Rooted in Relationship
Ideagarden’s Community of Cultivators is a living part of our ecosystem: learning, connecting, and helping to grow the future of food systems together.
Share your expertise.
Guide entrepreneurs who reach out for strategic advice, mentorship, or connection.
Connect emerging food system leaders.
Facilitate introductions across your network when appropriate.
Champion food systems work you believe in.
Share what’s growing across the ecosystem. Your voice will carry this work into new spaces.
Grow alongside Ideagarden.
Join our workshops and community gatherings when your schedule allows
Our Commitment to You:
Success for the Community of Cultivators is measured not by the size of the network, but by the depth and authenticity of its engagement. You can expect us to celebrate your contributions by bringing your leadership and expertise to our growing network, and to be kept close to what's next in food systems by connecting you with emerging leaders, new thinking, and innovative models.
Ready to root yourself in this ecosystem?
Engage Meaningfully, Grow Genuinely
We believe that sharing time and knowledge is among the most valuable gifts we can offer one another.
Community of Culivators
Current Mentors
Toast Inc.
Ani Boyo
UC Berkeley
Ava Barnett
Dadascope Communications
Dana Smith
FutureTable
Lorin Fries
TWIST Investing for Systems Change, MBT Consulting
Maria Fernanda Balcazar Tellez
DRK Foundation
Meg Rudy
Supply Change Capital
Rachel Stinebaugh
The Croner Company
Samuel Syde
Full Table Solutions
Sophie Egan
UC Berkeley Haas
Vaneshia Reed
Frequently Asked Questions
When you join, we'll send a short intake form asking about your areas of expertise, how you prefer to be reached, and what a sustainable level of engagement looks like for you. From there, we'll add your profile to our network and you're in. The whole onboarding process is designed to take less than 15 minutes.
Your name, bio, and LinkedIn profile will be visible as part of your Cultivator presence in the community. With your permission, your email and/or phone number will be shared with entrepreneurs for direct outreach. We will not share personal contact information without your consent.
Entrepreneurs may reach out with specific questions, requests for advice, introductions to people in your network, or interest in a focused project collaboration. You are not obligated to say yes to anything that isn't the right fit or beyond your capacity at that point.
It depends on you. At minimum, you'll receive our quarterly newsletter and occasional community updates from Ideagarden.