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CoverCress funding, valuation and investors
Gene-edited winter oilseed (pennycress) crop for low-carbon fuel feedstock and cover-crop benefits.
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Funding, valuation & investors
Answer-first snapshotLatest funding
Not publicly disclosed
Latest known valuation
Not publicly disclosed
Total disclosed equity funding
Not publicly disclosed
Excludes debt, grants, acquisitions, secondaries, and IPO proceeds.
Current status
acquired
Stage not recorded · St. Louis, MO
Overview
CoverCress Inc. (formerly Arvegenix) develops CoverCress™, a winter oilseed crop derived from field pennycress using breeding and gene editing. Farmers can grow it between corn and soybean seasons for revenue plus cover-crop ecosystem benefits; oil can feed renewable diesel and meal can go to animal feed. In August 2022 Bayer acquired a 65% majority ownership, with Bunge and Chevron U.S.A. retaining the remaining 35%. The company continues as a standalone entity headquartered in St. Louis. Early investors included Fulcrum Global Capital, Prelude Ventures, St. Louis Arch Angels, and others before the strategic control transaction.
Why CoverCress is interesting
St. Louis agtech exit signal: Bayer acquired a 65% majority stake (Aug 2022), with Bunge and Chevron retaining 35% — farm-to-fuel CoverCress™ winter oilseed commercialized from field pennycress.
Product & use cases
CoverCress™ seed and grain system enabling winter cash-crop production with oil for renewable fuels and meal for feed.
- Corn-soy farmers adding a winter cash cover crop
- Low carbon-intensity oil feedstock for renewable diesel
- High-protein animal feed meal from processing
Key facts
- Bayer acquired 65% majority stake (Aug 2022); Bunge and Chevron retain 35% (Bayer / BioSTL)
- Winter oilseed from gene-edited field pennycress for renewable fuel + cover-crop benefits
- Founded 2013 as Arvegenix by Monsanto alumni; St. Louis HQ
- Operates as standalone entity post majority acquisition
Funding history (newest first)
Majority acquisition (Bayer 65%)
2022-08- Bayer (lead)
- Bunge (participant)
- Chevron U.S.A. (participant)
Competitive landscape
Edge: Strategic ownership across Bayer (seed/traits), Bunge (crush), and Chevron (fuel) supply chain.
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Camelina / other winter oilseeds direct
Alternative intermediate oilseed crops.
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Soy/used cooking oil feedstock incumbent
Dominant renewable diesel feedstocks.
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Traditional cover crops (no grain revenue) alternative
Ecosystem benefits without cash grain.
Notable stories
- BioSTL noted the Bayer control acquisition as a successful exit for venture, angel, and economic-development investors while CCI continues operating independently.
Industries
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FAQs about CoverCress
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