BetterSeeds

An agricultural biotechnology company democratizing crop gene editing to create climate-resilient and higher-yielding crops.

Agriculture & Food Technologies
Active
Series A Givat Hen, Israel Founded 2017
Last updated 2026-07-26
Total raised
$15.5M
Last: Undisclosed Round 2022-10
Stage
Series A
Founded
2017
Headcount
19
HQ
Givat Hen, Israel
Sector
Agriculture & Food Technologies

About

BetterSeeds is an agricultural biotechnology company that uses proprietary gene editing technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9, to genetically improve agricultural crops. Their mission is to democratize crop gene editing by making modern, precise genome editing practical and affordable for seed companies of any size. The company's proprietary platform combines compact, next-generation gene editors with EDGE™ (Efficient Delivery of Gene Editing), an engineered delivery system designed to apply CRISPR across a broad range of crops. BetterSeeds aims to develop traits such as heat and drought tolerance, pest resilience, and plant architecture optimized for mechanized harvesting, contributing to higher productivity and climate resilience in global agriculture. They commercialize their technology through a bundle business model, providing seed companies with an integrated “toolkit” (editing + delivery + trait modules) to upgrade elite varieties without extensive in-house gene-editing infrastructure. BetterSeeds also advances focused, high-impact crop programs through dedicated subsidiaries like AgriNetica (peanuts) and AgroNetica (cacao). The company was formerly known as CanBreed and rebranded to BetterSeeds in July 2021, expanding its focus beyond cannabis to multiple crops including cocoa, soy, peanuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, and black-eyed peas.

Funding history · 4 rounds · $15.5M total

2022-09
Convertible Debt $3.5M
★ OurCrowd
2022-04
A Round $7.0M
★ OurCrowd
2020-10
Seed $4.0M
★ Smart Agro
2017-09
Pre-Seed $1.0M

Headcount over time

From 2 (2020-12) to 18 (2026-03) · +16 (+800%) · 26 points · source: Finder history + radar grounding
240 2020-12 2026-03

Q&A

What is BetterSeeds' primary focus?
BetterSeeds is an agricultural biotechnology company that uses proprietary gene editing technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9, to genetically improve agricultural crops, aiming to democratize crop gene editing for seed companies of any size.
When did BetterSeeds rebrand from its former name?
BetterSeeds was formerly known as CanBreed and rebranded in July 2021, expanding its focus beyond cannabis to multiple crops.
What significant USDA approval did BetterSeeds' subsidiary AgriNetica receive in December 2025?
In December 2025, AgriNetica, a BetterSeeds subsidiary, received USDA approval for allergen-less peanut varieties for cultivation in the United States, marking the first-ever gene-edited peanut to receive such approval.
What was the latest funding round for BetterSeeds, and who were the lead investors?
In October 2022, BetterSeeds secured $3.5 million in a Convertible Debt round, with OurCrowd as a lead investor.
What is the employee count for BetterSeeds?
BetterSeeds has 11-50 employees.
What was a key development for BetterSeeds in July 2024?
In July 2024, BetterSeeds announced USDA approval for PeaMAX, which is described as the world's first gene-edited cowpea.
What partnership did BetterSeeds announce in March 2025?
In March 2025, BetterSeeds announced a collaboration with Syngenta to address challenges in tomato processing.
What leadership change occurred at BetterSeeds in June 2024?
In June 2024, BetterSeeds welcomed a former Bayer executive as its new chairman.

Team · 2

Ido Margalit
Founder · CEO & Co-founder
Tal Sherman
Founder · Co-founder, CTO

Sectors & technology

Primary sector
Agriculture & Food Technologies
Sub-sectors
Climate TechFood & Land UseSustainable FarmingSustainable Water SolutionsAgriculture & Food TechnologiesAg TechGenetics & Input
Technologies
BiologicalsGenes
Target customers
Agriculture & FoodCrops
Business model
B2B

Highlights

Climate Tech1 PatentsVerified

Tags

sustainable-farmingclimate-techagribusinesscropsbiotechnologyplant-protectionsmart-farmingseedsgeneticsbreedingagtechgene-editing
Full data — links, identifiers, deals & radar signals (jobs, patents, research, more)

External links

Websitebetterseeds.com
LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/69236363

Identifiers & details

Legal nameBETTERSEEDS LTD.
Former namesCanBreed
Founded2017-10
Employees (exact)19

Radar intelligence

Patents

EPO17

Publications (Crossref)

Works2

Web history (Wayback)

Domainbetterseeds.com

Certificate / subdomain footprint

Subdomains3

Israeli Companies Registrar (רשם החברות / ICA)

Registrar # (ח.פ.)515729671
Statusפעילה
Corp typeישראלית חברה פרטית
Incorporated2017-10-15
Purposeלעסוק בכל עיסוק חוקי
Liabilityמוגבלת
In violation (unfiled)no
Last annual report2026
Active charges / liens0
Registry events3 — shares_capital (1), violation (1), annual_report (1)
Registered addressברכת עם 56 גבעת ח~ן

Recent registry events

DateEvent
2026-05-07העברת מניות
2026-06-04עדכון הפרה
2026-06-04דו~ח שנתי-עדכון מען דיגיטלי