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CEI Ventures
Chandler is Managing Director of CEI Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brunswick, Maine based Community Development Finance Institution, Coastal Enterprises, Inc (CEI). CEI Ventures finances high impact, growth-oriented companies located in targeted communities in Maine and the Northeast, investing in a variety of sectors and stages. Since 1996, CEI Ventures has raised 5 venture capital funds and invested in over 65 high growth companies. In addition to his work at CEI Ventures, Chandler assists CEI’s Sustainable Food Systems Program with investing in early-stage, high impact food systems businesses. Chandler received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from St. Michael’s College and an MBA from the University of Southern Maine with a concentration in finance. Chandler is also deeply and proudly rooted to the Maine lobster industry.
Aspire Food Group
Jason Jones is an entrepreneur, executive, and advisor with a passion for disrupting industries for the better, with a focus on scalable, novel farming models. He was Founding President of Vital Farms Inc, and today is Chief Growth Officer at Aspire Food Group. Jason is an active advisor and investor in a variety of growth-stage firms in the food, green-tech, and nutraceuticals sectors. He has served in a variety of non-profits, and is a founding Board Member of the CPG network Naturally Austin. Jason earned his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, is an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, and lives outside Austin with his family and two pit bulls.
Desert Bloom Foods
Julia Paino is a Partner and Board Director of Desert Bloom Foods, a fund investing in, and supporting, dynamic companies that are reshaping our food environment. Previously, Julia co-founded Branch Venture Group (BVG), a Boston-based syndicate that provides capital to early-stage companies in the food, beverage, and agtech space. Prior to BVG, Julia joined as a Founding Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures, the first network-driven venture firm investing in innovative technology solutions. In addition to her work in venture capital, Julia founded Swoffle, a nationwide organic food company where she now serves on the board of directors. Julia also serves as Co-Chair to the NEXUS Community on Global Impact Investing Initiatives. Fun fact: Julia started her career on assignment with National Geographic in Alaska helping to document the changing environment through aerial photography from low-flying floatplanes.
Sitari Capital
As Founder of Sitari Capital, Lisa works with investors to evaluate and manage impactful, direct investments in private companies that align with their values. She is also a Managing Partner at Fresh Source Capital, LLC, and a General Partner in Fresh Source Capital Fund 1, which focuses on the sustainable food and agriculture sector. Previously, Lisa served as a consultant to the Fair Food Fund, and spent 15 years as an equity analyst and portfolio manager for investment firms Batterymarch Financial Management and Boston Advisors. Lisa has served as an advisor and/or board director to several food and agriculture organizations, including Atlantic Sea Farms, Farmers To You, Big Picture Beef, and Boston Public Market, where she is the current Board Chair. Lisa holds an undergraduate degree from Holy Cross and earned her Masters at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She is a CFA® Charterholder and member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.
S2G Ventures
Larsen’s love for the ocean is evidenced by his career and family. In addition to work with Atlantic Seafarms, he is currently a Managing Director for S2G Ventures Oceans and Seafood Fund, serves as an advisor for Neptune NCRP, and a board member for Moleaer, ReelData, and Aquatic Protein. Larsen was also an owner and the CFO of Silver Bay Seafoods, and the Director of Key KeyBanc Capital Markets Seafood Investment Banking Group. He has an MBA with a concentration in Investment Banking from Wake Forest and Dual BBAs in Finance and Information Systems from the University of New Mexico. Larsen lives in Seattle with his family / best friends, Casey and Dylan and Bowie. They love scuba diving, paddle boarding, camping, fishing, skiing and cheering on the Seahawks (Kraken TBD).
True Wealth Ventures
Kerry Rupp is General Partner at True Wealth Ventures, an early-stage VC fund investing in women-led businesses that improve human and/or environmental health. Previously, Kerry was CEO at DreamIt, a Top Ten US startup accelerator and VC fund. She was Founder/CEO of travel company Holiday Golightly and held VP positions at AllRecipes.com, Jobster, Classmates.com, and LexisNexis. Kerry is an avid adventurer that has visited over 50 countries and all 50 US states.
Desert Bloom Foods
Sohel Shikari is a co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Desert Bloom Foods. Prior to this, he co-founded and was the Chief Financial Officer of one of America’s leading Indian-Asian food brands, Tasty Bite, and helped build it over twenty years; a business that was acquired by Mars. He has experience in finance, manufacturing operations and global supply chains relating to the food industry. Sohel is currently involved in several healthy food businesses as a board member and observer including Everytable, Beyond Good, Hungry Harvest, The Jackfruit Company and Atlantic Sea Farms. He holds an undergraduate and masters degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sohel spends time between his home in Mumbai and New York and is an avid traveler and world cuisine explorer and is passionate about the role nutrition plays in both human and planetary health.
