Alumni Ventures Group

Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.

Rob Adams

Managing Partner

Andrew Baum

Vice President, Treasury and Capital Management

David Beazley

Managing Partner

Ali Byrd

Investor Advisory Council Member

Marco A. Casas

Senior Investment Principal, Basecamp Fund

Matthew Caspari

Managing Partner

Matt Castellini

Senior Associate

Helen Chen

CEO Services Analyst

Cainon Coates

Managing Partner

Michael Collins

Investor

David Cynn

Managing Partner

Thomas Edwards

Associate

Nancy Fechnay

Principal

Yev Gelfand

Investor

Mason Hale

Senior Associate, Chestnut Street and Triphammer Ven

Erik Hammer

Partner

Brian Keil

Managing Partner

Jin Kim

Senior Vice President, Office of Investments

Jess Liu-Brown

Principal

Michael Madden

Co-Founder and Investment Professionals

Todd McIntyre

Managing Partner

Jonathan Meltzer

Partner

Keith Murphy

Director, Video Programs

David S. Muson

CFO

Kayla Phillips

Senior Associate

Aisha Robinson

Comms Team VP of Strategic Communications

Ludwig Schulze

Managing Partner

Matt Scott

Managing Partner

Saad Shaheen

Investor Operations Manager

David Shapiro

Managing Partner

Anton Simunovic

Investor

Chris Sklarin

Managing Partner

Stephen Stolzenberg

Senior Associate

Justin Strausbaugh

Managing Partner

Edward Tsai

Managing Partner

Drew Wandzilak

Senior Associate, Green D and Yard and Strategic Tech Fund

Larry Warnock

Managing Partner

Sarah Worden

Venture Scout

Ray Wu

Managing Partner

Wesley Yiu

Principal

Past deals in Food Processing

Ummino

Seed Round in 2023
Ummino is a company that specializes in precision fermentation technology aimed at the fortified food and beverage sectors. Founded in 2019 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ummino has developed a method that allows clients to convert common ingredients into high-value functional foods. By unlocking rare compounds found in nature, the company's technology enhances both taste and nutritional value, providing innovative solutions for the food industry.

Gooder Foods

Series A in 2023
Gooder Foods is a manufacturer of processed food products. The company offers veggie-boosted, protein-packed, mac and cheese, helping customers have healthy options in packaged food products.

Hyfé

Seed Round in 2023
Hyfé is a feedstock processing company that converts food waste and crop byproducts into feedstock for chemicals, materials, fuels, and foods using fungal fermentation. By upcycling waste generated in food manufacturing, Hyfé creates cost-competitive, sustainable alternative inputs that reduce reliance on petroleum and lower the carbon footprint across multiple industries.

Gooder Foods

Seed Round in 2023
Gooder Foods is a manufacturer of processed food products. The company offers veggie-boosted, protein-packed, mac and cheese, helping customers have healthy options in packaged food products.

Picnic

Venture Round in 2022
Picnic, founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, specializes in food production technology and robotics solutions for the food service and hospitality industries. Formerly known as Vivid Robotics Inc., the company has assembled a team of experienced professionals from both food and technology sectors. Picnic's flagship product, the Pizza Production System, represents a significant innovation in automated food preparation, enabling commercial kitchens to produce hundreds of custom pizzas per hour using chef-selected ingredients and recipes. The company's application facilitates seamless interactions and ordering processes for food companies, enhancing operational efficiency in the industry.

PathSpot

Series A in 2022
PathSpot Technologies, Inc., established in 2017 and headquartered in New York City, specializes in food safety solutions. The company develops and manufactures a unique system that uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze fluorescent light, enabling it to scan employees' hands and detect pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses. This technology helps restaurants and their customers mitigate the risk of food-borne illnesses by providing instant, invisible signs of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Mozza

Venture Round in 2022
Mozza is a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in the development of plant-based cheese products. The company aims to create cheese derived from plants that closely replicates the taste and texture of traditional dairy cheese. By utilizing bovine milk proteins, Mozza produces cheese that exhibits the same characteristics as its animal-derived counterparts, including melt, stretch, and flavor. This innovation provides consumers with a viable alternative to dairy cheese, catering to the growing demand for plant-based food options.

SCiFi Foods

Series A in 2022
SCiFi Foods is a food technology company focused on developing a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat through the production of cultivated meat. By combining lab-grown meat cells with plant-based ingredients, the company aims to create burgers that closely replicate the taste and sensory experience of traditional beef. SCiFi Foods has achieved significant milestones, including the successful growth of beef cells in suspension, which has the potential to dramatically reduce production costs. Co-founded by CEO Joshua March and CTO Kasia Gora, PhD, the company leverages advanced bioengineering techniques to provide a nutritious and animal-free meat experience. With a commitment to transforming the food landscape, SCiFi Foods has attracted substantial investment from prominent venture capital firms.

FarmWise

Series B in 2022
FarmWise, established in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing and manufacturing robotic machinery for agriculture. The company's primary product is a mechanical weeder, designed to track and remove weeds in vegetable crops, enhancing farm efficiency and reducing herbicide usage. FarmWise also offers comprehensive training and support to ensure optimal use of its technology.

Here

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Here Holdings, LLC is a company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in producing cold press juices, dips, and spreads. Its product lineup features a variety of juices made from ingredients such as pineapple, celery, apple, turmeric, and kale, among others. In addition to juices, Here Holdings offers a selection of dips, including black bean tomato, edamame pea sesame, and spinach mushroom. The company emphasizes the use of Midwest produce, reflecting its commitment to quality and local sourcing. Here Holdings aims to foster trust and transparency while serving the community through its food and beverage offerings.

Oshi

Seed Round in 2021
Oshi specializes in developing and producing plant-based fish fillets using advanced technology. Their mission is to create delicious, nutritious, and sustainable alternatives to traditional fish products.

Zordi

Series A in 2021
Zordi is a developer of autonomous greenhouse technology that combines robotics and artificial intelligence to automate agricultural operations. The platform uses modular greenhouse units that can be deployed near urban centers, allowing for the cultivation of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. Its AI system manages tasks such as pest control, irrigation, and harvesting, while robots handle precise planting, picking, and packing. By reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency, the solution offers a reliable and cost‑effective way to produce high‑quality produce for local markets. The company’s focus on automation and sustainability positions it as a key player in modern urban agriculture.

Gooder Foods

Seed Round in 2021
Gooder Foods is a manufacturer of processed food products. The company offers veggie-boosted, protein-packed, mac and cheese, helping customers have healthy options in packaged food products.

Picnic

Series A in 2021
Picnic, founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, specializes in food production technology and robotics solutions for the food service and hospitality industries. Formerly known as Vivid Robotics Inc., the company has assembled a team of experienced professionals from both food and technology sectors. Picnic's flagship product, the Pizza Production System, represents a significant innovation in automated food preparation, enabling commercial kitchens to produce hundreds of custom pizzas per hour using chef-selected ingredients and recipes. The company's application facilitates seamless interactions and ordering processes for food companies, enhancing operational efficiency in the industry.

Spero Foods

Series A in 2021
Spero Foods, Inc. is a company that specializes in producing and selling alternative dairy products, focusing primarily on cream cheese. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Spero employs innovative food science and process engineering to create mainstream plant-based dairy alternatives. The company aims to provide healthy food options for all individuals, positioning itself as a disruptor in the traditional dairy market. Spero Foods' products are available through various channels, including wholesalers, retail stores, and online platforms across the United States. The company has gained recognition for its innovative approach and has received awards from notable organizations such as Fast Company, NEXTY, and The Food Network. Its products can be found in over 3,500 authorized locations, including major retailers like Kroger, Whole Foods, Publix, and Sprouts.

Medipresso

Seed Round in 2021
Medipresso is a company that specializes in the production of coffee and tea capsule machines. It focuses on creating medicinal herbal teas by combining traditional medicines with natural ingredients. The company is engaged in research to enhance the capsule business, aiming to simplify the consumption of herbal tea ingredients that have historically been challenging to enjoy. By employing a careful blending process overseen by a tea sommelier and utilizing high-pressure extraction methods in its capsule machines, Medipresso enables customers to access the medicinal benefits of herbal teas while enjoying a convenient beverage experience.

Thistle

Series B in 2021
Thistle, established in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in delivering ready-to-eat, plant-based meals, snacks, and cold-pressed juices directly to customers. Its offerings are nutritious, gourmet, and sourced locally and organically, making healthy eating convenient and accessible.

Spero Foods

Series A in 2020
Spero Foods, Inc. is a company that specializes in producing and selling alternative dairy products, focusing primarily on cream cheese. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Spero employs innovative food science and process engineering to create mainstream plant-based dairy alternatives. The company aims to provide healthy food options for all individuals, positioning itself as a disruptor in the traditional dairy market. Spero Foods' products are available through various channels, including wholesalers, retail stores, and online platforms across the United States. The company has gained recognition for its innovative approach and has received awards from notable organizations such as Fast Company, NEXTY, and The Food Network. Its products can be found in over 3,500 authorized locations, including major retailers like Kroger, Whole Foods, Publix, and Sprouts.

SCiFi Foods

Venture Round in 2020
SCiFi Foods is a food technology company focused on developing a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat through the production of cultivated meat. By combining lab-grown meat cells with plant-based ingredients, the company aims to create burgers that closely replicate the taste and sensory experience of traditional beef. SCiFi Foods has achieved significant milestones, including the successful growth of beef cells in suspension, which has the potential to dramatically reduce production costs. Co-founded by CEO Joshua March and CTO Kasia Gora, PhD, the company leverages advanced bioengineering techniques to provide a nutritious and animal-free meat experience. With a commitment to transforming the food landscape, SCiFi Foods has attracted substantial investment from prominent venture capital firms.

Dexai Robotics

Seed Round in 2020
Dexai Robotics, Inc. is a company based in Somerville, Massachusetts, focused on designing and developing artificial intelligence-driven robotics for the automation of commercial kitchens and the broader food industry. Founded in 2018, Dexai specializes in creating customized robots that simplify operations in quick-serve restaurants and other food service environments. The company's robots leverage advanced technologies such as machine vision and machine learning to automate food assembly tasks. This includes the precise use of utensils to scoop or pick ingredients, allowing for the preparation of salads and other dishes without altering recipes. By streamlining these processes, Dexai Robotics enables restaurant businesses to operate more efficiently in their daily activities.

FarmWise

Series A in 2019
FarmWise, established in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing and manufacturing robotic machinery for agriculture. The company's primary product is a mechanical weeder, designed to track and remove weeds in vegetable crops, enhancing farm efficiency and reducing herbicide usage. FarmWise also offers comprehensive training and support to ensure optimal use of its technology.

Motif

Series A in 2019
Motif FoodWorks, Inc. is a bio-organism engineering company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing innovative food ingredients. The company focuses on producing animal-free proteins, including meat alternatives and dairy-free proteins, catering to the growing demand for plant-based food solutions. By utilizing fermentation technology, Motif creates essential proteins and nutrients that enhance both nutrition and flavor in food products. The company collaborates with chefs, health experts, and food innovators to develop new ingredient solutions aimed at transforming the food industry and promoting sustainability. Established in 2018 and originally known as Motif Ingredients, Motif FoodWorks rebranded in 2019 to reflect its commitment to advancing the next generation of healthy and plant-based foods.

Ceradis

Venture Round in 2019
Ceradis B.V. is a company that specializes in the development and marketing of environmentally friendly solutions for plant nutrition and crop protection products. Founded in 2005 and based in Wageningen, the Netherlands, with an additional office in Bogotá, Colombia, Ceradis also offers crop formulation services. The company's products feature patented formulations that ensure optimal activity of ingredients and provide excellent handling characteristics for users. Ceradis serves the agricultural industry both in the Netherlands and on an international scale.

Clear Labs

Series B in 2018
Clear Labs is a biotechnology company specializing in next-generation sequencing and data analytics for infectious disease surveillance and food safety testing. Its platforms, Clear Dx™ and Clear Safety™, enable rapid identification of pathogens, supporting public health initiatives and enhancing safety across various sectors.

PastureMap

Seed Round in 2017
Founded in 2014, PastureMap develops software for ranchers and farmers to optimize grazing practices. Its platform combines intelligent mobile records with aerial imaging, soil maps, and rainfall data to improve land use efficiency, reduce resource requirements, and facilitate grass-fed certifications.

Consumer Physics

Series C in 2017
Consumer Physics develops and markets SCiO, the smallest near-infrared spectrometer. It empowers consumers and businesses to analyze materials using a molecular sensor that connects to smartphone apps and a cloud-based database of material fingerprints.

Clear Labs

Series B in 2016
Clear Labs is a biotechnology company specializing in next-generation sequencing and data analytics for infectious disease surveillance and food safety testing. Its platforms, Clear Dx™ and Clear Safety™, enable rapid identification of pathogens, supporting public health initiatives and enhancing safety across various sectors.
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