Led · Debt Financing · Sep 2019

Cooks Venture develops and commercially breeds a proprietary pedigree broiler line called the Pioneer, selectively bred to grow slower with stronger immune systems and improved flavor and nutrition. The company is vertically integrated into its own breeding line and is the largest pasture‑raised poultry company in America focused on regenerative agricultural practices. Cooks Venture emphasizes genetic diversity to combat systemic inbreeding in commercial broilers and has completed about 12 years of research and development on its breed. The Pioneer broiler and parent stock are included in a University of Guelph broiler study and are among the small number of breeds meeting new Global Animal Partnership welfare standards; the Pioneer is the only commercially viable breed on that approved list without ties to the two dominant genetics conglomerates. Cooks Venture holds certifications including Global Animal Partnership, Certified Humane, and Non‑GMO, and verifies its no‑antibiotics claim through Food ID. The company plans to expand its genetics program and build additional infrastructure to scale its breeding and supply-chain capabilities. Cooks Venture developed a proprietary Pioneer breed after years of genetic research; the birds grow more slowly, resist illness, live in a wider range of climates, and consume a diverse diet. The company sells its chickens into grocery channels, Fresh Direct, and direct online sales while positioning the breed for use in emerging nations with limited infrastructure. Cooks Venture emphasizes regenerative agriculture benefits because its birds can consume nontraditional feeds (e.g., yucca, quinoa), allowing farmers to maintain biodiverse farms. As part of its quality and authenticity efforts, it partnered with FoodID to run near‑real‑time mass‑spectrometer tests that detect antibiotics and adulterants faster than USDA follicle tests. Cooks Venture says this testing lets it independently validate antibiotic‑free claims and verified non‑GMO feed. The company has expanded since a prior $12 million fundraise in September 2019 and now serves broad swaths of the U.S.; it employs about 240 people with noted workforce and leadership diversity metrics. Cooks Venture developed a proprietary breed called the Pioneer, a slower‑growing heirloom broiler that the company says can eat a highly diverse diet, live as truly free‑range birds, and is higher in omega‑3s and better tasting than common broiler breeds. The Pioneer reaches processing readiness in about 60–65 days and can digest a wider set of crops, enabling more biodiverse, regenerative farm systems. Cooks Venture operates its own farm and processing plant and works with farm partners to produce feed and implement regenerative practices. The company currently sells its chickens through some retailers, on its own website, and via FreshDirect. To ramp commercialization and distribution it has entered a partnership with Golden West Food Group, a meat-products manufacturer and value-add food company. As part of its recent announcement Cooks Venture also added Ankur Agrawal as chief financial officer. The company emerged from years in stealth and launched onto the scene in 2018 with the aim of reshaping agricultural supply chains. Cooks Venture is an NYC-based AgTech company led by founder and CEO Matthew Wadiak. The company is establishing regenerative agriculture systems through crop science and genetic IP and is focused on redefining agtech for monogastric animals. Its first offerings are pasture-raised, slow-growth, heirloom chickens. After launching in Spring 2019, Cooks Venture partnered with FreshDirect to supply customers across the Northeast and with Golden Gate Meat Company to serve customers, restaurants and retailers in Northern California. The company closed a $12m senior secured financing provided by Amerra Capital Management to expand processing capabilities and grow nationwide. The funds are intended to scale processing and broaden the company’s U.S. distribution footprint.