Food Systems

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Adenia Partners is a private markets investment firm focused on growth opportunities across Africa. Founded in 2002, the firm invests in high-potential companies that drive economic development while delivering strong financial returns. With offices across key African markets, Adenia Partners works closely with management teams to scale businesses, improve operational performance, and expand regional footprint. The firm integrates ESG and impact considerations into its investment strategy, with a focus on building resilient businesses that contribute to long-term economic growth on the continent.

Alterfin is a Belgian social cooperative that finances social enterprises worldwide, focusing on microfinance institutions and sustainable smallholder agriculture organizations. With nearly 6,000 cooperative members, they invest in organizations that help the most disadvantaged people develop economic activities and generate sustainable incomes across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The organization operates as a cooperative financed by individuals and companies, offering everyone an investment opportunity to generate positive social, environmental, and economic impact. Their mission centers on what they call "Human Yield" - a return measured in improved lives, dignity, resilience, and humanity rather than just financial returns. Alterfin has established itself as a significant player in the impact investment ecosystem over 30 years of operation, with 70.8 million euros in capital and a diverse membership base of 5,711 individual cooperative members and 190 companies and organizations. Their approach enables people to invest in entrepreneurs and farmers they might never meet but whose lives change through access to opportunities in regions where traditional banking channels don't exist or don't meet micro-entrepreneurs' needs.

Aqua-Spark is a Netherlands-based global investment fund dedicated to building a sustainable aquaculture industry. The firm invests across the entire seafood value chain, backing companies that improve how fish and other aquatic species are farmed, fed, and distributed. With a long-term, systems-level approach, Aqua-Spark partners with entrepreneurs to address critical challenges in aquaculture, including environmental impact, animal health, and resource efficiency. Its mission is to make sustainable seafood accessible and scalable while supporting the transition to a more resilient global food system.

Astanor Ventures is an impact investor that transforms the agrifood system by fostering innovation from "soil and sea to gut." They operate two complementary investment strategies - Astanor Venture for early-stage companies and Astanor Growth for scaling businesses across the entire agrifood value chain. Their mission centers on building a more resilient planet by investing at the intersection of planetary and human health, using food and agricultural systems as primary levers for change. They support ambitious entrepreneurs developing globally scalable solutions capable of driving systemic change, reconnecting planetary and human health through better nutrition and sustainable farming practices. As a global leader in impact investing, Astanor plays a crucial role in financing and scaling systemic disruption needed to reach ambitious targets set by the Paris Agreement and UN SDGs. With offices across Europe and the US, they demonstrate that there is no trade-off between return and impact - the more successful their portfolio businesses become, the greater the positive impact on both people and the planet.

Beyond Impact is an impact investment firm focused on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, animal-free economy. Founded in 2017, the firm backs companies developing alternatives to animal-based products across food, materials, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. The firm’s mission centers on building a “kinder, cleaner, healthier world” by investing in scalable businesses that reduce environmental damage, eliminate animal suffering, and improve human health. Its portfolio targets high-growth sectors such as plant-based foods, alternative proteins, and next-generation biomaterials.

Bezos Earth Fund is one of the world’s largest philanthropic initiatives focused on addressing climate change, protecting nature, and accelerating the transition to a sustainable global economy. Established by Jeff Bezos, the fund represents a $10 billion commitment to climate and environmental action through 2030. The organization supports scientists, nonprofits, policymakers, entrepreneurs, Indigenous communities, research institutions, and environmental leaders working to conserve ecosystems, decarbonize industries, transform food systems, advance climate technologies, and improve environmental accountability worldwide.

Builders Vision is an investment and philanthropy platform founded by Lukas Walton, focused on scaling solutions across food and agriculture, energy, and ocean systems. The platform combines venture capital, private equity, and philanthropic capital to drive large-scale environmental and social outcomes. Through its integrated model, Builders Vision supports entrepreneurs, funds, and initiatives working to transform global systems. Its approach is rooted in long-term partnerships, market transformation, and deploying flexible capital to accelerate sustainable innovation.

Farmland LP is the largest manager focused on organic and regenerative farming in the United States, specializing in transforming conventional farmland into sustainable, high-value agricultural assets. The company manages over 19,000 acres and focuses on converting farmland to USDA Organic certified farms while implementing regenerative farming practices that improve both financial returns and environmental outcomes. Their mission centers on delivering sustainable returns by capitalizing on the growing demand for organic food while addressing the supply shortage of organic farmland. They operate by acquiring conventional farmland and implementing value-add transformations including organic conversion, precision irrigation, multi-year crop rotations, and renewable energy installations. The company follows a comprehensive approach that reduces chemical inputs, improves soil health, and supports biodiversity across more than 40 high-value crops. Farmland LP has established itself as a world leader in natural capital and sustainable agriculture investment, earning recognition from HIP Investor with the highest impact rating among 10,000 companies evaluated. Their impact extends beyond financial returns to include significant environmental benefits such as CO2 sequestration, pesticide reduction, and biodiversity enhancement. As a Certified B Corporation and PRI signatory, they have set new industry standards for sustainable agriculture investment and demonstrated that regenerative farming practices can deliver both market-leading returns and meaningful environmental impact.

Ford Foundation is one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, focused on advancing social justice, reducing inequality, strengthening democratic values, and expanding human dignity globally. Founded in 1936, the foundation supports nonprofits, movements, institutions, artists, researchers, and community leaders working to address systemic social, political, and economic challenges. The Ford Foundation operates across multiple regions worldwide and funds initiatives spanning democracy, racial justice, economic inclusion, technology and society, gender equity, arts and culture, journalism, and human rights.

Katapult is a Norwegian impact investor that accelerates and invests in technology companies solving the world's greatest challenges. They focus on highly scalable impact tech startups, with specific investment programs including Katapult Ocean for startups with positive ocean impact and Katapult Africa for climate-tech startups addressing Africa's pressing challenges. The organization operates through a comprehensive platform approach, combining investment with accelerator programs to strengthen their support for promising impact tech startups. Since 2017, they have conducted 10 flagship accelerator programs and 3 corporate accelerators, while also establishing the Katapult Foundation in 2020 to focus on building the impact community and education around impact investment. Katapult has established significant influence in the global impact investment ecosystem, having invested in 169 companies across 47 different countries. Their platform approach enables domain experts to launch lean and efficient investment vehicles, while initiatives like Katapult Future Fest, Katapult X, and the Nordic Investment Network help build the broader impact investing community and demonstrate their commitment to scaling both profit and impact.

One Acre Fund is an agricultural service provider that supplies smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with farm supplies, financing, and training needed to increase productivity and income. They work with 1 million smallholder farmers, providing quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural services to help farmers grow more food and earn more money on the same plot of land. The organization operates on an investment model rather than charity, providing farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to build resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund invests in farmers to help them increase yields and profits through better planting techniques, naturally-produced hybrid seeds, and small amounts of fertilizer combined with education and training. One Acre Fund plays a critical role in addressing food security and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most people living on $1 a day are farmers and smallholder farms produce 80% of the continent's food. Their work delivers 45% more farm income on the same plot of land, helping create pathways out of hunger and poverty while strengthening local economies and communities across nine African countries.

ReGen Ventures is an impact-focused venture capital firm that invests in foundational regenerative technologies designed to power a future of abundance. They focus on four core investment areas: clean energy, planetary intelligence, programmable matter, and adaptive robotics, partnering with founders who are building transformative technologies from the atomic to planetary scale. The firm operates with a mission to reimagine the world by supporting technologies that make regeneration inevitable, enabling infinite growth and prosperity on a finite planet. They take a hands-on approach with founders, providing comprehensive support that ranges from business modeling to personal wellness, emphasizing long-term sustainable returns over short-term wins. ReGen Ventures positions itself as an innovator in the investment space, paving a new path for what investments should be by focusing on root causes rather than symptoms of environmental challenges. They are building what they call a "ReGenerative Future" where climate change is reframed as an opportunity for transformation, backing founders with unreasonable ambition who alter understanding of what's possible in addressing planetary challenges.

Root Capital is a nonprofit social investment fund that partners with small and growing agricultural businesses to increase farmer livelihoods, fight climate change, uplift women, employ youth, and build rural prosperity. They provide credit tailored to agricultural enterprises' needs, along with free capacity building training, farming resources, and other support services to help these businesses develop and scale. Their mission is to grow rural prosperity and build the resilience of farming families around the world, with a vision of thousands of rural businesses supporting a thriving agricultural sector. They operate through four key pathways: Access to Finance, Climate Action, Women's Empowerment, and Next Generation Jobs, supporting the early development of agricultural enterprises because they believe these businesses can raise up whole communities. Since 1999, Root Capital has been creating transformative impact in some of the world's most vulnerable rural areas across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. They have positively impacted the lives of over 10 million people in farming communities, demonstrating their significant role in fostering sustainable agricultural development and rural economic growth. Their 25-year track record positions them as a key player in the agricultural impact investing ecosystem.

Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund is a collaborative, multi-donor impact fund dedicated to accelerating solutions that support a healthy and thriving ocean. Administered through ImpactAssets, the fund combines impact investing, grantmaking, education, and community building to support innovative approaches to ocean conservation and restoration. Sea Forward focuses on sustainable aquaculture, biodiversity protection, climate resilience, circular economy solutions, regenerative nature-based approaches, and science-based monitoring technologies. Through both investments and grants, the fund supports entrepreneurs, nonprofits, researchers, and ecosystem builders working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing marine environments and coastal communities. Beyond capital deployment, Sea Forward serves as an ocean impact learning community, bringing together philanthropists, impact investors, scientists, conservation leaders, and innovators to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and accelerate positive change for the ocean. The fund is led by marine biologist and ocean conservation advocate Laura Francis, whose decades of experience in marine education and conservation inform the fund’s strategic approach.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm and accelerator founded in 1995, operating one of the most active deep tech and life sciences investment programs in the world. The firm runs multiple accelerator programs, including HAX for hardware and robotics, IndieBio for life sciences and biotech, and Orbit for climate and sustainability — providing intensive company-building support alongside early-stage capital. With over $1.5 billion in AUM and a portfolio exceeding 1,000 companies across more than 70 countries, SOSV occupies a distinctive position in the venture landscape: a programmatic investor that takes companies from idea stage through to growth and beyond. The firm's accelerator model means it is often the first institutional check into a company, with follow-on capability through later rounds. SOSV has a strong impact orientation across its portfolio, with climate, food systems, health, and sustainability representing a significant share of its investments. Its programs in particular have become known as launchpads for companies working on hard scientific and engineering problems that require more than capital to succeed.

Steward is a mission-driven lending platform that provides flexible financing to regenerative farms and agriculture businesses focused on transforming local food systems. They partner with human-scale producers including farms, ranches, fisheries, and food producers who are implementing sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. Their mission is to promote environmental and economic stewardship through regenerative agriculture by bridging the funding gap that many sustainable producers face when trying to access capital. Steward operates a community-lending platform that connects mission-driven lenders with agricultural projects, allowing individuals to participate in secured, interest-bearing loans that support regenerative businesses. Steward plays a crucial role in the regenerative agriculture ecosystem by championing the "unsung stewards" who are proving there's a more sustainable way to produce food while taking responsibility for soil health and local communities. They matter because they're addressing a critical need in the agricultural sector where human-scale producers struggle to access traditional financing, thus enabling the growth and scaling of regenerative practices that benefit both environmental and economic outcomes.

Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative, early-stage companies across the food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors that are driving a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future. The fund focuses on plant-based food and beverage products, cellular agriculture companies using tissue engineering and fermentation, food technology innovations, and other ventures aligned with their mission of creating healthier and more sustainable outcomes. The Stray Dog Capital team brings broad experience as entrepreneurs, operators, advisors, and investors, with a deep passion for partnering with game-changing companies to realize both significant social impact and commercial success.