Food & VC: Investing in the Future of Food and Agriculture

FB&A and EVC present a virtual panel exploring how venture capital is shaping the future of what we eat, how it’s produced, and who it serves. Featuring Aaron Jackson (Fair Food Capital), Nathan Lohrmann (Good Food Advisors), and Rachel Stinebaugh (Supply Change Capital), the conversation will dive into how early-stage capital supports innovation across food, CPG, and agtech—with a focus on sustainability. We welcome MBA and SEAS students to take the opportunity to learn from experts about food systems and innovation, how venture capital works, and impact-driven business.

Panel Discussion:

Aaron Jackson
Aaron brings 16 years of experience in community and economic development, finance, and entrepreneurship. He has successfully led multi-million-dollar investment funds, including his current role as Director of the Michigan Good Food Fund at Fair Food Network, where he oversees a $30 million public-private loan and grant fund to advance sustainable food systems and promote racial and economic equity. His impactful work includes designing a nationally recognized entrepreneurship initiative at the University of Michigan’s Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project, leveraging cross-sector partnerships to enhance small business success across Detroit. Aaron’s expertise spans innovative financial instruments, capital deployment strategies, and building collaborative partnerships that empower historically marginalized communities and drive inclusive economic growth. Aaron holds a Juris Doctor in Law and an MBA and BS in International Business, bringing a comprehensive approach to building inclusive economic growth and innovative financial solutions.

Nathan Lohrmann
Nathan has worked in the agrifood industry for over a decade, first as a consultant and corporate strategist and most recently as an advisor and venture investor. He’s helped everyone from Walmart and Taco Bell to US federal agencies and nonprofits to plan for the future, save and make millions of dollars, and build community. Since graduating from Michigan’s Erb Institute in December 2022, he co-founded a food waste mitigation-focused venture fund and has split his time between his Chicago home-base and sailboat on the East Coast.

Rachel Stinebaugh
Rachel is a Senior Associate at Supply Change Capital, a venture capital firm investing in B2B technologies that transform the food system. In this role, she’s responsible for the firm’s end-to-end investment process and deal sourcing. Prior to joining the team, Rachel worked with several startups in food and agriculture, leading business operations, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and building teams from operations to sales. She earned her MBA from Berkeley Haas, where she invested venture capital with the Haas Impact Fund and managed $4M of the university endowment as a Principal of the Sustainable Investment Fund.

Gregg Latterman (Moderator)
Gregg is the Executive Director of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he also teaches business administration. Gregg is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, having founded Aware Records and Positive Pretzels, the first organic flavored pretzel. Aware Records entered a joint venture deal with Columbia Records and established the Aware/Columbia label. Train, Five for Fighting, and John Mayer were his first three artists. He has also developed "Positive Entrepreneurship," combining positive psychology with an entrepreneurial mindset, and has served as an advisor for several start-ups, including those in the food sector. Gregg is also a board member at Interlochen Center for the Arts and is an advisor for many start-ups and organizations including the United States Soccer Development Council.

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