Sustainable Food & Agriculture

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.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

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.

Athar Investment Fund is a Morocco-based impact investment fund focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that drive inclusive economic growth. The fund targets businesses that create jobs, strengthen local industries, and expand access to opportunity across Morocco and the broader North African region. Through a hands-on investment approach, Athar partners with entrepreneurs to scale operations, improve governance, and unlock long-term value. Its strategy aligns financial performance with measurable social and economic impact, particularly in underserved communities.

The Atlassian Foundation brings together funding, people, and products from Atlassian to unleash the potential of social impact teams, with a particular focus on organizations changing lives through education. They contribute 1% of Atlassian's equity, profit, tools, and employee time to support nonprofits and social enterprises, offering 50-100% discounts on Atlassian apps and free support to qualifying organizations. Their mission is to unleash the potential of social impact teams, especially those focused on educational transformation, by taking a partner-centric approach that combines resources to drive impact. The Foundation operates on principles of building long-term partnerships, planning for scale, making fewer but bolder moves, and openly sharing their learnings with the broader impact community. The Foundation has made significant impact in the nonprofit ecosystem, having donated over $85 million and empowered more than 12,500 nonprofits worldwide with free or discounted tools. They co-founded the Pledge 1% movement, which encourages other businesses to commit resources to social good, amplifying their influence beyond their direct contributions and helping to establish a new approach to corporate philanthropy.

Avaana Capital is an India-based venture capital firm investing in climate and sustainability solutions across sectors such as energy, mobility, agriculture, and industrial systems. The firm backs early-stage founders building scalable technologies that address climate change while driving economic growth. Co-founded by Anjali Bansal, Avaana combines deep operational expertise with a strong network across government, corporates, and global investors. The firm focuses on enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy through innovation and technology.

The Barr Foundation is a Boston-based philanthropic organization focused on advancing climate solutions, arts and creativity, and educational opportunity. Founded by Amos Hostetter Jr. and Barbara Hostetter, the foundation supports nonprofits and initiatives that drive systemic change and strengthen communities, particularly in the Boston region. Through long-term partnerships and flexible funding, Barr Foundation backs organizations working on climate resilience, clean energy transition, public education, and cultural vibrancy. Its approach emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and scaling solutions that can deliver lasting impact.

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.

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.

The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an autonomous intergovernmental financial institution established within the United Nations framework. Established in 1989 with its first project approved in 1991, the CFC provides impact finance to small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, and governments in the commodity sector across developing countries. The organization focuses on creating economic opportunities and unlocking potential in commodity value chains, with particular attention to least developed countries and vulnerable markets. With 101 Member States and 9 Institutional Members, the CFC operates through various mechanisms including direct project financing, technical assistance, and specialized funds like the ACT Fund for climate-resilient agricultural systems.

EcoEnterprises Fund is an impact investment fund that has pioneered investing in nature-based solutions for over two decades. The fund uses tailored financial instruments including mezzanine equity and debt to drive growth in companies focused on natural climate solutions that preserve biodiversity while contributing to local economies in Latin America. Their investment portfolio spans regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, certified forestry, circular systems, blue economy, ecotourism, and emerging climate-tech opportunities. With a track record of generating $3.1 billion in sales, supporting over 150,000 smallholder farmers, benefiting 823,000+ local people, and protecting 24.9+ million acres, EcoEnterprises Fund demonstrates measurable impact. The fund emphasizes gender-inclusive and women-led companies, particularly those collaborating with Indigenous communities to boost incomes and create more equitable societies. As a certified B Corp and ImpactAssets 50 Emeritus Fund, they maintain high standards of social and environmental impact.

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.

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship focuses on supporting social entrepreneurs and enterprises that create positive impact for vulnerable and marginalized communities. They operate through multiple approaches including developing products in partnership with social enterprises, accelerating impact through partnerships with organizations like Ashoka, Acumen, NESsT, and WWF, and providing local services support. Their mission centers on creating a better everyday life for as many people as possible, with particular emphasis on empowering vulnerable and marginalized people and social entrepreneurs. They lead by example through their actions and share learnings to find solutions that support social entrepreneurial activities, aiming to contribute to significant and lasting change in communities worldwide. IKEA Social Entrepreneurship has become a significant player in the social enterprise ecosystem, supporting 120 social enterprises across 21 countries and contributing to the creation of over 20,000 jobs and incomes. Their model demonstrates how corporate partnerships can scale social impact, starting from initial collaborations that created over 100 jobs in 2012 and growing into a comprehensive platform that accelerates the broader social entrepreneurship movement.

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.

Miller Center for Global Impact is a social entrepreneurship accelerator and capacity-building organization that supports social entrepreneurs working to address poverty and tackle pressing social problems aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They operate from Silicon Valley and run programs including an annual In-Residence cohort program that brings select social entrepreneurs to California for intensive support. Their mission centers on advancing "business for good" by supporting scalable and replicable social enterprises led by local leaders who are best positioned to provide lasting solutions to social challenges. They operate through a proven model that combines executive mentors, world-class programs, Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial expertise, and Santa Clara University's social justice heritage to build capacity for social entrepreneurs globally. Miller Center has been a leader in the global social entrepreneurship movement for over 25 years, establishing significant influence in transforming markets for good and working toward ending poverty. Their impact spans globally from Silicon Valley to regions like the Himalayas, and they form strategic partnerships with organizations like impact fund manager Investisseurs & Partenaires to strengthen entrepreneur capacity-building across African countries.

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.

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.

Unreasonable Group is a Colorado-based international company that partners with growth-stage entrepreneurs solving pressing global challenges through capital, community, and storytelling. They operate a Fellowship program that handpicks and privately invites the world's most compelling solutions, focusing on five key verticals: Energy & Environment, Food & Water, Health, and other sectors aimed at transitioning into a more resilient and regenerative economy. Their mission centers on creating trusted partnerships and moving capital to ensure a better future, believing in the power of business and finance to drive lasting, scalable change. They build trust across growth-stage entrepreneurs, institutions, and investors by channeling exclusive deal-flow to investors and partnering with institutions to discover profit in solving global problems. Unreasonable Group has established itself as a significant force in the impact ecosystem, striving to become the world's most trusted community in service of a more connected and regenerative economy. Their approach of focusing on scaling what works has created a substantial network that operates across multiple countries and industries, demonstrating that reasonable ideas seldom change anything while unreasonable ones drive progress.

Walmart.org operates through the combined philanthropic efforts of both Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, creating opportunities for people to live better every day. The organization contributed $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations around the world last year, focusing on areas where they can do the most good by combining the unique strengths of the Walmart business alongside their philanthropy. Their approach goes beyond just funding, leveraging Walmart's business strengths to deliver greater social impact. The foundation works on creating opportunity, advancing sustainability, and strengthening communities through various initiatives including climate action, waste reduction, nature conservation, supply chain improvements, local community support, disaster preparedness, and racial equity programs.