Are you interested in new trends and topics in the sustainable food industry? Want to get to know innovative Bay Area food entrepreneurs? Curious to meet the funders investing in food & agriculture enterprises? Or are you a curious foodie that wants to try new products? Then join us for an engaging and inspiring day focusing on all things food!
Hacking Food is an interactive festival that lets you sample delicious products while learning first-hand from local entrepreneurs, investors and food industry professionals about what it takes to build a successful food brand that prioritizes people and the planet. These founders and funders are taking on some of the world's biggest problems in the food sector in the most innovative ways.
With live demonstrations, company showcases, and educational talks and workshops, you’ll get a taste of the thriving Bay Area sustainable food scene and meet the players creating social impact in our area and beyond.
Social entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists and everyone else interested in food is welcome to this unique event.
Come out to meet some amazing people and get inspired!
AGENDA
10:30AM-1PM: Morning roundtables (Invitation only)
A. Fund Managers Roundtable - Peer to peer discussion on identifying opportunities, structuring investments, and supporting portfolio companies. Facilitated by Chuck Templeton, Managing Director, S2G Ventures
B. Angel Investors Roundtable - Peer to peer discussion on identifying opportunities, structuring investments, and supporting portfolio companies. Facilitated by Arno Hesse, Co-founder, FOOD FUNDED, Credibles, investibule
C. Entrepreneurs Roundtable - Peer to peer discussion on fundraising strategy, sources of capital, and investor management. Facilitated by Ha Nguyen, Partner & Founding Team Member, Spero Ventures and Meena Sankaran, Founder & CEO, KETOS
1:00: Main Program Registration
1:30: Program kick off with Angelina Mertens & Scott Saslow, ONE WORLD and Rob Veres, Spero Ventures
1:45: Opening Panel/Keynote speaker
Bob Quinn, Organic Farmer, author of Grain by Grain: A Quest to Revive Ancient Wheat, Rural Jobs, and Healthy Food
Liz Carlisle, Lecturer, School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University; author of Grain by Grain
2:30: Business showcase: B2B food businesses
Jim Flatt, Co-Founder & CEO, BrightSeed
Meena Sankaran, Founder & CEO, KETOS
Joe Pickrell, CEO, Gencove
Eric Adamson, Co-Founder & CEO, Tortuga AgTech
Moderated by Ha Nguyen, Partner & Founding Team Member, Spero Ventures
3:00: Corporate Showcase
Marcus Benedetti, CEO, Clover Sonoma & Haider Nazar MAHA Global
Moderated by Scott Saslow, ONE WORLD
3:30: Networking break
4:00 Breakout sessions:
1) Innovative Technology in Producing & Distributing Sustainable Food
Christine Su, Co-Founder & CEO, Pasturemap
Chuck Templeton, Managing Director, S2G Ventures
Raja Ramachandran, Founder, Ripe.io
2) Opportunities in Plant based Proteins
Dan Altschuler Malek, Managing Partner, Unovis Partners & New Crop Capital
Liz Specht, Associate Director of Science & Technology, The Good Food Institute
Miyoko Schinner, Founder & CEO, Miyoko's
3) Funding Sustainable Food & Agriculture Companies
Arno Hesse, Co-founder, FOOD FUNDED, Credibles, investibule
Lyndsey Boucherle, Associate, Better Ventures
Rob Veres, Partner, Spero Ventures
5:00: Networking break
5:30: Business showcase: B2C food businesses -
Laura D'Asaro, Co-founder & CEO, Chirps Chips
Dominique Barnes, Co-founder & Executive Advisor, New Wave Foods
Kelsey Witherow, CEO, Doughp
Phaedra Randolph, CEO & Founder, Spero Foods
Moderated by Angelina Mertens, Program Director, ONE WORLD
6:00: Closing
6:30: Reception and Networking
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
Enjoy product samples and live demonstrations! We have an inspiring group of social entrepreneurs that will staff booths, including