ZORA Ventures

ZORA Ventures is an early-stage deep tech investor based in Herzliya, Israel, specializing in climate innovation solutions. The firm partners with leading Israeli scientists and technologists to convert lab-scale innovations into mainstream food, agriculture, and climate solutions that can transform the way global business is done. Their mission is to address the planet's largest challenges by managing climate change and ensuring a sustainable food supply for a growing population.

The firm invests in a wide range of sectors, including climate tech, agriculture, food tech, sustainability, environmental services, renewable energy, water management, waste management, carbon capture, alternative proteins, agtech, cleantech, biotech, energy efficiency, and the circular economy. ZORA Ventures focuses on early-stage investments, typically in seed to Series B stages, with investment sizes ranging from $1 million to $10 million. Their geographical focus is primarily on Israel.

ZORA Ventures was founded in 2017 by Vanessa Bartram, an impact entrepreneur turned impact investor. Vanessa began her career in investment banking in Mexico City, advising middle-market companies on M&A and restructuring. She later founded the Miami-based impact HR company WorkSquare, which she grew to over $25 million in revenue. Vanessa holds an MBA from Harvard, a BA from Princeton, and is a Heritage Fellow with the Wexner Foundation. Under her leadership, ZORA Ventures has backed companies such as Wasteless, which uses dynamic pricing to reduce food waste, and Forsea, which focuses on cultivated seafood without harming sea life. The firm's approach is hands-on, working intimately with teams to bring innovations from lab to field, and they derive energy from the world-class scientists and teams they have the honor to back.

ZORA Ventures' vision is to leverage Israel's deep tech ecosystem to address global challenges, particularly in managing climate change and ensuring a sustainable food supply. They aim to partner with Israel's leading scientists and technologists to convert lab-scale innovations into mainstream solutions that transform the way global business is done, focusing on health, sustainability, and resource efficiency. Their community of changemakers extends to investors who put their capital to work in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.