Venture Program Winner, Only Plants, joins Brainforest Portfolio

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers face increasing challenges. Soil degradation, drought, and malnutrition threaten not only their livelihoods but also regional food security. At the same time, the global food system continues to overlook the potential of indigenous crops to address both climate and nutrition challenges.

At Brainforest, our mission is to accelerate nature-based solutions by supporting early-stage ventures through our Venture Program, held twice a year.

We are proud to welcome OnlyPlants Food as the winner of the Spring Venture Program 2025 and the newest member of our portfolio. Based in Kenya and led by founder Marie-Louise Wiegert, OnlyPlants is creating a new category of plant-based milk made from the Bambara groundnut. This drought-resilient, nitrogen-fixing crop restores soil health while delivering high levels of protein and nutrition.

From finance to the fields

OnlyPlants is more than a food company. It is a regenerative supply chain, rooted in local knowledge and designed for long-term climate and food resilience. Marie-Louise’s journey began far from agriculture. Originally from Germany, she worked in private equity in New York, focusing on ESG due diligence. But something began to shift.

“I was analyzing climate risks on paper but not doing much to really move the needle. I started to develop an urge to build something real and physical, something that could drive tangible, on-the-ground climate impact.”

That urge led her to Kenya, where she chose to start over and build a business grounded in purpose. Kenya felt like both the frontline of the climate crisis and the solution. Farmers face real climate pressure, yet they are also stewards of incredible biodiversity. Combined with a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, it felt like the right place to create something new.

While exploring Nairobi’s street markets, Marie stumbled upon woven baskets filled with an unfamiliar type of bean. The seller, Phanice, introduced her to the Bambara groundnut, a crop that had been grown by generations of women in her family.

“I realized there was something we’d been overlooking all along. Indigenous crops that are packed with nutrition, built for tough climates, and rooted in tradition, yet missing from modern food systems.”

This discovery became the foundation of OnlyPlants.

Regeneration in practice

OnlyPlants is pioneering a vertically integrated model that begins with seed biodiversity and ends with a nutritious product on the shelf. During product development, the team discovered that the variety of Bambara groundnut used significantly affects the flavor and color of the milk.

In partnership with Kenyan researchers, they collected and studied 266 Bambara varieties. These samples are now preserved in the national seed bank to safeguard genetic diversity and ensure long-term accessibility to any farmer in need. The next step is to reintroduce selected varieties through an outgrower program, as part of which OnlyPlants will provide smallholder farmers with high-quality  seeds and training in exchange for the right to purchase their harvest of Bambara groundnuts at the end of the season.

“Seed selection directly impacts yields, nutritional content, and drought tolerance. It is a critical lever for both climate and food system resilience.”

This seed-to-shelf approach ensures that farmers receive access to quality seeds, training, and income opportunities, while consumers benefit from a nutritious, locally produced product.

Brainforest’s role in scaling the vision

OnlyPlants won the pitch competition in June 2025 as part of the fifth Brainforest Venture Program cohort. Following the win, Brainforest welcomed OnlyPlants into its portfolio and is investing in the company to support its next stage of growth.

With Brainforest’s backing, OnlyPlants will scale its production facility in Nairobi and deepen its partnerships with smallholder farmers.

“Brainforest’s investment will allow us to purchase the equipment needed to scale up our Bambara milk production. It will also help us strengthen traceability and support more farmers through our outgrower trials.”

The partnership with Brainforest goes beyond funding. Over the course of the program, the OnlyPlants team worked closely with Brainforest mentors and experts. From defining their impact strategy to redesigning their website and setting up their data room, they made significant progress in just ten weeks.

“It’s incredibly hands-on and targeted. You’re not just going through a generic accelerator. You’re getting strategic, practical support from people who care deeply about scaling regenerative solutions the right way.”

Brainforest will continue working closely with OnlyPlants to support their future milestones and long-term success.

Looking ahead: What comes next

In August, OnlyPlants will begin new trials with farmers in Western Kenya, timed with the Bambara planting season. Upcoming milestones include their first large-scale production run, the expansion of their outgrower network, and the piloting of a traceability system that connects seeds to the final product.

Looking ahead, Marie has a bold vision:

“We want to turn OnlyPlants into a category-defining African food company, one that turns underutilized indigenous crops into affordable everyday staples. And instead of exporting raw materials, we are focused on building value-added supply chains within the region, keeping more value, jobs, and innovation in Africa.”

Their long-term ambition is to shift the global food system away from monocultures and extraction, and toward one that celebrates indigenous crops, empowers farmers, and restores ecosystems.

Final thoughts: Redefining restoration

For Marie, restoring food systems goes far beyond planting trees. It is about rethinking how we grow food, how we eat, and how we support the people who feed us.

“Restoration isn’t just about planting trees. It’s about restoring balance in our food systems, economies, and ecosystems.”

We are proud to welcome OnlyPlants as the seventh venture in the Brainforest portfolio. Their work reflects the kind of regenerative, scalable, and inclusive approach we believe is essential for the future of food and nature.

Marie shares a final word of encouragement:

“If you’re building a nature-positive business, I can’t recommend the Brainforest Venture Program enough. It’s incredibly hands-on and targeted. Only a handful of startups are selected, which means you get tailored support that’s hard to find elsewhere.”

Brainforest’s Venture Program is open twice a year, and we’re always looking for bold, nature-based startups like OnlyFood. If you're interested in joining our ecosystem of innovators, you can already sign up on our website to join the waiting list.