In this week’s episode I am joined by Joško Bobanović, Partner at Sofinnova Partners, where he leads investments into Biotechnology enabled sustainable solutions across food, agriculture, materials and chemicals. Joško reflects on his early journey, the important values and interests that helped him find his path as an investor into niche applications of Biotech. Joško talks about some of the big consumer and government changes that have helped shape the marketplace and innovation opportunities....
Sep 16, 2021•45 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Amy Yoder, CEO of Anuvia Plant Nutrients, an AgriTech mission driven company producing plant nutrients that optimize plant health, improve soil health, whilst protecting the environment. Amy reflects on her career, and her early experiences on her family farm, which paved the way for a career in agriculture. She reflects on the journey and challenges in becoming a CEO, and outlines some of the big changes within the agricultural industry over the last 20 yea...
Aug 30, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Cain McClary, Founder and Managing Partner of KdT ventures, an early stage investor, deploying capital across deep tech and life sciences. Cain speaks candidly about his life’s journey, from physician/scientist, with a deep passion for innovative technology and science, to founding his own venture capital company. Cain outlines the values that are important to him, speaking about the importance of openness, transparency and kindness. Cain talks about his vis...
Aug 16, 2021•42 min
In this episode I am joined by Joel Stone, who has been a long-term visionary and respected leader in commercialization of industrial biotechnology. Joel talks about his early learnings and experiences that helped shape his passion for science and technology. He speaks about the major changes within the industry, and how synthetic biology is facilitating the bio revolution of the chemical industry. Joel speaks about the use of fermentation methods and practices to help mitigate climate change ri...
Aug 04, 2021•48 min
In this episode I am joined by Alex Hoffmann, where he is responsible for Frontier Tech & sustainability investments out of M Venture’s Science & technology fund. Alex talks about his early learnings and experiences that helped shape his values, and about his global mindset and passion for creativity and innovation. We spoke about the European eco-system for innovation and startups, how he deploys capital, and about Merck’s synergy and interest in the cell based, alternative protein spac...
Jul 20, 2021•45 min
In this episode I am joined by Dan Cosgrove, CEO of Growers’ Edge, a visionary company combining FinTech and Agtech to help provide data backed financial technology solutions for the agricultural industry. Dan talks about his early influences and reflects on his career, which has seen him embrace risk and change, challenging himself to navigate and learn quickly along the journey. Dan explains the vision and mission for Growers Edge, and his plans for the company, as well as discussing the chall...
Jul 06, 2021•42 min
In this episode I am joined by Ed Rogers, CEO and Co-Founder of Bonumose, a FoodTech start up, on a mission to make healthy sugar affordable for the mass market. Ed talks about some of his early learnings and experiences that helped shape his values, and his journey to becoming CEO and Co-Founder of Bonumose. He speaks about the novel methods for low cost production of high purity rare sugars, such as tagatose and allulose, from low cost plant-based feedstocks. He outlines his vision and mission...
Jun 22, 2021•43 min
In this week’s episode, I am joined by Peter Hawthorne, a strategic, investment and governance leader and advisor, with deep expertise across the food, agribusiness and bio-industrials business segment. Having completed more than 35 Billion USD in M&A and investment transactions, Peter shares his wisdom and knowledge, about joint venturing, partnerships, and exploring the art of the possible within a deal. He outlines his early influences, and some of his career highlights, including the imp...
May 31, 2021•40 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Fiona Edwards Murphy, CEO and Co-Founder of Apis Protect, an exciting mission driven startup company bringing ground-breaking technology to commercial beekeeping. Fiona talks about some of her early learnings and experiences that helped shape her passion for science and agriculture. She outlines her journey in taking ground-breaking sensor research into the agriculture field, and how she is creating novel and innovative solutions to help beekeepers monitor t...
May 17, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Adam Bergman, Managing Director of EcoTech Capital, an advisory company, providing strategic and financial advice to senior executives working at the intersection of Agri-FoodTech, and Climate change. We explored some of the early learnings and experiences that helped shape Adam’s values. We explored Adam’s earlier career, exploring the growth of cleantech 1.0, to the current investment trends and interest in climate change technology, and particularly the l...
May 10, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Mark Herrema, CEO and Co-Founder of Newlight Technologies, a disruptive biotech company, on a mission to the end the accumulation of synthetic plastic in the ocean. We explored his curiosity, love of science, and a 17-year journey as an entrepreneur that started in 2003, with the question” what if we could use the technology in nature to turn greenhouse gases into high value materials”. Mark reflected on the mission and the journey, from proof of concept, to...
Apr 26, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Mauricio Graber, CEO of Chr Hansen, a Danish Biotech company harnessing the power of science and technology, to create a healthier, more sustainable world. We explored his early upbringing in Mexico, and some of the forces that shaped his values and international ambitions. We explored his career, that saw him working globally, and culminating in running Givaudan’s global flavors business. We discussed joining Christian Hansen, and his vision and strategy, f...
Apr 11, 2021•42 min
In this week’s episode I am joined by Tony Delio, a food Industry, Innovation executive. We explored his early influences, and his passion for combining science, with commercializing food innovation. He outlined some of the projects that helped him grow into a leader, and become Ingredion’s Chief innovation and Strategy Officer. We spoke about the key trends that have driven change across the food industry, over the last 30 years, and the new generation of socially responsible consumers that are...
Apr 05, 2021•40 min
In today’s episode I am joined by Alan Shaw, biotech entrepreneur, CEO and Co-Founder of Calysta, a company at the forefront of the alternative protein revolution. Alan reflects on his hardworking upbringing in the heartland of Industrial England and his personal growth journey, through completing his doctorate. He talks about a paradigm shift in his career, from working with chemistry, to understanding the profound affect biology has in creating new sustainable chemistries. He outlines his expe...
Mar 29, 2021•45 min
In todays episode I am joined by Tom Adams, CEO and Co-Founder of Pairwise Plants, a company using gene editing technologies to innovate and create a new category of more convenient, and more enticing fruits and vegetables. Tom reflects on his early love of science, and his career at Monsanto, and his work with gene editing, and gene expression systems. Tom talks about his mission and vision in using CRISPR technology to create a new category of fruits and vegetables, enabling consumers to make ...
Mar 22, 2021•42 min
In today’s episode I am joined by Aidan Connolly, CEO, Author, investor, and Agribusiness thought leader. Aidan reflects on his early influences, that helped shape his interest in business, travel, and his desire to operate outside of his comfort zone. He reflects on the importance of mentorship, and how a belief and support in him, helped him prosper during his early career. He spoke about the science and technologies affecting the food and agricultural sector, and about his role as CEO of Cain...
Mar 14, 2021•49 min
In todays episode I am joined by Eric Steen, Biotechnology entrepreneur, and CEO of Lygos, an innovative biotechnology company, creating healthy and sustainable chemicals. Eric reflects on his upbringing, and the influence of his parents in creating a foundation and set of principles based upon reusing natural resources and sustainability. Eric talks about the time at UC Berkeley, and leveraging the new biotechnology toolkits, and the vision for setting up Lygos, to produce novel and sustainable...
Mar 08, 2021•39 min
In todays episode I am joined by Andy Ziolkowski, one of the early pioneers of venture investment within the AgriFoodTech markets. Andy shares the early influence and the core foundation of hard-working values through the influence of his family immigration to America. Andy outlines the epiphany that started him in a career in venture investing, the importance of connections and meetings that opened doors for him throughout his career. He speaks about the key influence, and working closely under...
Feb 28, 2021•41 min
In todays episode I am joined by Nabil Sakkab, a thought leader of the open innovation movement, to create disruptive business. Nabil shares his early life experiences, and the impact of war, that had him living in 3 continents by the age of 21. Nabil talks about how a famous film, inspired his life’s work, and passion for science led innovation. He reflects on his career with P&G highlighting some of the breakthrough technologies and ideas he helped pioneer. Nabil explains the rationale beh...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min
In todays episode I am joined by Carlos Barroso, a leader in the commercialization of new innovation, and technology within the food and beverage consumer markets. We explore Carlos’ early influences and his love of combining the science of food, with the art of making food taste great. We explore his career, and talk through some of the innovations that he helped bring into the market. He shared his philosophies for building great teams, and spoke about some of major trends with R&D, and th...
Feb 14, 2021•45 min
In todays episode I am joined by biotechnology visionary and entrepreneur, Josh Silverman. We spoke about his love of science, and how his early experience with the early adoption of DNA and protein modification technologies, shaped his passion for high growth entrepreneurialism. He spoke about his experience working within drug development, and particularly around developing novel protein molecules, being part of successful high growth startup cultures. He explained his vision and connection fo...
Feb 08, 2021•45 min
In today’s episode I am joined by Adrian Percy, a leader and strong proponent of the development and adoption of new science and technology that support global food security, whilst conversing the environment. Adrian shared the key influences of his upbringing, and how he stumbled into the agriculture industry, growing into a lifelong passion for the industry. He spoke about his journey from a narrow field of specialism to running a global 5000-person R&D organization, outlining his philosop...
Jan 30, 2021•42 min
In todays episode I am joined by Jack Bobo, food futurist, and expert on the global trends in agriculture. We explore the profound affect that working in Gabon with the US peace Corps, shaped his personal calling of de-escalating tensions across our food system, helping us unite and create a healthier world. He speaks about the importance of global agriculture on big issues such as climate change and deforestation. We explored his career, through the US Department of state, advising on global tr...
Jan 25, 2021•45 min
In todays episode I was joined by Ganesh Kishore, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Spruce Capital Partners, thought leaders, investors and innovators across the Synthetic Biology, and Agrifood Technology. We explored his upbringing, and his insatiable curiosity, which led to him being schooled at the age of 3. We spoke about his love of nature, biochemistry and biology, and his career across food and agriculture Biotech where he had a distinguished track record of accomplishment, and awards fo...
Jan 17, 2021•52 min
In todays episode I am joined by Doug Cameron, Board Advisor, Inventor, and Biotechnology thought leader. We explore Doug’s early influences, his early love of science, growing up with a zest for life in a supportive family environment. We explored his first job working at an early stage AgriTech start up, that really cemented his love and passion for entrepreneurship and the possibility and promise of industrial biotech. He speaks about the emergence of biotech, and working with some real icons...
Jan 09, 2021•51 min
In todays episode I am joined by Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, an innovative carbon recycling technology company turning waste emissions into valuable products, pioneering the advance in the circular carbon economy. We explore Jennifer’s early influences, particularly how the space programme captured her imagination and set her on the path for a career in science. She speaks about her work with renewable energy and her mission as an advocate for energy democracy, and the move away from fo...
Dec 31, 2020•38 min
In todays episode I am joined by serial entrepreneur, Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Ingenuity Brands, an innovative food company developing a new generation of enhanced nutritional food products that support brain nutrition and development. We explore Jonathan’s early influences, and his journey as an early biotechnology pioneer, where he led organisations that were using algae as a feedstock to replace traditional fossil fuels to try and solve some of the global challenges we face. We explore his en...
Dec 06, 2020•40 min
In todays episode I am joined by Jim Flatt, CEO and Co-founder of Brightseed, a company with a revolutionary science and technology platform, enabling the discovery and commercialization of novel plant compounds that support health and nutrition. Jim talks about the influence growing up in San Francisco and his early love of computer science. He talks about the importance and influence of his key mentors, who inspired him with power and promise of systems and synthetic biology. Jim outlines some...
Nov 29, 2020•50 min
In todays episode I am joined by serial entrepreneur Alan Hahn, CEO of Mycotechnology, an innovative food ingredients company leveraging the power of mushroom technology to bring about a new generation of sustainable, great tasting and healthy food ingredients. Alan talks about his love of science and experimentation and how he was heavily influenced by his father, who was textile chemist. Alan reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, which involved building a series of successful companies whic...
Nov 22, 2020•42 min
In todays episode, I was joined by Pam Marrone, a thought leader in regenerative agriculture and a true entrepreneur having founded 2 pioneering technology companies, one leading to a successful exit and the other to an IPO. We explore Pam’s early influences, and trace her love of agriculture back to experiences as a young girl helping her parents with organic gardening, and how even over the shelf pesticides caused unnecessary damage to local ecosystems . She reflects on the challenges of being...
Nov 15, 2020•45 min
