Philanthropic Collaborative
Cultivating Food Systems Innovations
“Food is the single strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth”.
- EAT-Lancet Commission
Ideagarden Institute
Ideagarden Institute is a dynamic 501(c)(3) social venture incubator, established in 2021, that's transforming the way we nurture and develop the next generation of diverse food system innovators and their enterprises. Born from the collaboration of Will Rosenzweig and Greg Steltenpohl, two of California’s most respected sustainable food system pioneers, Ideagarden provides a unique "greenhouse" environment in which emerging entrepreneurs can grow their novel food system ideas from seed to sustainable enterprise. The greenhouse model provides an ecosystem of resources, strategic guidance and catalytic capital to enable entrepreneurs and their initiatives to flourish.
Our Mission
Unmet Needs
Key Highlights
Innovative Germination Model
We nurture emerging entrepreneurs/teams with systems changing ideas
and an early prototype that demonstrates traction and potential.
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The Ideagarden Greenhouse Offers:
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Initial engagements in which the entrepreneur and initiative become a non-profit project of Ideagarden and benefit from operational resources, committed mentoring and a development process that provides financial support (6-18 months) to validate the potential for impact and to define a sustainable operating model (can become a for-profit).
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Access to a diverse ecosystem of experienced and passionate mentor-guides who are expert in food systems dynamics, business models, product market fit and fundraising.
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Cross-pollination among peers for accelerated learning and synergies between initiatives.
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For projects that demonstrate positive growth and exhibit further potential, three to five years of shared services, including: fundraising, communications, and operations support and access to matching grants and funding.
Strategic Selection Process
Comprehensive Development Approach
We guide and nurture entrepreneurs and their initiatives through prototype development, business model validation, and necessary preparation for external investment. The “germination process” starts by validating an idea’s potential through a series of experiments using prototypes. A “wisdom council” forms around each entrepreneur and initiative to refine their systems-change strategy and create milestones for accountability. If milestones are met, the entrepreneur receives a seed investment, with the expectation that they would identify other funders or grants who will support their initiative in the future. We have comprehensive back-end tech platforms and operational resources that provide
capital-efficient and scalable approaches to rapidly execute ideas in the real world.
Long-term Vision
We embrace a three to five-year horizon to help ventures achieve critical mass and develop scalable, repeatable models for sustainable success. We seek essential impact capital to overcome the existing funding gap that exists between philanthropy and venture capital for regenerative food and ag initiatives. Our longer-term goal is to raise sufficient capital to provide $250K annually to each of six initiatives for up to five years. (Phase 2)
Engaged Expert Network:
Our expansive community of cultivators is rich in social capital and comprises diverse, experienced professionals united by their expertise in patiently growing both innovators and their ventures.
Active board members include Ed Colloton (Bessemer Venture Partners), Catha Groot (Radicle Impact), Kristin Groos Richmond (Revolution Foods), Fazeela Rashid (Revolution Growth), Sparsha Saha (Harvard University) and Victoria Williams-Ononye (Oatly). Will Rosenzweig serves as initial Executive Director and board Co-Chair.
Current Initiatives & Goal to Fund a Philanthropic Collaborative
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Plant Futures: Accelerating the transition to plant-centric food systems
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FARMpreneurs: Empowering the next generation of climate-smart farmers to be more profitable, resilient and valuable to their communities
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Climate Farm School: Educating sustainability and health professionals about the climate potential of regenerative farming methods
By joining our community that provides grant capital to Ideagarden Institute, you're not just funding individual startups – you are nurturing an ecosystem of innovation and regeneration for our collective future. Our initial target is $3M for the next three years of operations and funding of initiatives, including the hiring of a full-time executive director.
Your Investment & Involvement will:
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Catalyze the growth of multiple high-impact ventures in the food and agriculture sector
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Contribute to solving some of the most pressing challenges in our society, planet and culture by accelerating the transformation of our food systems
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Participate in intergenerational learning and mentorship in the development of the next generations of systems-thinking entrepreneurs Invite you to amazing community gatherings, experiential learning and regenerative hospitality
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Solve the funding gap for early-stage food systems innovations emerging either as for-profit or non-profit enterprises or as collectives, cooperatives or other forms of organization
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Support the hiring of a full-time executive director for the Institute
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Expand our community of values-aligned food systems experts and advocates, enhancing our entrepreneur support ecosystem.
The Ideagarden greenhouse gives funders exposure to a curated, diversified and synergistic portfolio of innovative approaches to positively address climate, health and equity.
Please join us in cultivating seeds of change to nurture the future of food and its leadership. The magnitude of this challenge and its accompanying opportunities require a committed community with vision and action. Your attention, expertise and resources could be invaluable.