A homegrown startup is raising funds as it moves to a new downtown headquarters.
Top Seedz, which makes crackers and seed products, recently closed a $750,000 funding round, based on U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The business, a former 43North grand prize winner, is in the process of moving from Cheektowaga to its new headquarters at 101 Oak St. downtown.
The round was backed entirely by Western New York Impact Investment Fund, a local organization that balances social impact and financial sense.
"(I'm) very excited about this partnership," CEO Rebecca Brady told Business First. "Love not only the Buffalo connection but also the alignment of the social impact."
As of last month, the startup’s manufacturing space, which takes up most of its 35,000-square-foot facility, was about 90% ready. The remaining office portion just needed furniture.
Inside Top Seedz
The site will allow the company to expand its production capacity by 600%. As the business continues to expand, it will be able to add to the space and upgrade its power infrastructure. Eventually production will be boosted 10 to 15 times its current production levels.
“And that’s just what we can do in terms of crackers,” Brady told Business First in January. “But there’s so much more capacity with other products.”
The funding will continue to fuel the startup’s expansion into its facility and as it grows its retail footprint, based on a press release.
Top Seedz, which employs about 42, was founded in 2017.
The business has consistently grown sales over the last few years, from about $3.2 million in 2022 to $5.3 million in 2023. The business projects revenue this year to be north of $10 million, according to COO William Brady.
Top Seedz is the second local company to acknowledge a private, growth-oriented round of funding this year. The list includes TeleSafety ($230,000) and Top Seedz ($750,000).
