Nadav Berger » PeakBridge VC

Third-generation food industrialist and a FoodTech visionary

Nadav Berger is a Founding General Partner of PeakBridge. A third-generation food industrialist, he moved from industry into entrepreneurship, building companies across food applications, marketing, and distribution before co-founding FoodLab in 2008 — an innovation hub focused on food systems development. That work led directly to FoodLab Capital, one of the earliest dedicated FoodTech seed funds, and ultimately to PeakBridge in 2018. Nadav sits on the boards of Tastewise, InsideTracker, and Win-Win. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Tel Aviv University and an EMBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

What’s your go-to recipe in life and in the kitchen?

I stopped eating red meat about 18 months ago due to environmental concerns. Being the foodie that I am, it was no easy decision. Although my food preferences have evolved as a result of this change, the meat-lover in me will never be able to give up a good chicken schnitzel. When I make it in the kitchen, it’s about finding the perfect balance between the thickness of the chicken breast and the amount of breading used to coat it.

In life, I like to think of this ratio needed to be maintained as substance to style, where the chicken is the substance and the coating is the style. While style is the manner of doing or presenting, substance represents the concept or technology behind the venture. In my opinion, substance needs to far outweigh style. But just like that schnitzel, substance in the absence of style will not succeed. The two go hand in hand, and startups and businesspeople who have achieved the right proportions are likely to succeed.

What do you look for in a startup?

Beyond traditional metrics, I like to be confident that the leadership – specifically the founders and CEO – are able to raise money. Regardless of whether it is based on past fundraising experience, or the ability to hire the right talent, a CEO needs to have this as a priority if they are to grow.

What advice do you live by?

As a rule of thumb, I only do business with people – be it huge investors or small startups – after having a culinary experience with them. This can be as small as going out for a coffee or as big as a group dinner on a business trip. There is no better way to gain a glimpse into someone’s values and background as by sharing food and laughter with them!