Terviva

Oakland, CA, USA Agtech / Food Private

Terviva is an Oakland, California-based agtech and food company commercializing the pongamia tree (Pongamia pinnata / Millettia pinnata), a hardy nitrogen-fixing legume tree that produces high-yielding, oil- and protein-rich beans on degraded or marginal agricultural land. Founded in 2010 by Naveen Sikka, Maggie Kavalaris, Sudhir Rani and others, the company has built an integrated supply chain spanning tree genetics, planting and grower partnerships, and downstream processing of pongamia beans into three product streams: bioenergy feedstock (crude pongamia oil for renewable diesel and SAF), animal feed protein, and food ingredients sold under the Ponova brand (a buttery culinary oil and a soluble plant protein positioned as a sustainable alternative to palm and soy). Terviva has partnered with Danone on regenerative pongamia plant proteins, with Chevron Renewable Energy Group and Mitsubishi Corporation on biofuel feedstock, and with Nomura on sustainable finance. Following challenges in scaling food ingredients, the company signaled a near-term pivot to prioritize biofuels and feed while continuing to develop human food applications.

Overview

Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Founded

2010

Employees

51–200

Total Funding

$74M

4 rounds

Funding

Total raised $74M across 4 rounds

Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Last updated 06-25-2026

Latest Round

Type

Series E

Date

January 10, 2025

Amount

Not disclosed

Valuation

Lead Investors

Not disclosed
DateRoundAmount RaisedValuationLead Investors
January 10, 2025 Series E Not disclosed Not disclosed
October 15, 2024 Strategic / Corporate (Chevron REG) Not disclosed Chevron Renewable Energy Group
May 2021 Series D (second close / extension) $54M Not named as single lead

Leadership

  • Naveen Sikka

    Founder & CEO

  • Sudhir Rani

    Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer

  • Maggie Kavalaris

    Founder & Chief Legal Officer

  • Marc Diaz

    Chief Commercialization Officer

  • Jim Astwood

    Chief Technology Officer

  • David Harry

    SVP, Tree R&D

Competitors

Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.

  • Benson Hill

    Crop genetics and food-tech company developing soy and yellow pea-based oils and proteins as sustainable alternatives, overlapping with Terviva's plant protein and oil ingredient positioning.

  • Plantible Foods

    Develops Rubi protein (RuBisCO-based) from lemna (water lentils) for use as a functional plant protein ingredient, competing with Terviva's pongamia protein in food applications.

  • Shiru

    AI-driven discovery platform for novel functional plant proteins for food ingredient applications, competing on plant-protein ingredient innovation.

  • Checkerspot

    Microalgae-based oils and materials company producing novel oils as sustainable alternatives to palm and other tropical oils, overlapping with Terviva's Ponova oil positioning.

  • C16 Biosciences

    Microbial fermentation company producing palm oil alternatives, competing with Terviva's pongamia oil as a sustainable replacement for palm and tropical oils.

  • MycoTechnology

    Mushroom-fermentation-based food ingredient company producing plant proteins and flavor modulators, competing in the alternative-protein ingredient market.

Terviva Investment FAQ

Public status and buying access

No. Terviva is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in Terviva shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that Terviva will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.

Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy Terviva shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.

Buyers interested in buying Terviva shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.

Valuation and funding

Terviva's latest disclosed funding round was a Series E round in January 10, 2025. The round raised approximately Not disclosed. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete.

Terviva has raised approximately $74M in disclosed funding across 4 rounds. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track Terviva's funding history alongside private-market activity where available.

Terviva's disclosed investors include Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Not named as single lead and Not named in coverage. Investor lists are based on public reporting, company announcements, and collected funding-round data, and may be incomplete. Participation in a prior funding round does not mean those investors are currently buying or selling shares. On SetterVC, eligible users can review Terviva's funding history, valuation history, and private-market activity alongside other venture-backed companies.

Market context

Terviva's most-cited competitors include Benson Hill, Plantible Foods, Shiru, Checkerspot, C16 Biosciences and MycoTechnology. Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.

Secondary-market demand for Terviva shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.

Selling and transaction mechanics

Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.

Yes, current and former Terviva employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.

A Terviva secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify Terviva through a share transfer notice or similar process. If Terviva or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.

In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.

Risk, diligence, and investor caution

Buying Terviva shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.

Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.

SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Before buying Terviva shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.

SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

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