# Bidra Innovation Ventures

> Bidra Innovation Ventures is a San Francisco-based corporate venture capital firm with a $250 million global investment mandate. Backed by OCP Group and connected to the UM6P research ecosystem, it invests in agriculture, industrials, mining, water, materials and energy, and helps portfolio companies engage industrial partners and develop pilot projects.

- **Founded:** 2022
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Yassine Cherkaoui (Founding member and CEO)
- **Products:** Direct venture investments, Industrial pilot and venture clienting support, Research and ecosystem connections, Strategic fund investments
- **Notable:** Expanded from a $50 million initial agriculture fund to a stated $250 million investment mandate., Led Niqo Robotics’ $13 million Series B announced in May 2024; the round amount is not Bidra’s individual cheque., CEO and founding member Yassine Cherkaoui named to Global Corporate Venturing’s 2026 Powerlist.

## Products & services

- **Direct venture investments** — Typically $500,000 to $5 million initially; leads or joins early-stage rounds and selectively considers later-stage opportunities with strong strategic fit.
- **Industrial pilot and venture clienting support** — Helps startups engage OCP strategic business units and connects them to technical expertise, talent, potential customers and partners.
- **Research and ecosystem connections** — Enables collaboration with UM6P’s ecosystem, including UM6P Ventures and INNOVX.
- **Strategic fund investments** — Investment mandate also includes strategic limited-partner positions in venture funds, according to Global Corporate Venturing’s June 2026 profile.

## Achievements

- Expanded from a $50 million initial agriculture fund to a stated $250 million investment mandate.
- Led Niqo Robotics’ $13 million Series B announced in May 2024; the round amount is not Bidra’s individual cheque.
- CEO and founding member Yassine Cherkaoui named to Global Corporate Venturing’s 2026 Powerlist.
- Principal Matt Foley named a Global Corporate Venturing Rising Star in March 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Bidra described its recently completed Ochre Summit in Marrakech with Builders VC and hosts OCP and UM6P on LinkedIn.
- **2026-10** — Portfolio company Travertine reported that a calcium carbonate co-product made with Arianne Phosphate passed testing in a Canadian building-material formulation; this is a portfolio development, not a disclosed Bidra financial return.
- **2026-08** — Bidra participated in TerraBlaster’s reported $12.5 million seed round; individual investment size was not stated.
- **2026-06** — Yassine Cherkaoui included in Global Corporate Venturing’s 2026 Powerlist.
- **2026-04** — Portfolio company AgroSpheres announced the opening of its first commercial biomanufacturing facility in Charlottesville.
- **2026-03** — Matt Foley included in Global Corporate Venturing’s 2026 Rising Stars.

## Links

- Website: https://www.bidra.vc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bidra-innovation-ventures/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/bidra-innovation-ventures
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27