ClearLeaf raises a US$3.5 million Seed round
ClearLeaf has closed a US$3.5 million Seed funding round to expand its global presence, including entering the U.S. market.
Costa Rica-based ClearLeaf, a startup in the AgTech sector, has closed a US$3.5 million Seed funding round to expand its global presence, including entering the U.S. market. The company is led by co-founders Lawrence Pratt, Agustín Büchert, and Alejandro Martínez Soto, and is focused on creating innovative crop protection products that are non-toxic and environmentally sustainable. The round was led by Hawthorne Food Ventures (HFV), with participation from M7 Ace NEO and several high-net-worth individuals.
A mission rooted in environmental and human health
ClearLeaf’s core mission is to transform agriculture by designing and commercializing solutions that enhance farmer profitability while also protecting the environment and human health. The startup’s approach is aligned with regenerative agriculture, placing emphasis on natural cycles, sustainability, and minimal ecological disruption. ClearLeaf’s goal is to reduce dependence on harmful chemical products in agriculture, offering farmers an effective and safe alternative.
GotaBlanca: a breakthrough in non-toxic crop protection
At the center of ClearLeaf’s innovation is its flagship product, GotaBlanca, a broad-spectrum, non-toxic fungicide and bactericide. GotaBlanca is unique in the market for its effectiveness across the full agricultural cycle, from pre-harvest to post-harvest, without causing microbial resistance.
It supports plant growth, protects on-farm biological diversity, and can be applied in all growth stages: off-season, budding, development, fruiting, and even at the time of harvest. Moreover, GotaBlanca is also used post-harvest to help maintain the freshness of produce, supporting longer shelf life and reducing food waste between the farm and end consumers.
Strategic partnerships for global growth
The recent investment will enable ClearLeaf to accelerate its growth plans and expand into key international markets, with a strong focus on the United States. The company views this round not just as financial backing but as a strategic collaboration.
“We are delighted to welcome HFV and our other new investors to ClearLeaf,” said Lawrence Pratt, President of ClearLeaf. “The strategic alignment and complementary skills and experience that HFV brings to the table make them ideal partners for this critical period of growth in our company. We feel privileged to have them as our new partners.”
For HFV, the partnership is equally aligned with their investment strategy. “ClearLeaf’s mission aligns perfectly with HFV’s mandate of investing in startups that reduce food waste and promote human, environmental, and financial health,” said Ida Posner, Founder & Managing Partner of Hawthorne Food Ventures. “ClearLeaf is poised to have a transformational impact, and we are proud to be their partners in this next stage of growth.”
A promising future for sustainable agriculture
As ClearLeaf moves forward with its expansion, the startup stands out as a promising force in the future of sustainable agriculture. Its unique, non-toxic approach to crop protection, grounded in science, safety, and scalability; signals a new era for farmers seeking both profitability and long-term ecological impact.