Berlin – While working at SMP, members of the YPOG team advised the French investor Five Seasons Ventures on the Series A financing round of vly. In addition to lead investor Five Seasons Ventures, the renowned Berlin startup incubator Rocket Internet participated in the round. The parties involved agreed not to disclose the amount of the investment volume and further details of the deal. Based on pea protein, the FoodTech vly from Berlin produces a plant-based milk alternative and is already operating in a billion-dollar market that poised for more growth in the future. Five Seasons Ventures received comprehensive legal and tax advise from Frederik Gärtner, Benjamin Ullrich and Sebastian Schwarz together with Pia Meven and Jonas Huth. The team had already advised the French FoodTech VC on numerous transactions, including its investment in the Munich-based startup Air up earlier this year.
"Company takeovers by globally operating corporations, intended or imminent IPOs, supply shortages and billion-dollar valuations – the disruption of the market for dairy products can currently be observed worldwide and is particularly apparent in the area of plant-based milk alternatives", says Frederik Gärtner. "With its investment in vly, Five Seasons Ventures backs a company that is already well established, especially in Germany, and has great potential in a rapidly growing market. We are very pleased that we were once again able to support our client Five Seasons Ventures with our advisory expertise", adds Benjamin Ullrich.
Team:
Dr. Benjamin Ullrich, Partner | Dr. Frederik Gärtner, Associated Partner | Dr. Sebastian Schwarz, Associated Partner | Pia Meven, Associate | Jonas Huth, Associate
Five Seasons Ventures
Five Seasons Ventures is the first European fund focused on investing across the food value chain, based in Paris. They partner with Food Tech entrepreneurs to build a healthier, more sustainable and efficient food system. The fund provides capital, deep expertise and connections in the food sector to help companies succeed. Five Seasons Ventures' portfolio companies include YFood Labs, Just Spices and THIS, among others.
vly
vly was founded in 2018 by Nicolas Hartmann, Niklas Katter and Moritz Braunwarth. Ever since, the company has been pursuing its mission to revolutionize the dairy industry with milk alternatives. vly relies on a pea protein, which can be grown locally and is a very climate-efficient protein supplier. The Berlin-based FoodTech startup researches, develops and produces in Germany. Since 2020, vly can be bought in large supermarket chains and in its own online shop. The company is growing rapidly: by the end of 2021, company has a lineup of new products and plans to double the number of its employees. numerous new products are to be launched and the number of employees is planned to be doubled.
YPOG stands for You + Partners of Gamechangers. As a leading law and tax firm, YPOG supports founders, investors, companies and funds in Germany and internationally in bringing visionary ideas to life in the tech ecosystem and dynamic future markets.
YPOG advises on the structuring of venture capital and private equity funds, financing rounds and complex transactions, as well as on regulatory and tax matters relating to digital assets and financial innovation. As a strategic partner, YPOG develops practical solutions of the highest legal standard.
The firm combines legal and tax expertise with legal tech, digital workflows and AI-based systems to provide efficient and scalable advice.
YPOG and its professionals are regularly recognised by JUVE, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Leaders League. More than 380 lawyers, tax advisers, tax specialists, one notary and business professionals work for YPOG across its offices in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich.
Further information: www.ypog.law/en/ and www.linkedin.com/company/ypog
