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§ Private Profile · Berlin, Germany
Technology company building digital products and ventures in the food technology space, founded in 2020 by Lara Hämmerle and Mark Jäger.
Hier Foods is a technology company focused on building digital products and ventures within the broad food technology sector, without a disclosed headquarters. The organization aims to innovate across various aspects of the food value chain, from primary production, supply chain optimization, distribution, and end-consumer experiences, by developing advanced digital solutions. Its core mission involves leveraging technology to address inefficiencies and foster innovation across the rapidly evolving global food ecosystem. While specific product offerings, user counts, and market penetration figures are not publicly disclosed, the company positions itself as a developer of foundational digital infrastructure for future food systems. Recognizable names associated with the company include co-founders Lara Hämmerle and Mark Jäger, who established the venture in 2020.
Hier Foods has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round.
Hier Foods has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hier Foods has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Seed in December 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2021 | $8M Seed | GUY Vidra | AngelList Syndicator, Kima Ventures, Molten Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Cristóbal Conde, Julius Göllner, Luca Ascani, Marc Mccabe, Philippe Teixeira DA Mota, Caterina Fake, Daniel Khachab, Scott Chacon, A Capital, Amplifier, Entrepreneur First, Pale Blue DOT, Speedinvest | Announced |
Hier Foods has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hier Foods's investors include Guy Vidra, AngelList Syndicator, Kima Ventures, Molten Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Cristóbal Conde, Julius Göllner, Luca Ascani, Marc McCabe, Philippe Teixeira da Mota, Caterina Fake, Daniel Khachab.
Hier Foods is a Berlin-based startup founded in 2020 that builds a digital infrastructure platform connecting local food suppliers with retailers, both digital and brick-and-mortar, to streamline procurement and enable decentralized supply chains.[1][2][3] It serves small-scale producers lacking digital tools and retailers seeking diverse local products, solving inefficiencies in local food trade—like fragmented communications, outdated processes, and food waste—that limit access to high-quality, sustainable goods.[1][2] The company raised €7 million in a 2021 seed round led by Collaborative Fund, with participation from Pale Blue Dot, Speedinvest, Amplifier Labs, A* Capital, and angels including GitHub co-founder Scott Chacon and Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, fueling European expansion and hiring.[1][2]
Lara Hämmerle (CEO) and Mark Jäger co-founded Hier Foods in 2020 after identifying deep inefficiencies in local food retail supply chains during their research.[1][2] Hämmerle noted that retailers stock far fewer exceptional local products than possible due to poor supplier-retailer relationships, while Jäger emphasized building resilient, decentralized systems less vulnerable to global disruptions.[1][2] Early traction came from spotting gaps for small suppliers—lacking networks, standards compliance, and digital integration—leading to a platform that integrates existing systems for seamless buying and selling.[2] The 2021 €7M seed round marked a pivotal moment, attracting top investors and validating their vision for sustainable local sourcing.[1][2]
Hier Foods rides the foodtech trend toward decentralized, sustainable supply chains amid rising demand for local sourcing, driven by climate concerns, food waste reduction, and vulnerability to global events like pandemics or trade shocks.[1][2] Timing aligns with Europe's agrifood tech boom—evident in funding for peers like fungal protein (Kynda, €3M in 2025) and cultivated seafood (BLUU, €16M in 2023)—where digital tools bridge traditional agriculture with modern retail.[4] Market forces favoring Hier include regulatory pushes for sustainability, consumer preference for diverse local products, and inefficiencies in legacy chains, positioning it to influence ecosystems by empowering small suppliers and diversifying retail offerings across Europe.[1][2][4]
Hier Foods is poised to scale its platform across Europe, leveraging seed capital for aggressive growth in user adoption and integrations amid foodtech's maturation.[2] Trends like AI-driven supply optimization, stricter ESG mandates, and localized food systems post-global disruptions will accelerate its momentum, potentially expanding into adjacent areas like traceability or B2C direct trade.[1][3][4] As it evolves, Hier could reshape urban food ecosystems, amplifying small producers' reach and reducing waste—echoing its founding mission to unlock more local products in everyday retail.[1][2]