Food Innovation & Investment Summit 2024

Food Innovation & Investment Summit 2023

The Food Innovation & Investment Summit returns May 2024

Register Your Interest in our 2024 Event
San Francisco
May 2024

“1st class all the way! You created an environment in which all of us in attendance felt like friends by the end of the show and that is something special! ”

Karyn Knox, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer, Educated Choice Program

2023 Advisory Board

Author:

Mukesh Kasargode

VP R&D
PepsiCo

Mukesh Kasargode

VP R&D
PepsiCo

Author:

Greg Hocking

VP Global R&D New Innovation Territories
Mars

Greg Hocking

VP Global R&D New Innovation Territories
Mars

Author:

Maureen Rinkunas

Independent
Previous Director of Open Innovation at Corbion Ventures

Maureen Rinkunas

Independent
Previous Director of Open Innovation at Corbion Ventures

Author:

Chuck Templeton

Managing Director
S2G Ventures

Chuck Templeton

Managing Director
S2G Ventures

Author:

Andrew Ive

Founder & Managing General Partner
Big Idea Ventures

Andrew Ive

Founder & Managing General Partner
Big Idea Ventures

Author:

Celeste Holz-Schietinger

VP Product Innovation
Impossible Foods

Celeste Holz-Schietinger

VP Product Innovation
Impossible Foods

2023 Selection Committee

Author:

Gwen Cheni

Partner
Khosla Ventures

Gwen is a Partner on the Investment Team at Khosla Ventures.

She was previously a Partner at IndieBio/SOSV covering bio and AI. Prior to IndieBio, Gwen was the founder and Managing Partner of Galapagos Ventures, an early stage venture fund focused on the intersection of biology and AI/ML. She was an early investor in SyntheX, Intrinsic Medicine, and Huue. Prior to Galapagos Ventures, she was a Director at StudioX (machine learning venture studio funded by Shell and Boston Consulting Group) and a Venture Partner at Fusion Fund (early stage fund focused on AI/ML, robotics and devices). Gwen was on the Board of Advisors at Singularity University Ventures, an impact-focused accelerator, and helped launch their first batch of startups in the Nordics.

Prior to venture, Gwen spent eighteen years on Wall Street investing in public equities, started her career at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and was promoted to portfolio manager at a $300 million innovation-themed hedge fund.

Gwen is the author of a chapter in a Physics textbook on lasers, second author on two publications in immuno-oncology, and co-owner of a patent on magnetic resonance. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Gwen received her bachelor’s degree in economics (math track) with a minor in computer science electrical engineering from Yale University. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago. Gwen also spent two years at UCSF researching immunotherapy for glioblastomas, and was second author on two publications.

Gwen Cheni

Partner
Khosla Ventures

Gwen is a Partner on the Investment Team at Khosla Ventures.

She was previously a Partner at IndieBio/SOSV covering bio and AI. Prior to IndieBio, Gwen was the founder and Managing Partner of Galapagos Ventures, an early stage venture fund focused on the intersection of biology and AI/ML. She was an early investor in SyntheX, Intrinsic Medicine, and Huue. Prior to Galapagos Ventures, she was a Director at StudioX (machine learning venture studio funded by Shell and Boston Consulting Group) and a Venture Partner at Fusion Fund (early stage fund focused on AI/ML, robotics and devices). Gwen was on the Board of Advisors at Singularity University Ventures, an impact-focused accelerator, and helped launch their first batch of startups in the Nordics.

Prior to venture, Gwen spent eighteen years on Wall Street investing in public equities, started her career at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and was promoted to portfolio manager at a $300 million innovation-themed hedge fund.

Gwen is the author of a chapter in a Physics textbook on lasers, second author on two publications in immuno-oncology, and co-owner of a patent on magnetic resonance. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Gwen received her bachelor’s degree in economics (math track) with a minor in computer science electrical engineering from Yale University. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago. Gwen also spent two years at UCSF researching immunotherapy for glioblastomas, and was second author on two publications.

Author:

Rahul Ray

Senior Director
Tyson Ventures

Rahul Ray

Senior Director
Tyson Ventures

Author:

Ephraim Lindenbaum

Managing Director
Advance Ventures

Ephraim Lindenbaum

Managing Director
Advance Ventures

Author:

Sarah Williams

Partner
Rich Products Ventures

Sarah Williams is a Partner at Rich Products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has spent the past 25 years working with food companies as an operator, consultant and investor. In 2003, she was the first hire at f’real foods, a frozen blended beverage company, and held several key leadership roles while building the business from start-up through growth to a successful acquisition by Rich Products in 2012. After a transition period, Sarah worked with the founding team of Food System 6 accelerator to stand-up and run its first entrepreneur cohort focused on health, equity and sustainability in the food system. In 2017, she returned to Rich Products to join the newly established Rich products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has an MBA from Duke University and a BA from Princeton University.

Sarah Williams

Partner
Rich Products Ventures

Sarah Williams is a Partner at Rich Products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has spent the past 25 years working with food companies as an operator, consultant and investor. In 2003, she was the first hire at f’real foods, a frozen blended beverage company, and held several key leadership roles while building the business from start-up through growth to a successful acquisition by Rich Products in 2012. After a transition period, Sarah worked with the founding team of Food System 6 accelerator to stand-up and run its first entrepreneur cohort focused on health, equity and sustainability in the food system. In 2017, she returned to Rich Products to join the newly established Rich products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has an MBA from Duke University and a BA from Princeton University.

Author:

Ashley Hartman

Managing Partner
Bluestein Ventures

Ashley Hartman

Managing Partner
Bluestein Ventures

Author:

Melissa Gordon

Principal
Acre Venture Partners

Melissa Gordon

Principal
Acre Venture Partners

Author:

Roxanne Tully

Investor
PIVA Capital

Roxanne Tully

Investor
PIVA Capital

Author:

Nate Crosser

Principal
Blue Horizon Corporation

Nate Crosser

Principal
Blue Horizon Corporation

OUR COMMUNITY

TESTIMONIALS & SUCCESS STORIES

2023 Innovation Showcase

Our Innovation Showcase is back! 

Focused on highlighting disruptive emerging innovations within the food sector, eight applicants will be hand-picked by our Selection Committee, and benefit from presenting in front of our audience of industry leaders and investors.

Applicants can relate to any aspect of Function Ingredients, Alternative Animal Products, Biotech, Fermentation, Enabling Tech, Sustainable Ingredients and/or Products. Eight of these applicants will then be selected by our Selection Committee members to present their company and products at the Summit, followed by a live Q&A from both our investor panel and audience.

Following the showcase, audience members will select their favorite start-up in a live vote, and the winner of the Food Innovation & Investment Summit showcase will be crowned ‘Audience Choice Winner’.

We're very excited to announce that the Audience Choice Winner will receive a 5-hour consultation session with Christopher Bryant who leads the ECP Living Lab research, courtesy of the Educated Choices Program. The runner-up will receive a 3-hour consultation session.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2023

Apply Now

PREVIOUS SPEAKERS

 

Mukesh Kasargode

VP R&D
PepsiCo

Mukesh Kasargode

VP R&D
PepsiCo

Mukesh Kasargode

VP R&D
PepsiCo
 

Karen Ivanis-Rogers

Sr. Director Business Ventures
Albertsons

Karen Ivanis-Rogers

Sr. Director Business Ventures
Albertsons

Karen Ivanis-Rogers

Sr. Director Business Ventures
Albertsons
 

Alan Kleinerman

VP & Head of Disruption
The Kraft Heinz Company

Alan Kleinerman serves as Vice President and Head of Disruption at Kraft Heinz overseeing innovation, new ventures and partnerships to deliver disruptive growth across the company’s biggest bets in North America. With a wide-ranging career, Alan leverages his unique combination of skills in breakthrough innovation, data-driven marketing and investment banking to discover growth opportunities, unlock big data, and drive forward the company’s transformation.

Alan Kleinerman

VP & Head of Disruption
The Kraft Heinz Company

Alan Kleinerman

VP & Head of Disruption
The Kraft Heinz Company

Alan Kleinerman serves as Vice President and Head of Disruption at Kraft Heinz overseeing innovation, new ventures and partnerships to deliver disruptive growth across the company’s biggest bets in North America. With a wide-ranging career, Alan leverages his unique combination of skills in breakthrough innovation, data-driven marketing and investment banking to discover growth opportunities, unlock big data, and drive forward the company’s transformation.

He began his career at Morgan Stanley where he focused on strategy and portfolio transformation. Following business school, Alan kicked off his marketing career at Reckitt Benckiser in a variety of roles, including leading complete relaunch of the Enfamil brand resulting in sales and share growth for the brand. He then joined Mars Wrigley where he deepened his focus on innovation, serving as Senior Director of Health & Wellness Innovation & Strategy.

 

Celeste Holz-Schietinger

VP Product Innovation
Impossible Foods

Celeste Holz-Schietinger

VP Product Innovation
Impossible Foods

Celeste Holz-Schietinger

VP Product Innovation
Impossible Foods
 

Craig Wilson

VP, QA & Food Safety
Costco

Craig Wilson

VP, QA & Food Safety
Costco

Craig Wilson

VP, QA & Food Safety
Costco
 

Greg McParland

Senior Investment Manager
DSM Venturing

Greg McParland

Senior Investment Manager
DSM Venturing

Greg McParland

Senior Investment Manager
DSM Venturing
 

Carl Bachmann

President & COO
Smashburger

Carl Bachmann

President & COO
Smashburger

Carl Bachmann

President & COO
Smashburger
 

Gwen Cheni

Partner
Khosla Ventures

Gwen is a Partner on the Investment Team at Khosla Ventures.

Gwen Cheni

Partner
Khosla Ventures

Gwen Cheni

Partner
Khosla Ventures

Gwen is a Partner on the Investment Team at Khosla Ventures.

She was previously a Partner at IndieBio/SOSV covering bio and AI. Prior to IndieBio, Gwen was the founder and Managing Partner of Galapagos Ventures, an early stage venture fund focused on the intersection of biology and AI/ML. She was an early investor in SyntheX, Intrinsic Medicine, and Huue. Prior to Galapagos Ventures, she was a Director at StudioX (machine learning venture studio funded by Shell and Boston Consulting Group) and a Venture Partner at Fusion Fund (early stage fund focused on AI/ML, robotics and devices). Gwen was on the Board of Advisors at Singularity University Ventures, an impact-focused accelerator, and helped launch their first batch of startups in the Nordics.

Prior to venture, Gwen spent eighteen years on Wall Street investing in public equities, started her career at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and was promoted to portfolio manager at a $300 million innovation-themed hedge fund.

Gwen is the author of a chapter in a Physics textbook on lasers, second author on two publications in immuno-oncology, and co-owner of a patent on magnetic resonance. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Yale University School of Medicine.

Gwen received her bachelor’s degree in economics (math track) with a minor in computer science electrical engineering from Yale University. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago. Gwen also spent two years at UCSF researching immunotherapy for glioblastomas, and was second author on two publications.

 

Abigail Storms

Global Head of Speciality Sweeteners
Tate and Lyle

Abigail Storms

Global Head of Speciality Sweeteners
Tate and Lyle

Abigail Storms

Global Head of Speciality Sweeteners
Tate and Lyle
 

Lucho Lopez-May

CEO
The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Lucho Lopez-May

CEO
The Kraft Heinz Not Company

Lucho Lopez-May

CEO
The Kraft Heinz Not Company
 

Nicky Quinn

VP of Marketing
Aleph

Nicky Quinn

VP of Marketing
Aleph

Nicky Quinn

VP of Marketing
Aleph
 

David Tze

CEO
NovoNutrients

David Tze

CEO
NovoNutrients

David Tze

CEO
NovoNutrients
 

Claire Schlemme

Founder
Renewal Mill

Claire Schlemme is an ardent environmentalist who saw a need to fix a broken food system in order to protect the planet. Claire’s lifelong interest in food and nature began to intertwine when she was diagnosed with cancer in her early 20s. This experience made her passionate about understanding the links between food and health, both of our environment and our own bodies. She co-founded Boston’s first organic juice company with the aim to connect local farmers and city-dwellers through nutritious and delicious foods.

Claire Schlemme

Founder
Renewal Mill

Claire Schlemme

Founder
Renewal Mill

Claire Schlemme is an ardent environmentalist who saw a need to fix a broken food system in order to protect the planet. Claire’s lifelong interest in food and nature began to intertwine when she was diagnosed with cancer in her early 20s. This experience made her passionate about understanding the links between food and health, both of our environment and our own bodies. She co-founded Boston’s first organic juice company with the aim to connect local farmers and city-dwellers through nutritious and delicious foods. This experience exposed her to two primary challenges: food waste and the lack of affordable nutrition. Committed to finding solutions at the intersection of food, sustainability, and accessible nutrition, Claire launched Renewal Mill. Prior to diving into entrepreneurship, Claire was an environmental consultant at Industrial Economics, Inc. in Cambridge, MA. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University.

 

Kat Amrhein

Lean Cuisine Marketing Manager
Nestlè

Kat Amrhein

Lean Cuisine Marketing Manager
Nestlè

Kat Amrhein

Lean Cuisine Marketing Manager
Nestlè
 

Veronica Fil

Co-Founder & CEO
Grounded Foods

Veronica Fil is a former behavioral economist; an author; and the co-founder of Grounded Foods Co.-- a company that creates high-nutrition dairy alternatives from one of the world's most sustainable superfoods, hemp. 

Veronica Fil

Co-Founder & CEO
Grounded Foods

Veronica Fil

Co-Founder & CEO
Grounded Foods

Veronica Fil is a former behavioral economist; an author; and the co-founder of Grounded Foods Co.-- a company that creates high-nutrition dairy alternatives from one of the world's most sustainable superfoods, hemp. 

 

Alyon Steinhart

Co-Founder & CEO
Eclipse Foods

Aylon Steinhart is the co-founder and CEO at Eclipse Foods, a startup on a mission to create a more sustainable, healthy, and humane food system. Eclipse is building the future of dairy using micelles (the microscopic "magic" of milk) to create plant-based products that are indistinguishable from conventional dairy in taste, texture, and functionality. Eclipse has raised over $60M from investors including Y Combinator, the chairman of Beyond Meat, and the founder of Reddit, and has launched the first-ever plant-based milkshake offered at a national restaurant chain (Smashburger). 

Alyon Steinhart

Co-Founder & CEO
Eclipse Foods

Alyon Steinhart

Co-Founder & CEO
Eclipse Foods

Aylon Steinhart is the co-founder and CEO at Eclipse Foods, a startup on a mission to create a more sustainable, healthy, and humane food system. Eclipse is building the future of dairy using micelles (the microscopic "magic" of milk) to create plant-based products that are indistinguishable from conventional dairy in taste, texture, and functionality. Eclipse has raised over $60M from investors including Y Combinator, the chairman of Beyond Meat, and the founder of Reddit, and has launched the first-ever plant-based milkshake offered at a national restaurant chain (Smashburger). 

Prior to founding Eclipse, Aylon worked at the Good Food Institute, the leading non-profit in alternative proteins. There, he incubated dozens of startups and advised investors and strategic partners including Kraft Heinz, Kellogg's, and more on the alternative protein space.

 

Scott Tassani

President & Chief Operating Officer
Meati

Currently, as President of Meati Foods, a Boulder, Colorado start-up and innovator in alternative protein solutions, Scott is spearheading a growth strategy to achieve $1B in net sales by 2025. His fundraising impact led Meati to convert a $150M Series C and more than double the company's market valuation.

Scott Tassani

President & Chief Operating Officer
Meati

Scott Tassani

President & Chief Operating Officer
Meati

Currently, as President of Meati Foods, a Boulder, Colorado start-up and innovator in alternative protein solutions, Scott is spearheading a growth strategy to achieve $1B in net sales by 2025. His fundraising impact led Meati to convert a $150M Series C and more than double the company's market valuation.

Tassani previously served for nearly 30 years at The Pillsbury Company and General Mills, where in his last five years, he was the President and Chief Customer Officer for the brand’s $11 billion North America business. During his tenure with General Mills, he delivered winning strategies and premier commercial execution for leading consumer brands, including Cheerios, Annie’s, Yoplait and Nature Valley.

 

Ratna Mukherjea

Senior Director of Food Innovation
Benson Hill

Ratna leads Food Innovation at Benson Hill, supporting R&D and commercial activities by connecting composition, functionality, nutrition, and sensory to genetics using Food Digitization. She was previously the Global R&D leader for Specialized Nutrition at IFF, focusing on strategy, technical and market readiness for pediatric nutrition and medical nutrition.

Ratna Mukherjea

Senior Director of Food Innovation
Benson Hill

Ratna Mukherjea

Senior Director of Food Innovation
Benson Hill

Ratna leads Food Innovation at Benson Hill, supporting R&D and commercial activities by connecting composition, functionality, nutrition, and sensory to genetics using Food Digitization. She was previously the Global R&D leader for Specialized Nutrition at IFF, focusing on strategy, technical and market readiness for pediatric nutrition and medical nutrition. At Solae/DuPont, IFF, she had responsibility for research strategy and execution (Protein business), science translation & influencer engagement across the health science portfolio (probiotics, fiber, and proteins), and technology and innovation efforts for the Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) platform.

 

Andy Kleitsch

Founder & CEO
Atomo Coffee

Andy Kleitsch

Founder & CEO
Atomo Coffee

Andy Kleitsch

Founder & CEO
Atomo Coffee
 

James Caffyn

Partner
Lever VC

James Caffyn

Partner
Lever VC

James Caffyn

Partner
Lever VC
 

Sarah Williams

Partner
Rich Products Ventures

Sarah Williams is a Partner at Rich Products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has spent the past 25 years working with food companies as an operator, consultant and investor. In 2003, she was the first hire at f’real foods, a frozen blended beverage company, and held several key leadership roles while building the business from start-up through growth to a successful acquisition by Rich Products in 2012.

Sarah Williams

Partner
Rich Products Ventures

Sarah Williams

Partner
Rich Products Ventures

Sarah Williams is a Partner at Rich Products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has spent the past 25 years working with food companies as an operator, consultant and investor. In 2003, she was the first hire at f’real foods, a frozen blended beverage company, and held several key leadership roles while building the business from start-up through growth to a successful acquisition by Rich Products in 2012. After a transition period, Sarah worked with the founding team of Food System 6 accelerator to stand-up and run its first entrepreneur cohort focused on health, equity and sustainability in the food system. In 2017, she returned to Rich Products to join the newly established Rich products Corporate Venture Fund. Sarah has an MBA from Duke University and a BA from Princeton University.

 

Rahul Ray

Senior Director
Tyson Ventures

Rahul Ray

Senior Director
Tyson Ventures

Rahul Ray

Senior Director
Tyson Ventures
 

Greg Hocking

VP Global R&D New Innovation Territories
Mars

Greg Hocking

VP Global R&D New Innovation Territories
Mars

Greg Hocking

VP Global R&D New Innovation Territories
Mars
 

Scott Hine

Chief Production Officer
The EVERY Co.

Scott Hine has over 30 years of experience in the consumer, agriculture and consulting industries. Before joining The EVERY Company, Scott held a variety of roles in leading organizations including Kraft Foods, Accenture and Novus International, where he was Chief Innovation Officer, VP of Global Operations, and VP of Products and Solutions. His life and expertise span four continents and include leadership of global growth, diversification, M&A and EBITDA improvement.

Scott Hine

Chief Production Officer
The EVERY Co.

Scott Hine

Chief Production Officer
The EVERY Co.

Scott Hine has over 30 years of experience in the consumer, agriculture and consulting industries. Before joining The EVERY Company, Scott held a variety of roles in leading organizations including Kraft Foods, Accenture and Novus International, where he was Chief Innovation Officer, VP of Global Operations, and VP of Products and Solutions. His life and expertise span four continents and include leadership of global growth, diversification, M&A and EBITDA improvement. Scott holds a bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University in Hong Kong.

 

Irina Gerry

CMO
Change Foods

Irina is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and marketing leader, on a mission to transform the food system and drive widespread adoption of sustainable ways to feed the world. She is a Chief Marketing Officer at Change Foods, a precision fermentation food tech company, creating animal-free dairy products.

Irina Gerry

CMO
Change Foods

Irina Gerry

CMO
Change Foods

Irina is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and marketing leader, on a mission to transform the food system and drive widespread adoption of sustainable ways to feed the world. She is a Chief Marketing Officer at Change Foods, a precision fermentation food tech company, creating animal-free dairy products.

Prior to joining Change Foods, Irina spent 5 years working on two of the largest plant-based food and beverage brands, Silk and So Delicious. Irina has over a decade of experience in consumer marketing space with global giants, Procter & Gamble and Danone, as well as business strategy and operations with Deloitte. Irina holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

Amy Chen

Chief Operating Officer
UPSIDE Foods

Amy Chen is the Chief Operating Officer of UPSIDE Foods, the world’s leading cultivated meat company, which is focused on growing delicious meat directly from animal cells. As COO, Amy leads the brand's global strategy and commercial functions, including sales and marketing, finance and operations, product development, food safety and public policy. She's also helping scale the company's culture as it enters this next phase, following the US FDA green light for UPSIDE Foods' cultivated chicken.

Amy Chen

Chief Operating Officer
UPSIDE Foods

Amy Chen

Chief Operating Officer
UPSIDE Foods

Amy Chen is the Chief Operating Officer of UPSIDE Foods, the world’s leading cultivated meat company, which is focused on growing delicious meat directly from animal cells. As COO, Amy leads the brand's global strategy and commercial functions, including sales and marketing, finance and operations, product development, food safety and public policy. She's also helping scale the company's culture as it enters this next phase, following the US FDA green light for UPSIDE Foods' cultivated chicken. Prior to joining UPSIDE Foods, Amy was Senior Vice President for PepsiCo Beverages North America. She previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer for PepsiCo Snacks in the Greater China Region, in addition to other sales, operations, strategy and innovation roles. She has an M.B.A. and a J.D. from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard.

 

Nate Crosser

Principal
Blue Horizon Corporation

Nate Crosser

Principal
Blue Horizon Corporation

Nate Crosser

Principal
Blue Horizon Corporation
 

Christina Khoo

Director, Emerging Science, Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs
Ocean Spray Cranberries

Christina is the Director of Emerging Science, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs, Ocean Spray Cranberries. She leads a team responsible for providing scientific substantiation for the development of functional health products and regulatory guidance for messaging and claims. During her tenure, Christina successfully obtained the first FDA qualified health claim for a food (cranberry) to help reduce an acute urinary tract infection, as well as novel foods and GRAS approvals.

Christina Khoo

Director, Emerging Science, Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs
Ocean Spray Cranberries

Christina Khoo

Director, Emerging Science, Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs
Ocean Spray Cranberries

Christina is the Director of Emerging Science, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs, Ocean Spray Cranberries. She leads a team responsible for providing scientific substantiation for the development of functional health products and regulatory guidance for messaging and claims. During her tenure, Christina successfully obtained the first FDA qualified health claim for a food (cranberry) to help reduce an acute urinary tract infection, as well as novel foods and GRAS approvals. Christina also leads the emerging science team, spearheading several projects with start-up companies, evaluating technologies from farm to fork to help accelerate innovation and sustainability initiatives.

As an influencer, she has taken on roles in cross sector initiatives. She is Chair of the IAFNS Bioactives committee and the Cognitive Health working group. She serves as Treasurer of the National Berry Crops Alliance board and Vice Chair of the Juice Products Assn Board. Christina participates actively in the National Academy of Science, Engineering  and Medicine Food Forum as well as the Tufts Friedman School Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute as the co-chair of the Food is Medicine working group, where she collaborates with cross sector partners to work on important food and nutrition issues.

Christina received her doctorate at the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard School of Public Health.

 

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb has been at Mattson since 1997 and is currently Chief Innovation &
Marketing Officer at North America’s most successful independent developer of
foods and beverages for the retail food and chain restaurant industries. Barb is
known as a taste, food trend, innovation, consumer insights, and product
development expert.
As part of Barb’s role in the innovation projects that make up her daily job, she is
required to taste food and figure out how to make it better. After more than 2

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb Stuckey

Chief Innovation & Marketing Officer
Mattson

Barb has been at Mattson since 1997 and is currently Chief Innovation &
Marketing Officer at North America’s most successful independent developer of
foods and beverages for the retail food and chain restaurant industries. Barb is
known as a taste, food trend, innovation, consumer insights, and product
development expert.
As part of Barb’s role in the innovation projects that make up her daily job, she is
required to taste food and figure out how to make it better. After more than 2
decades doing this, she’s honed her tasting skills and ability to help others make
food taste better. She shared this insight with the world in 2012 when her book
Taste What You’re Missing was published. In 2013, the paperback edition was
released (under the simplified title Taste).
Barb was instrumental in helping The San Francisco Cooking School integrate
the science of taste into their curriculum. She now teaches the Fundamentals of
Taste to each entering class. Barb is also a contributor to Forbes.com where she
writes about the food industry.
Barb lives with her hypertaster husband, two artisan cats, and splits her time
between San Francisco and Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonona wine country.

 

Audrey Gyr

Start-up Innovation Specialist
The Good Food Institute

Audrey is a Startup Innovation Specialist at the Good Food Institute (GFI), an international nonprofit focused on creating a healthy, just, and sustainable food system through plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated protein innovation. She consults with alternative protein startups on all areas of building a business including fundraising, commercialization, and go-to-market strategy. Audrey manages GFI’s Business of Alt Protein Seminar series and was the author of the 2021 State of the Industry Report on Fermentation. Audrey holds a B.S.

Audrey Gyr

Start-up Innovation Specialist
The Good Food Institute

Audrey Gyr

Start-up Innovation Specialist
The Good Food Institute

Audrey is a Startup Innovation Specialist at the Good Food Institute (GFI), an international nonprofit focused on creating a healthy, just, and sustainable food system through plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated protein innovation. She consults with alternative protein startups on all areas of building a business including fundraising, commercialization, and go-to-market strategy. Audrey manages GFI’s Business of Alt Protein Seminar series and was the author of the 2021 State of the Industry Report on Fermentation. Audrey holds a B.S. in Animal Sciences and Development Sociology from Cornell University. She joined GFI after several years of working at transformative organizations in the fields of financial technology, sustainable agriculture, and higher education.

 

Scott Romano

VP Forager
Sprouts Farmers Market

Scott Romano

VP Forager
Sprouts Farmers Market

Scott Romano

VP Forager
Sprouts Farmers Market
 

Rachel Yarcony

Founder & CEO
myAir

Strong leadership with 20 years of hands-on experience, managing companies, leading strategic processes, sales and marketing of products in Food & Pharmaceuticals industries.

Rachel was V.P. Marketing at Teva pharmaceuticals, VP Business development at Tambour, Business Manager at Nestle and Marketing Manager at Strauss group.

Rachel has proven success in bringing new products and breaking-through innovations to fruition in leading companies in highly competitive industries.

Rachel Yarcony

Founder & CEO
myAir

Rachel Yarcony

Founder & CEO
myAir

Strong leadership with 20 years of hands-on experience, managing companies, leading strategic processes, sales and marketing of products in Food & Pharmaceuticals industries.

Rachel was V.P. Marketing at Teva pharmaceuticals, VP Business development at Tambour, Business Manager at Nestle and Marketing Manager at Strauss group.

Rachel has proven success in bringing new products and breaking-through innovations to fruition in leading companies in highly competitive industries.

Rachel is a Grand EFFI Winner, for the effective marketing activity of the year 2012 – Nestle, the launch of a new snacks category “Shtuchim pretzels”.

Rachels holds B.A. in Psychology & Communication from Tel-Aviv University and MBA (with honors) from ESG in France.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelyg/?originalSubdomain=il

In 2019 Rachel founded myAir food-tech, a personalized functional food company specializing in stress management.

myAir develops stress-relief nutrition backed with machine learning technology for deep personal profiling, offering a long-term personal stress management routine.

In a world where we manage our diet and sports, we must start managing our stress. Stress is the epidemic of our era, and personal nutrition is part of the solution.

 

Shannon Theobald

Founder
Foodtech Advising

Shannon helps foodtech founders launch and scale *without* working 15+ hour days, so they can get back what they do best - making world-changing products.

Her background is in corporate strategy and merchandising at fortune 50 retailers such as Walmart and Kroger, where she partnered with top CPGs like Tyson, Mondelez, Nestle, Danone, PepsiCo, JBS, Kellogg, Hormel, and more. She has also worked on projects for Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Accenture, and EY.

Shannon Theobald

Founder
Foodtech Advising

Shannon Theobald

Founder
Foodtech Advising

Shannon helps foodtech founders launch and scale *without* working 15+ hour days, so they can get back what they do best - making world-changing products.

Her background is in corporate strategy and merchandising at fortune 50 retailers such as Walmart and Kroger, where she partnered with top CPGs like Tyson, Mondelez, Nestle, Danone, PepsiCo, JBS, Kellogg, Hormel, and more. She has also worked on projects for Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Accenture, and EY.

Shannon is an alternative protein author (Printing Your Dinner), Podcast Host (Big Food Big Future), speaker, and strategist. She stopped eating meat at the age of 3 when her mother jokingly told her pepperoni was made out of butterfly wings.

 

Momo Wu

Chief Business Development Officer
Botrista

Momo Wu

Chief Business Development Officer
Botrista

Momo Wu

Chief Business Development Officer
Botrista
 

Michelle Wolf

CEO
New Wave Food

Michelle Wolf co-founded New Wave Foods shortly after graduating from Carnegie Mellon with a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. She is a talented engineer with consumer packaged goods experience, who lead the initial development of New Wave Shrimp as a product "from the sea for the sea." In 2021 she was recognized by Forbes as one of the "30 under 30 Food & Drink" based on her accomplishments co-founding a company that promotes sustainable eating.  Her goal i

Michelle Wolf

CEO
New Wave Food

Michelle Wolf

CEO
New Wave Food

Michelle Wolf co-founded New Wave Foods shortly after graduating from Carnegie Mellon with a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. She is a talented engineer with consumer packaged goods experience, who lead the initial development of New Wave Shrimp as a product "from the sea for the sea." In 2021 she was recognized by Forbes as one of the "30 under 30 Food & Drink" based on her accomplishments co-founding a company that promotes sustainable eating.  Her goal is to build a portfolio of sustainable plant-based seafood products embraced by both the operator and the consumer. 

 

Neeru Ravi

Principal
Boston Consulting Group

Neeru Ravi is a core member of Boston Consulting Group’s Consumer and Climate & Sustainability practices. She is the topic lead for alternative proteins in North America. Since joining the firm in 2015, Neeru has worked with BCG with clients in the UK and the US. Her functional focus has been on consumer insights, consumer segmentation, growth strategy development, pricing, consumer-centric sustainability, and alternative proteins. She is co-author of BCG’s thought leadership publication ‘Taking Alternative Proteins Mainstream’. 

Neeru Ravi

Principal
Boston Consulting Group

Neeru Ravi

Principal
Boston Consulting Group

Neeru Ravi is a core member of Boston Consulting Group’s Consumer and Climate & Sustainability practices. She is the topic lead for alternative proteins in North America. Since joining the firm in 2015, Neeru has worked with BCG with clients in the UK and the US. Her functional focus has been on consumer insights, consumer segmentation, growth strategy development, pricing, consumer-centric sustainability, and alternative proteins. She is co-author of BCG’s thought leadership publication ‘Taking Alternative Proteins Mainstream’. 

 

Matt Gibson

Co-Founder & CEO
New Culture

Born and raised in dairy-rich New Zealand, Matt became passionate about transforming the dairy industry when he started learning about its massive environmental, animal welfare, and human health impacts. After founding multiple start-ups in New Zealand, he moved to the Bay Area to launch New Culture as part of IndieBio, the world’s leading biotech start-up accelerator, with co-founder Inja Radman.

Matt Gibson

Co-Founder & CEO
New Culture

Matt Gibson

Co-Founder & CEO
New Culture

Born and raised in dairy-rich New Zealand, Matt became passionate about transforming the dairy industry when he started learning about its massive environmental, animal welfare, and human health impacts. After founding multiple start-ups in New Zealand, he moved to the Bay Area to launch New Culture as part of IndieBio, the world’s leading biotech start-up accelerator, with co-founder Inja Radman. He has a BSc from the University of Auckland in genetics and microbiology, completed a certificate in filmmaking from the New Zealand Film Academy, and is a licensed skydiver with 60+ jumps above him. He is also a budding banjo picker.

 

Nicole Centeno

Founder & CEO
Splendid Spoon

Nicole Centeno is a French Culinary Institute-trained chef, cookbook author, mother and the founder and CEO of Splendid Spoon, a meal-delivery platform that offers 50+ ready-to-eat, plant-based meals. A Condé Nast alum, Nicole has always been passionate about food; well before founding Splendid Spoon, Nicole immersed herself in the culinary world where she worked at pop-ups, catered and taught cooking and nutrition courses at Columbia University It wasn’t until her first pregnancy in 2012, when Nicole decided to leave her corporate career to pursue food full-time.

Nicole Centeno

Founder & CEO
Splendid Spoon

Nicole Centeno

Founder & CEO
Splendid Spoon

Nicole Centeno is a French Culinary Institute-trained chef, cookbook author, mother and the founder and CEO of Splendid Spoon, a meal-delivery platform that offers 50+ ready-to-eat, plant-based meals. A Condé Nast alum, Nicole has always been passionate about food; well before founding Splendid Spoon, Nicole immersed herself in the culinary world where she worked at pop-ups, catered and taught cooking and nutrition courses at Columbia University It wasn’t until her first pregnancy in 2012, when Nicole decided to leave her corporate career to pursue food full-time. Like many of her peers, Nicole realized how unattainable it was to achieve a wellness-driven lifestyle with a demanding  career and the day-to-day demands of being a working parent. This inspired her to launch Splendid Spoon and is the genesis of Splendid Spoon’s mission to offer accessible, nutritious and delicious plant-based fare to everyday Americans. 

Today, Nicole and her team believe that the refrigerator is the ultimate medicine cabinet. Splendid Spoon is committed to providing the tools, food, and community resources for you to make plant-based habits attainable and  feel your best, available online at splendidspoon.com. Nicole holds a bachelor of science degree from Boston College and is a graduate of the Classic Culinary program at the International Culinary Center in NYC. She is the author of Soup Cleanse Cookbook (Rodale, August 2016) and was named one of Observer’s 10 Wellness Entrepreneurs to watch. Nicole lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her sons, Grover, Caleb and daughter, Charlotte. 

 

Michael Tai

Cofounder and CEO
Boston Bioprocess Inc.

Michael Tai is a bioprocess strategic and business leader that focuses on transforming fermentation lab technology breakthrough into economical commercialization. Michael has a PhD in Biological Systems Engineering, 6 years experience at ADM across R&D and production, and 2 years at Motif FoodWorks as Head of Bioprocess, developed heme bovine myoglobin bioprocess and successfully scaled up to metric ton level production. Michael co-founded Boston Bioprocess Inc.

Michael Tai

Cofounder and CEO
Boston Bioprocess Inc.

Michael Tai

Cofounder and CEO
Boston Bioprocess Inc.

Michael Tai is a bioprocess strategic and business leader that focuses on transforming fermentation lab technology breakthrough into economical commercialization. Michael has a PhD in Biological Systems Engineering, 6 years experience at ADM across R&D and production, and 2 years at Motif FoodWorks as Head of Bioprocess, developed heme bovine myoglobin bioprocess and successfully scaled up to metric ton level production. Michael co-founded Boston Bioprocess Inc. in 2022 as a pilot scale up platform to help bio-ingredient companies develop and scale up their bioprocesses to get into commercial manufacture. 

 

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay McCorkle

Director, Ventures & Growth Equity
Blue Horizon

Lindsay is a Director at Blue Horizon, a fund focused on sustainable food systems. She is responsible for North American deals across the food and ag sectors, ranging from seed to pre-IPO.  Prior to Blue Horizon, she worked at Rabobank where she developed early stage agrifoodtech coverage for the research and investing teams.  Previously, Lindsay worked in private equity at MacAndrews & Forbes and as an M&A banker at Moelis & Company.  She has worked as competitive pastry chef for the last 15 years.  

 

Maria Buitron

Principal
Piva Capital

Maria is a Principal at Piva Capital, where she invests in companies and entrepreneurs that are transforming industry for people and planet. Maria joined Piva as a founding member in 2019 and has since led investments in companies like Menlo Micro, Boston Metal, Oobli and Plantible. Before beginning her career in venture, Maria worked as a strategy consultant, where she developed technical and commercial expertise in the energy sector. Maria has also had strategy and business development roles in different ClimateTech startups, including energy storage developer Stem.

Maria Buitron

Principal
Piva Capital

Maria Buitron

Principal
Piva Capital

Maria is a Principal at Piva Capital, where she invests in companies and entrepreneurs that are transforming industry for people and planet. Maria joined Piva as a founding member in 2019 and has since led investments in companies like Menlo Micro, Boston Metal, Oobli and Plantible. Before beginning her career in venture, Maria worked as a strategy consultant, where she developed technical and commercial expertise in the energy sector. Maria has also had strategy and business development roles in different ClimateTech startups, including energy storage developer Stem.

Originally from Mexico City, Maria earned a BS in Chemical Engineering with top honors from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico and holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business. She was named to the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in the Energy and Immigrant categories.

 

Christie Myers

Business Development Manager
Cache Creek Foods

Christie is a strategic visionary, and business development leader, driven by the possibility that exists when we collaborate for good. She serves as Business Development Manager at Cache Creek Foods, a manufacturer and supplier of innovative tree nut ingredients for plant based beverages & foods. 

Christie Myers

Business Development Manager
Cache Creek Foods

Christie Myers

Business Development Manager
Cache Creek Foods

Christie is a strategic visionary, and business development leader, driven by the possibility that exists when we collaborate for good. She serves as Business Development Manager at Cache Creek Foods, a manufacturer and supplier of innovative tree nut ingredients for plant based beverages & foods. 


Prior to joining Cache Creek Foods, Christie supported Procore Technologies through a rapid-growth season and IPO, managing key OKRs on the Corporate Strategy team. Christie is an ACC accredited leadership coach, with a certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching, and a BA from Westmont College.

 

Sara Mielke

Product Development Scientist
Cache Creek Foods

Sara Mielke is a food lover who found her calling at the intersection of creativity and science. She discovered her passion for food at a young age when she received a play kitchen from her parents, where she would “craft recipes” alongside her mother. Sara has spent the past five years as a Product Development Scientist for Cache Creek Foods, honing her knowledge of tree-nut, dairy-alternative ingredient applications. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of California, Davis

Sara Mielke

Product Development Scientist
Cache Creek Foods

Sara Mielke

Product Development Scientist
Cache Creek Foods

Sara Mielke is a food lover who found her calling at the intersection of creativity and science. She discovered her passion for food at a young age when she received a play kitchen from her parents, where she would “craft recipes” alongside her mother. Sara has spent the past five years as a Product Development Scientist for Cache Creek Foods, honing her knowledge of tree-nut, dairy-alternative ingredient applications. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of California, Davis

 

Eric Hamborg

Chief Commercial Officer
PIPA

Eric Hamborg

Chief Commercial Officer
PIPA

Eric Hamborg

Chief Commercial Officer
PIPA

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