5 Minutes with A Future Food VC: Paulig Incubator’s Erika Hombert
2 Mins Read
In our interview series, we quiz future food investors about the solutions that excite them the most, their favourite climate-forward restaurant, and what they look for in successful founders.
Erika Hombert is a Senior Investment Manager at Paulig Incubator (PINC).
What future food technologies most excite you?
- The use of AI across the board.
- Advancement in crop development.
- Bioproduction with low energy requirements.
What are three future food verticals you are actively looking at for 2025?
- Sustainable agriculture
- Circularity in food production
- Sustainable packaging
What do you consider the food tech sector’s greatest achievement in the past five years?
Bringing an entrepreneurial culture to the F&B industry.
If you could wave a magic wand, how would you fix plant-based meat?
I wouldn’t.
I’d fix people’s pre-judgements and attitudes towards vegetarian and low-meat diets.
What’s the top trait you look for in a founder?
- Intellectual honesty
- Ambition
- Empathy (this is important to lead a team and make sound business decisions)
- Transparency
- Resilience
What do you consider your most successful future food investment so far?
I think Win-Win (formerly WNWN Food Labs) in the UK is doing a really good job in alt-chocolate.
What has been your most disappointing investment so far?
In my own portfolio, I don’t have any deals that have died yet.
What do people misunderstand/get wrong most about VC?
That it’s a job for men. I constantly see women outperforming their peers and make better investment decisions.
What is the most ‘future food’ thing you have eaten this month?
Cell-based chocolate – yummy!
Where is your favourite climate-forward restaurant/dish/place to eat anywhere in the world?
I’m currently obsessed with ancient grains grown in my region, like Öland wheat, spelt, and rye. They are great for the soils and ecosystems, and very nutritious and tasty!
What’s your ‘why’? What motivates you to do what you do?
I’m driven by impact. My why is a liveable future for my children and the continuation of humanity.
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