5 Minutes with A Future Food VC: Nordic Foodtech VC’s Louise Heiberg
3 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.
Louise Heiberg is the Investment Director at Nordic Foodtech VC.
What future food technologies most excite you?
The ones that seem a bit out there. Where you think: “Wait, can this actually work?” and then realise it just might. The thrill of the unknown. The technologies that could radically reshape our food system in ways we can’t fully predict.
While we absolutely need people to eat more plants and less meat, incremental change won’t get us all the way. We need bold leaps. And those come from the lab – from researchers and universities pushing boundaries.
That’s why we love supporting science-based founders early on. It isn’t just a smart investment. It’s a front-row seat to something truly transformative.
What are three future food verticals you are actively looking at for 2025?
- Biosolutions
- Biosolutions
- You guessed it: biosolutions
Nature’s own toolbox has never been more relevant. From microbes that boost soil health to enzymes that reduce food waste to precision fermentation that creates the ingredients of the future. Biosolutions are quietly (and not-so-quietly) driving the next big shift in food and agriculture. High impact per kg is our love language.
What do you consider the food tech sector’s greatest achievement in the past five years?
We made food tech matter. It’s no longer niche. It’s recognised as a key lever for climate action and food system transformation. The sector has matured from novelty to necessity. It hasn’t been easy, but the outlook is strong.
If you could wave a magic wand, how would you fix plant-based meat?
I wouldn’t fix the product. I would fix the perception. That shift alone would change everything. And let’s stop comparing it to meat. Just let it be delicious in its own right.
What’s the top trait you look for in a founder?
Courage – the Brené Brown kind. The kind where vulnerability meets vision. Building something new is tough, and I look for founders who are brave enough to admit what they don’t know, honest enough to ask the right questions, and smart enough to learn fast.
Founders who can say: “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.” They’re gold.
The One That Got Away: What is the deal you wish you had gotten into, but didn’t?
Solar Foods. We weren’t in a position to invest at the time, due to our fund’s timing. But full credit to one of our partners Jari, who spotted them super early and went in as a private investor. They are building something truly bold: turning CO2 and electricity into food. A completely new category. It was, and still is, a moonshot we would have loved to be part of.
What do you consider your most successful future food investment so far?
In long run, I would say Ironic Biotech. They are tackling iron deficiency, affecting over two billion people and mostly women, with real science and a scalable solution. Putting female health and nutrition on the map is long overdue, and this is exactly the kind of underfunded area we love to champion.
What has been your most disappointing investment so far?
We invested in a company with a fantastic idea: turning overlooked Baltic herring into great products. It was smart, sustainable, and full of potential. The disappointment hit when authorities suddenly restricted herring fishing, basically pulling the carpet from under the entire business case right after launch.
But here’s the twist: the team pulled off a brilliant pivot, switching to sidestreams from farmed fish instead. So, in the end, they saved the day and turned a tough situation into a success story.
What do people misunderstand/get wrong most about VC?
That it’s all about capital. It’s not. At its core, VC is a people business. Founders, teams, LPs, colleagues, co-investors, and ecosystem – relationships are everything. The real currency is trust. You’re building long-term partnerships in a world of uncertainty, and that only works if there’s mutual respect and alignment.
Behind every good investment is a web of people who believe in building something bigger than themselves. And honestly? Women are great at this.
What is the most ‘future food’ thing you have eaten this month?
I tasted Wildtype’s cultivated salmon, and it was super impressive. And I visited Spora in Copenhagen, which always sparks ideas (and tastes great, too). They sit right at the intersection of gastronomy, science, and changing the world through food, which is exactly where future food should be.
Where is your favourite climate-forward restaurant/dish/place to eat anywhere in the world?
Teaming up with the Endless Food Co crew (all ex-Amass) has made my life easier. They know all the best places! But honestly, my favourite meal is everything leftovers. Whatever’s in the fridge, thrown in a bowl, or tossed into pasta. It’s zero waste, super easy, and the kids love it.
What’s your ‘why’? What motivates you to do what you do?
Food is everything: climate, nature, culture, health, justice, joy. It’s how we connect, care, and shape the future. Supporting bold people transforming the food system isn’t just exciting – it’s a way to help secure food for all forever.
That’s a privilege, and I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to spend my time. And I get to do it with a stellar team.
