Venture capitalists are making bigger bets on food start-ups

We are entering a renaissance in the food industry as VC money is pouring into start-ups like Unreal (pictured), a candy company based in Boston that claims to use 25 percent less sugar than most other candy. In the last year, venture capital firms in Silicon Valley have funneled about $350 million into food projects, and investment deals in the sector were 37 percent higher than the previous year, according to a recent report by CB Insights, a venture capital database. In 2008, that figure was less than $50 million. "Consumers are interested in sophisticated experiences that are beautifully delivered, which we've seen happen on the Web and with products like the iPhone" said Tony Conrad, a partner at True Ventures, which was an early investor in the coffee company Blue Bottle. "Now, we’re seeing that happen with food and beverage."