
Trustbridge Partners is a prominent growth equity firm managing approximately $8 billion in assets, focusing on high-quality opportunities within the TMT, consumer, and healthcare sectors.
Astera Institute
The Astera Institute is a mission-driven investment entity focused on supporting transformative technologies that address critical global challenges.
What's next for TerViva?
With the recent infusion of capital, TerViva is poised to accelerate its commercial expansion and deepen its impact on the global agricultural landscape. The company's strategic roadmap likely involves scaling its processing infrastructure to meet the rising demand for sustainable food ingredients and expanding its footprint in key agricultural regions where pongamia cultivation can drive significant economic and ecological value. As the firm moves beyond its development phase, the focus will shift toward optimizing supply chain efficiencies and securing long-term partnerships with major food manufacturers seeking to decarbonize their ingredient portfolios. By continuing to demonstrate the viability of pongamia as a climate-smart crop, TerViva is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in the sustainable food sector, potentially setting new standards for land-use efficiency and agricultural productivity.
See full TerViva company page
