FELLOWSHIP QUESTIONS?
Our team is here to help! Feel free to send any questions regarding the Innovator Fellowship to [email protected].
FTW Ventures is a leading, early-stage venture fund investing in breakthrough science & technology for a more Sustainable Food System.
FTW works with a broad startup, corporate and investor community to reverse climate change, improve productivity, reduce waste, and stave off diet-related illnesses in both the developed and developing world. The team looks for companies in biotechnology, hardware/automation, software/SaaS, AI/ML, novel ingredients, sustainable packaging and climate tech to nurture not only with capital, but their expertise and their network of customers, partners and advisors.
They advise founders along their entire startup journey – through fundraising, developing the initial product strategy, building their go-to-market plan, business development connections and providing guidance on effective marketing.
FTW Ventures was founded by Brian Frank, a serial entrepreneur turned venture investor with prior operating and investing experience in the technology and food tech sectors. He’s raised capital from some of the most notable founders and innovators in Food and Technology sectors, as well as leading corporates that are defining the future of food.
Candidates with coursework or experience related to one or more of the following areas (or similar) are strongly desired: food science, synthetic biology, cell and molecular biology, nutrition, computer science, engineering, materials science, climate tech, entrepreneurship or related topics.
Location: San Francisco
Big Idea Ventures is solving the World’s Biggest Challenges by supporting the World’s Best Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Engineers. Big Idea Ventures has 4 funds, one of them being the Generation Food Rural Partners Fund (size USD$124M).
The Generation Food Rural Partners fund (GFRP) commercializes university-developed intellectual property focused on food, protein, and agriculture innovation. We launch new companies, recruit seasoned management teams, and provide support from inception alongside our university and strategic partners. Our mission is to support economic development in rural communities and drive innovation in university ecosystems across the United States.
Candidates with coursework or experience related to one or more of the following areas (or similar) are strongly desired:
Proteins Technology – Plant Based, Insect Based, Lab Culture, Media/Ingredients into alternative proteins, Structure Material, Replacement of Antibiotic and other feed additives.
Food Technology – Natural Ingredients (Reduction of Sugar, Reduction of Salt), Packaging, Processing, Food Safety, Water usage and reclamation
Agriculture Technology – Pheromone Based Pesticides, Soil Microbiome, Plant Microbiome, Plant waste to pulp and plastics, Hydroponic ingredients, Trait Technology – increase protein/vitamin/oil, Water usage and reclamation
Location: Remote
FoodShot Global empowers bold ideas and innovative companies to accelerate the transformation to a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system. It is a collaborative investment platform of innovators, investors, industry leaders and advocates working to solve our biggest food system challenges. By connecting knowledge, networks and funding across private and public sectors, FoodShot Global creates scalable, impactful, and inspired solutions. FoodShot Global’s integrated capital continuum includes the $500,000+ GroundBreaker Prize for researchers, early stage entrepreneurs, and policy advocates, as well as up to $10 million in equity or debt investment for winning for-profit businesses. Along with post-investment resources, FoodShot Global’s blended capital model empowers best-in-class entrepreneurs, researchers and advocates to transform the most critical food system challenges into opportunities for collaborative investment and meaningful change.
Each year, FoodShot Global selects an identified obstacle to a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system. So far, FoodShot Global has launched four FoodShots: Innovating Soil 3.0, Precision Protein, BioActive Foods, and Water.
Candidates with coursework or experience related to one or more of the following areas (or similar) are strongly desired: sustainable agriculture, climate change and drought resilience, plant breeding technologies, precision agriculture, machine learning and remote sensing technologies, microbiome, connections between agriculture and human health.
Location: Remote
Make sure you are signed into your ucdavis.edu email address; Google account must be signed in for application link to work.
Applicants from UC Davis only:
Candidates from all fields welcome to apply, but most successful candidates come from technical fields that align with needs of VCs, listed above.
Candidates must have support from PI approving the applicant’s engagement.
Looking for candidates with:
Please apply to one or both venture capital groups by providing the following documentation:
Please combine items 1-4 above (in the order they are listed) into one single PDF for submission. Further information can be found on the submission form.
Please note you must be signed into your UC Davis or Google account to apply. Problems? Contact [email protected].
Deadline to apply extended to Sunday, March 17, 2023
Make sure you are signed into your ucdavis.edu email address; Google account must be signed in for link to work.
Our team is here to help! Feel free to send any questions regarding the Innovator Fellowship to [email protected].