FOOD FUNDED

Albert Straus has been a leader in sustainable organic farming practices for many decades. He is a strong advocate for organic, non-GMO dairy production, environmental stewardship, and family farms. In 1994, when he converted his family farm to organic - the first organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River - he founded the creamery in the same year, and it became the first 100% certified organic creamery in the United States.

Albert aims on having his dairy farm become carbon neutral in 2023 and is extending the carbon-neutral farming model to Straus Family Creamery’s supplier farms. Albert has been recognized internationally for his substantial environmental accomplishments.

Alisa Knapp is the founder of Grows Together, a consulting practice building markets for a greater diversity of food crops. She grew up at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Northern California and has spent her career working across CPG, food service, and fine dining to connect regenerative agriculture with real commercial demand that moves markets.

Andy Naja-Riese is CEO of AIM, leading programs, partnerships, and advocacy to advance equitable food systems. Andy is a leading capital campaign to build a Center for Food & Agriculture, a new permanent outdoor home for the Marin Farmers Market and a Food Innovation Hub.

With 18 years in public health and food policy, he previously worked at USDA and now serves on multiple local and national advisory boards. He helped secure over $1B for sustainable agriculture and food access in California.

Arno Hesse is dedicated to financing a sustainable and equitable future with thriving food systems and regenerative technologies.

As a co-leader and investor with Slow Money Northern California, Arno has led multiple investments in food businesses, with a focus on climate change and social justice. Previously, he was Executive Vice President for Retail Markets at MUFG Union Bank, now U.S. Bank.

Colleen is a lifelong advocate of improving health of people and our planet through better food. She has worked on the market level and in public policy at the local, state, and federal level. Colleen's goal is to leverage the power or consumer demand to rapidly clean our food system and planet.

She launched the idea of Purity Verification of agricultural toxins (pesticides, heavy metals) in her company ZEGO (B Corp and Woman Owned) in 2019 both to provide transparently clean food to consumers and to educate them on how to demand Purity Verification from other brands.

Colleen is in the process of purchasing a small gluten free organic grain mill in Montana to create a new business model called a Collaborative Integrated Value Chain (CIVC). CIVC is a for profit collaborative of farmers, the mill, brands, and consumers working together  to bring better pricing and ecosystem health to all.

Cynthia Billops, EdD, is a seasoned program architect with 20+ years supporting under-resourced communities; combining equity-centered capital access, grantmaking, and scalable social impact systems. She has led high-stakes initiatives at mission-driven organizations — growing membership 400%, deploying virtual engagement platforms, and managing budgets up to $15M.

A systems thinker and community builder, Cynthia translates complex community needs into sustainable, data-driven solutions that create lasting generational wealth and belonging.

David cultivates regenerative financial models for tomorrow's economy — aligning investment with entrepreneurs who measure success by their capacity to regenerate ecosystems and communities.

Before founding DAF Capital Partners, he co-created the Mission Driven Finance Regenerative Harvest Fund.

David’s work is focused on an industry-wide commitment to agroecological social, environmental, and climate impact investing and asset management.

Dianna Tremblay is the founder of Growthworks Consulting and a strategist and program architect with more than a decade of experience helping underserved entrepreneurs grow, become investment-ready, and access the right capital at the right time. She has helped prepare entrepreneurs who have collectively raised more than $30 million in capital.

Through Growthworks, Dianna partners with entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders on program design, capital strategy, and the strategic thinking that helps founders figure out what's actually going to move them forward and who they need to meet to get there.

Executive Director of the Investors Circle angel group, which was formed in 1992 and is focused on social and/or environmental impact investments in the US.

He is Co-Founder and Managing Director at VectorPoint Ventures, a seed through early growth stage advisory firm and fund manager focused on life sciences, health and clean technology-focused impact investments in North America. He also moderates cleantech syndication for the Angel Capital Association and is a member of the E8 and Keiretsu NW/Rockies angels.

Elliot Begoun is a 30-year industry veteran, author, podcast host, founder of TIG Brands, and champion of Tardigrades. TIG Brands supports a community of entrepreneurs interested in building nimble, capital-efficient, resilient brands that become Tardigrades, not Unicorns. Learn more about TIG Brands’ programs here and catch Elliot at FoodBytes, the Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute, and the Natural Products Business School. Tune into the TIG Talks podcast and find Elliot’s articles in publications such as The Huffington Post, SmartBrief, and New Hope.

Gary is a leader in building social impact businesses bringing together years of experience in business strategy & development, marketing, operations and management.

He is a proven leader who produces successful outcomes, resulting in several awards (including Inc 500), raising over $12 million, and the acquisition of several companies.

Grace A.  Belangia is a nationally recognized entrepreneurship ecosystem builder, speaker, mentor, and startup judge. She is the cofounder of Make Startups Institute and has spent more than a decade helping entrepreneurs access the networks, resources, and opportunities needed to grow.

Grace works with founders, investors, nonprofits, and community leaders to strengthen innovation ecosystems and expand economic opportunity. She is honored to serve as a mentor and judge for Food Funded, supporting emerging food and agriculture entrepreneurs.

Sunday Supper is a premium plant-forward frozen Italian food brand reimagining nostalgic comfort food with bold flavor and clean ingredients. We create indulgent Italian-inspired products designed to appeal to both plant-based and mainstream consumers, proving that comfort food can be delicious, convenient, and better for people and the planet.

Jenny Shears-Teixeira is an award-winning communications and marketing leader. Her expertise in creating breakthrough communications that connect brands and consumers can be seen in her work in launching Surface magazine, Beats headphones, Target’s Design for All campaign, Adobe’s first physical product, the Ember temperature-perfect mug, and more.

Jesús Salas is the Investment Principal at ICA Fund, where he leads efforts to provide patient, flexible capital to wealth-generating, growing businesses across the Bay Area.

Driven by a commitment to culturally conscious investing, Jesús leverages his background in venture capital and impact investing to support overlooked founders and unlock long-term economic mobility.

Recognized chef, published cookbook author, New York Times recipe contributor, CPG founder, and advocate for healthy food access in her community.

She went on to found one of LA's most acclaimed Latin food businesses, driven by a mission to create delicious, plant-forward food rooted in Latine tradition and made for everyone's table.

Certified Organic and Regenerative farmer. Food science, safety,  production background. English/Spanish proficiency.

Kevin Bayuk works at the intersection of ecology and economy focused on meeting human needs while enhancing conditions for all life. He is a partner with LIFT Economy, formerly a Senior Financial Fellow at Project Drawdown, a co-founder of the Force for Good Fund, the Regenerative Agricutlure Investor Network (RAIN), and the Urban Permaculture Institute.

Kevin also serves on the Board of Directors for the Purpose Pledge. You can hear Kevin on Next Economy Now podcast.

Kumar Agarwal left a 15-year career in software engineering to build Choco Del Mar, an award-winning craft chocolate company from the ground up.

By blending technology, art, and chocolate, he is creating a playful, approachable brand that makes high-quality chocolate more welcoming and fun.

I lead and collaborate on process improvements for the manufacturing side of the business as well as develop ways to create a healthy and respectful workspace where cultural differences and diversity of experiences are celebrated and respected.

As an Inclusion Strategist I work to bring people together when and where I can and cultivate respect and understanding when their position is fixed.

Bio -  LaNeisha Hodo founded the Farm Stand to increase food access in underserved communities through sustainable, community-driven solutions.

She is currently leading a composting hub initiative with California State University, Dominguez Hills focused on waste diversion, environmental sustainability, and supporting local organizations through resource recovery efforts.

Lara is a founder in the OSC Venture Fund,  J.E.D.I Collaborative and the Climate Collaborative, projects of OSC (One Step Closer) and SFTA.

Lara was the CEO of LightFull Foods, VP Retail Sales & Marketing at Numi Organic Tea, and VP of Marketing at the Balance Bar Company, where she helped drive sales growth from $10M to $110M and sell it to Kraft Foods.

Lara has spoken on food trends, sustainability, and innovation at Natural Products Expo West, So Cap, SXSW Eco, Zero Waste Summit, SFTA, Bioneers, Net Impact, the Brower Center, and Esca Bona.

Les Szabo is Chief Strategy & Impact Officer at Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America. He joined Dr. Bronner’s in 2013. In his current role, Les guides company-wide strategic planning and leads initiatives that strengthen organizational capabilities and drive sustainable growth.

He oversees four core functions: Organizational Planning & Project Management, Philanthropy, International Markets, and E-Commerce. Les also serves on Dr. Bronner’s Board of Directors.

Lisa Chatham is a CIA-trained chef, holistic nutrition counselor, and food-as-medicine advocate whose career centers on creating food at the intersection of nourishment and pleasure. Over 25 years across food and holistic nutrition, she has launched 46+ products and built a prior food company to $4M in revenue. Today she is founder and CEO of Cookma, where the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda meets modern microbiome science in a product line made from simple ingredients that bring healing and comfort — built on a deep reverence for the healing power of food and a commitment to being in service to Life.

Lisa Curtis is the Founder & CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, the leading brand pioneering the sustainable superfood moringa. Moringa is a protein-rich leafy green, more nutritious than kale, with anti-inflammatory benefits rivaling turmeric. Kuli Kuli’s superfood powders and snacks are sustainably sourced from African women and other small farmers around the world and sold in 11,000 U.S. stores.

Lisa began working on Kuli Kuli while serving in the Peace Corps and has grown it into a multi-million dollar social enterprise.

Mai Nguyen grows climate change-adapted heirloom grains in Sonoma County, and organizes farmers for democratic ownership of seed, land, and labor.

MARIA FINN is the founder of Flora & Fungi Adventures and The Institute for Ecosystem Based Living that produces pop-up events combining science, art, ecology, along with regenerative and wild food.

Green Thumb Farms is a community focused farm dedicated to producing healthy, locally grown food products. Our mission is to create nutritious, culturally relevant food while strengthening local food systems and supporting community wellness. Our work combines farming, education, and food justice initiatives.

Matt Cohen is the co-founder and CEO of SIMPLi, the leading regenerative organic pantry staples brand helping people cook simply, eat well, and feel good.

With a background in finance, operations, and supply chain from Fannie Mae and Choice Hotels International, Matt leads strategy, operations, and sustainability at SIMPLi, working closely with farming partners across 13 countries to help scale a more resilient and transparent global food system.

Matt Jorgensen is a community entrepreneur working at the intersection of local food, community ownership, and place-based economic development. He is the founder of ReVillage and co-founder of Graton Station, currently focused in West Sonoma County. With Graton Station we are revitalizing an old firehouse into a food hub, next to an old gas station site we are turning into a town square.

Over the past two decades, Matt has helped launch ventures advancing regenerative food economies, shared ownership, and local resilience, including the movement to legalize home restaurants nationwide (MEHKOs).

Merril Gilbert is a Board Member of Slow Money NorCal and CEO of Curious Futures, where she helps growth-stage founders across food, health, technology, consumer goods, and climate get investor-ready and scale with intention. She is the author of Fired to Founder and a recognized voice in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Michael Bush is the founder of GrowthWays Partners and creator of the Guardrailing® Framework. He helps founders, executives, and investors make better decisions, build stronger organizations, and create lasting value.

Over his career, he has participated in raising more than $200 million in growth capital and strategic transactions representing more than $325 million in enterprise value. Michael is the author of Guardrailing® and a frequent speaker on leadership, entrepreneurship, and business growth.

Patrick Wyman has 29 years of experience in the natural foods industry, and 19 with Whole Foods Market. He started with the company in a store support role for the grocery department, moved through grocery leadership, and now oversees the Northern California region’s local purchasing program and local vendor partnerships. In this role Patrick helps guide vendors through the logistics of bringing a product to market including topics like packaging, distribution, financing, and compliance with company and governmental standards. He’s passionate about the environment; professionally he participates in Whole Foods Market’s Green Mission leadership team, and spends plenty of time off work hiking and skiing.

Renata's career has been focused in philanthropy, community relations and the impact ecosystem - both from the investment and entrepreneurship side. She has directed community programs at Social Venture Circle and Investors' Circle, and for more than 20 years served in various leadership roles at The Hitachi Foundation, focused on using the tools of business to advance economic opportunities for under-represented communities.

Sadie Scheffer is an artist, an MIT drop out, and an accidental baker who learned the art of gluten-free baking to impress her college crush. Today she is the CEO of Bread SRSLY, makers of certified gluten-free sourdough bread in Oakland, CA.

Sam Mogannam is the second-generation owner of the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses, a values-driven B Corporation, whose mission is Creating Community through Food.

Under his direction, Bi-Rite has grown to include three neighborhood markets (with a 4th  Bi-Rite Market slated to open in 2027 and Sunnydale Market, a non-profit grocery store, also slated to open in 2027), a creamery, a catering division and 18 Reasons, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the community with the knowledge and creativity they need to buy, cook and eat good food every day.

Founder of Hey!Hunger and former operations executive with leadership experience at Apple Inc., Visa Inc., and F5, Inc., I am building a mission-driven food company inspired by my Indian heritage and personal health journey. Hey!Hunger creates certified organic, plant-based Tikka Veggie Patties made from vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds to make healthy eating easier and more satisfying. My goal is to expand access to nutritious, culturally inspired foods while building a scalable and sustainable business.

Stephen brings a decade of focus on regenerative food systems, having invested, studied and collaborated across diverse categories of food and agriculture. His perspectives were shaped by a systems approach, the teachings of others, observations in exploring a thesis for how our food system is evolving, and a belief that all stakeholders are interdependent.

Since 2017, Stephen has served as the CEO & CIO of Meyer Family Enterprises, an entrepreneurial impact-focused single-family office in the Napa Valley, where he oversees entities that include direct investments, real estate and farming. He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agribusiness.

Susan Hartman is an avid athlete who was in search of a clean label drink she could enjoy after yoga or a surf session to hydrate and recover.  With a background in natural products and innovation (Unilever, Campbell’s, eos) she combined purpose with passion to build a regenerative organic brand on a mission to help people feel better and live well through plant-powered modern remedies.  Susan has a BA from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Cornell University.

Tracey Mason is a renowned beverage innovator, serial entrepreneur, advisor, and zero food waste champion. She doesn’t just think outside the box, she breaks it down and recycles it, pairing bold creativity with a strong commitment to sustainability.

Drawing on extensive corporate leadership experience, Mason combines financial discipline with a passion for addressing emerging trends and challenges. In 2024, she set out on a mission to make a meaningful impact on the world. From there, multiple award-winning Vodka by TULAR was born.

WavenDean Fernandes is a seasoned branding and marketing professional with over 40 years of experience. He draws inspiration from his Hawaiian heritage, integrating creativity, strategy, and human connection in all his endeavors.