Puratos is an international group that specializes in producing and supplying a wide array of bakery ingredients tailored for artisans, industrial manufacturers, supermarkets, and food service companies. The company's diverse product range includes bread improvers, active bakery ingredients, mixes for cakes and sponges, fillings, glazes, non-dairy toppings, and chocolate compounds. Puratos focuses on providing innovative products and raw materials, along with application expertise, to assist clients in creating nutritious and flavorful food for their communities.

Barry Callebaut Group is a prominent manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, specializing in the entire process from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing a wide range of chocolate items, including fillings, decorations, and compounds. The company serves a diverse clientele within the food industry, encompassing industrial food manufacturers as well as artisanal and professional users, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants, and caterers. Employing over 13,000 individuals, Barry Callebaut is vertically integrated, managing the procurement of raw materials and chocolate manufacture, though it does not own any cocoa farms. The company produces approximately 40% of the world's industrial chocolate and its products are utilized in around 20% of the global chocolate and cocoa goods. Barry Callebaut is also committed to sustainability, reflecting its dedication to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship.

Natra, S.A. is a Spanish multinational company specializing in the production and distribution of chocolate and cocoa products primarily for private label brands and food companies across Europe, North America, and Asia. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Madrid, Natra operates through two main divisions: Consumer Goods and Industrial. The Consumer Goods division manufactures a variety of chocolate products, including tablets, countlines, spreads, and Belgian chocolates, focusing on key markets such as Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The Industrial division supplies cocoa-derived ingredients, including cocoa mass, butter, powder, and chocolate coatings, to the global food industry. Natra is committed to expanding its market presence, with an emphasis on North America and China, and operates six specialized production centers in Spain, Belgium, France, and Canada. Additionally, the company holds a controlling stake in Natraceutical, which focuses on natural nutritional supplements in Europe.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm based in Princeton, New Jersey, founded in 1995. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on deep technology innovations that address human and planetary health. The firm operates startup development programs, notably HAX and IndieBio, which provide resources, facilities, and lab equipment to accelerate the growth of promising startups. SOSV supports companies from their inception through various funding stages, including seed and series A rounds, while offering ongoing assistance to help them scale and attract additional investors. By concentrating on revolutionary technologies and cross-border markets, particularly in Asia, SOSV aims to foster significant advancements that benefit humanity and the environment.

Mars is a manufacturer and wholesaler specializing in pet food and confectionery products. The company offers a diverse range of items, including chocolate, gums, mints, candies, and various pet foods. Additionally, Mars provides food products such as rice, pre-cooked wheat items, recipe bases, marinades, sauces, pasta meals, whole-grain mixes, thickeners, and soups. With a long-term vision, Mars aims to transform its business practices in collaboration with associates, partners, and suppliers, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability and innovation in the food industry.

The Hershey Company is a prominent global confectionery manufacturer based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, known for its wide range of chocolates, sweets, and snacks. Founded in 1894, the company features over 80 well-known brands, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, and Ice Breakers. Hershey holds a significant share of the U.S. chocolate market, controlling approximately 36% of the domestic space. Its products are available in around 80 countries, though a majority of its sales originate from the United States. In addition to its core confectionery offerings, Hershey is actively seeking to diversify its portfolio by expanding into new snack categories, as seen with its acquisition of Amplify Snack Brands, which includes the popular Skinny Pop brand. The company continues to focus on increasing its presence in key international markets while enhancing its competitive edge in North America.

Mondelez International is a prominent snack manufacturing company that specializes in producing and marketing a wide range of food and beverage products. Since its separation from Kraft Foods in October 2012, Mondelez has established itself as a leader in the global snack industry, with a diverse portfolio that includes popular brands such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy, Halls, and Cadbury. As of the end of fiscal 2023, the company generates its sales primarily from biscuits (49%), chocolate (30%), gum and candy (12%), beverages (3%), and cheese and grocery items (6%). Mondelez's revenue is derived from various markets, with approximately one third coming from developing regions, just over one third from Europe, and the remainder from North America.

Cloetta AB is a leading confectionery manufacturer based in Northern Europe, specializing in a wide range of products including sugar confectionery, chocolate, pastilles, and chewing gum. The company serves both local and international markets, with a presence in over fifty countries, particularly focusing on Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. Cloetta's diverse brand portfolio features well-known names such as Lakerol, CandyKing, Jenkki, Kexchoklad, Malaco, Sportlife, and Red Band. The company operates approximately seven production units across five countries, enabling it to efficiently produce and distribute its confectionery offerings.

Nestle is a multinational food and beverage company renowned for its extensive product portfolio, which includes well-known brands such as Nestle, Nescafe, Perrier, Pure Life, and Purina. With annual revenues exceeding CHF 90 billion, Nestle operates in 189 countries and boasts 34 brands that each generate over CHF 1 billion in sales. In addition to its core business, the company engages in initiatives focused on nutrition education, research, and charitable efforts, including food donations and financial support for various causes. Nestle also holds a significant stake in the French cosmetics firm L'Oréal, reflecting its diverse interests beyond food and beverages.

IndieBio, founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, is the world’s first accelerator dedicated to startups that leverage biology to address significant global challenges. As part of SOSV, a global venture capital firm, IndieBio focuses on nurturing seed-stage and early-stage companies across various sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology, and consumer products. The accelerator provides funding and support to innovative ventures aiming to create impactful solutions in areas such as pharmaceuticals, oncology, and advanced manufacturing. By fostering emerging technologies and biological applications, IndieBio plays a crucial role in advancing the next generation of startups that seek to make a positive difference in society.

Punch Edibles manufactures and supplies a variety of flavorful medicinal-CBD gummies, chocolate, rolls, fruit snacks, extracts, and vapes.

AAK AB, based in Sweden, is a leading producer of refined vegetable oils primarily serving the food processing sector. The company operates through three main business segments: Food Ingredients, Chocolate & Confectionery Fats, and Technical Products & Feed. The Food Ingredients segment offers specialized solutions for industries such as bakery, dairy, nutrition, and food service, including products like baking fats and dairy fat alternatives. The Chocolate & Confectionery Fats segment caters to manufacturers of chocolate and confectionery, providing products that enhance sensory qualities and improve shelf life. Meanwhile, the Technical Products & Feed segment focuses on supplying specialized solutions such as fatty acids, glycerin, and animal feed, addressing the growing demand for natural ingredients and sustainability. AAK operates globally, leveraging its expertise to meet diverse customer needs across various markets.

Sunny Sky Products, LLC is a manufacturer specializing in premium dispensed beverages. The company provides a diverse range of beverage solutions, including hot, cold, and frozen options, as well as beverage enhancers. Its product lineup features specialty coffee, hot chocolate, fountain drinks, sweeteners, smoothies, and energy drinks. Sunny Sky Products caters to various sectors such as convenience stores, food service, healthcare, education, concessions, and supermarkets, ensuring a comprehensive offering for different consumer needs.

Portillo's offers classic Chicago-style street food like hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and chocolate cake. Portillo's prides itself on its ingredients and service.

Investindustrial is a private equity firm founded in 1990 and based in London, United Kingdom. The firm focuses on investing in medium-sized companies across various sectors, including consumer and leisure, healthcare and services, industrial manufacturing, and technology. It primarily targets businesses located in Southern Europe, specifically in countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland. Investindustrial aims to support the growth and expansion of these companies by providing capital for development and operational improvements.

Vintage Wine Estates is a privately held wine company comprised of a consortium of vintner families with extensive experience in the wine industry. The company owns a diverse collection of winery estates and brands, including Clos Pegase Winery, Cosentino Winery, Girard Winery, B.R. Cohn Winery, Swanson Vineyards, Viansa Sonoma, Windsor Vineyards, Cameron Hughes, Firesteed, and several others. Vintage Wine Estates is dedicated to producing high-quality wines and providing exceptional customer experiences across its wineries located in Napa, Sonoma, California's Central Coast, Oregon, and Washington State. The brand portfolio also features exclusive labels such as Middle Sister, Tall Dark Stranger, Pro-mis-Q-ous, Monogamy, Girl & Dragon, and Purple Cowboy, reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation in winemaking.

Werners Gourmetservice AB is an importer and restaurant supplier of caviar, truffles, spices, chocolates, and desserts.

The Company manufactures, markets and distributes a diverse line of brand name candies, cookies, chocolates and other food products. The Company's principal products are Cows butter toffee candies, demitasse(R) biscuits, Ruger(R) wafers and Elana(R) Belgian chocolates. The Company also markets Soup Du Jour soups, Sour Fruit Burst fruit-filled hard candies, as well as certain holiday specialty products, such as Pirate's Gold Coins milk chocolates for Christmas and Tokens of Love milk chocolates for Valentine's Day. The Company's marketing strategy, including its packaging of products designed to maximize freshness, taste and visual appeal, emphasizes highly distinctive, premium quality products that are sold at prices that compare favorably to those of competitive products.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company with a heritage of over 80 years in India and touches the lives of two out of three Indians. HUL works to create a better future every day and helps people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. With over 35 brands spanning 20 distinct categories such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, tea, coffee, packaged foods, ice cream, and water purifiers, the Company is a part of the everyday life of millions of consumers across India. Its portfolio includes leading household brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Fair & Lovely, Pond’s, Vaseline, Lakmé, Dove, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Pepsodent, Closeup, Axe, Brooke Bond, Bru, Knorr, Kissan, Kwality Wall’s and Pureit. The Company has over 16,000 employees and has an annual turnover of around Rs.25,206 crores (financial year 2012 - 2013). HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever, one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe with annual sales of €51 billion in 2012. Unilever has 67.25% shareholding in HUL.

3D Ventures is an early-stage startup focused on a range of 3D printers. The company’s product portfolio includes Candy, a printer that enables consumers to decorate cakes, make cookies, print bespoke chocolates, and more. The product comes with preset designs, making it usable right out of the box. 3D Ventures is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

Vakko is a Turkey fashion house and luxury goods brand, that started out as a small hat shop called Şen Şapka (Merry Hats). Founded by Vitali Hakko in 1934, Şen Şapka soon became the Vakko brand, producing scarves made of Turkish silk based on the latest fashions. These scarves reflected the company’s decision to make only the very best for customers who demanded the very best. Inspired by the mood of development and innovation in the country at the time, Vakko recognized the need to expand beyond hats, scarves, and printed fabrics and ventured into the ready-to-wear industry, where the company has been a sector leader ever since. As a fashion house, Vakko’s primary goal was to create collections that interpreted the latest fashions, while offering superior quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and excellent service. Consequently, as reflected in the Vakko motto, “Fashion is Vakko”. Today, Vakko specializes in high-fashion luxury goods through its numerous collections and stores: Vakko Scarves, Vakko Men and Vakko Women, Vakko Couture, V2K Designers, Vakko Wedding, Vakkorama concept stores, W Collection Menswear and Vakko Home. Vakko also brings its high quality to the gourmet food sector with Vakko Chocolate, Vakko Tea Atelier, Vakko Coffee Atelier, as well as the high-end patisserie concept Vakko Patisserie Petit Four, and French restaurant Vakko Bistrot. Vakko Espace ensures that the Vakko quality can also be experienced at event organizations. Committed to supporting the future of the industry, Vakko has established two pioneering initiatives: the Vakko ESMOD Fashion Academy and the Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library. The Vakko HQ Building in Istanbul and the Vakko Fashion Center were designed by the renowned New York architecture firm, Office REX. The Vakko Fashion Center was named “Best Workspace” by Wallpaper magazine.

Scottish EDGE is a competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent. The company believes that it’s important to support entrepreneurs and start-up businesses in any way we can. Scottish EDGE also recognizes that supporting businesses isn’t a one-off thing. From providing prize funding of up to £150,000 to a quick catch-up, we’re here for the long haul. Are you in? Let’s get down to business.

Crowdcube Limited is an equity crowdfunding platform based in Exeter, United Kingdom, with an additional office in London. Founded in 2009, the company allows entrepreneurs of start-ups and growing businesses to raise funds from a diverse network of investors, including friends, family, and the general public. Through Crowdcube, individuals can invest in small companies in exchange for equity or an annual return, thereby democratizing access to investment opportunities that were once primarily available to corporate investors. Since pioneering equity crowdfunding in 2011, Crowdcube has facilitated over £300 million in investments from more than 390,000 investors, supporting over 520 successful fundraising campaigns. Notable businesses that have utilized the platform include Monzo, River Cottage, and the Eden Project, among others.

Verlinvest is a family office established in 1995 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with additional offices in London, Mumbai, New York, and Singapore. The firm focuses on partnering with visionary leaders to build iconic and mission-driven brands across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and food and beverages. Verlinvest aims to drive consumer revolutions by investing in companies within the fast-moving consumer goods, lifestyle, and health sectors, emphasizing a commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Horizons Ventures focuses on investing in disruptive and technology-focused start-ups. The firm was founded in 1999 and is based in Hong Kong. Some of the latest exits are Skype, Siri, Facebook, Summly, and Waze.

AccelFoods is a New York-based company founded in 2013 that focuses on partnering with high-growth early-stage food and beverage companies. It provides driven founders with access to industry expertise and infrastructure necessary to develop unique products and effective go-to-market strategies. By connecting emerging companies with valuable resources, AccelFoods aims to foster the creation of the next generation of enduring brands within the food and beverage ecosystem.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), established in 1956 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a member of the World Bank Group dedicated to private sector development in developing countries. The organization provides a range of financial and advisory services to foster economic growth across various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and technology. IFC invests in both direct projects and funds, focusing on emerging markets and prioritizing sustainability and inclusive development. It offers a diverse array of financial instruments, such as equity, loans, and quasi-equity products, while adhering to strict investment guidelines that exclude certain industries, such as weapons, tobacco, and gambling. IFC typically invests between $1 million and $100 million, supporting projects that are predominantly privately owned in member countries. The organization does not actively manage portfolio companies but seeks to exit investments through equity sales or public listings, often maintaining equity stakes for eight to fifteen years.

[Connecticut Innovations](http://www.ctinnovations.com) provides strategic capital and operational insight to to companies in high-tech industries such as energy, biotechnology, information technology, and photonics. Their mission is to be the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticut’s innovative, growing companies. By offering flexible financing, strategic guidance and introductions to valuable partners, Connecticut innovations enable promising businesses to thrive.

River Capital Management is a private equity firm established in 1995 and located in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The firm specializes in investing in small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on early-stage, growth, and management buyout (MBO) opportunities. River Capital aims to support businesses in accelerating their growth and realizing their full potential. Through its strategic investments, the firm seeks to foster development and enhance operational capabilities within its portfolio companies.

HSG, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China, is a prominent venture capital and private equity firm with a global focus on technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors. Established in 2005, HSG operates offices in key international cities including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, London, Tokyo, and Singapore, managing over $55 billion in assets for leading institutional investors. The firm has supported over 1,500 companies, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through investments in transformative technologies and high-growth business models. HSG has a track record of success, with more than 160 portfolio companies having gone public and over 140 achieving unicorn status. It has developed a comprehensive investment platform that encompasses seed, venture, growth, buyout, and infrastructure investing, as well as public equities. HSG is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and companies to create enduring enterprises while delivering strong returns to its limited partners. Through its extensive resources and industry expertise, HSG provides significant advantages to the companies it partners with.

Whole Foods Market is an American grocery chain that exclusively sells natural and organic products. The company was established in 1980 on the belief that where food comes from, and how it’s grown, matters. For them, it meant creating quality standards, working with suppliers who achieve them, and sharing that information with their customers. The company prides itself for selling food products without artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats. To date, Whole Foods has over 450 stores in North America and the United Kingdom.

Level One Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in early stage companies.

SnackFutures is Mondelēz International's new innovation hub that is dedicated to unlocking emerging snacking opportunities around the world. SnackFutures will capitalize on new trends and mobilize entrepreneurial talent and technologies to build and grow small brands with large-scale potential, and leverage other growth opportunities across snacking.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is an international financial institution established in 1991 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its primary mission is to foster economic development in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Middle East and Africa, by providing project financing to banks, industries, and businesses. The EBRD focuses on supporting new ventures and facilitating investments in existing companies, while also assisting publicly owned entities in privatizing and restructuring municipal services. The bank engages in equity investments and provides various forms of debt financing, including senior, subordinated, mezzanine, and convertible debt. By collaborating with commercial partners and financial intermediaries, such as local banks and equity funds, the EBRD aims to enhance private sector growth and development across multiple sectors. Through its extensive experience, the EBRD has invested more than €130 billion in over 5,200 projects, playing a significant role in advancing economic transformation in the regions it serves.

Five Seasons Ventures Sarl is a Paris-based venture capital firm established in 2016, specializing in seed and early-stage investments with a strong focus on the food and agriculture sectors. The firm targets innovative companies along the food supply chain, aiming to address the growing consumer demand for healthier, sustainable, and convenient food options. It typically invests between €2 million and €10 million, primarily in equity or equity-like instruments, while often seeking significant minority stakes. Five Seasons Ventures is particularly interested in opportunities within Europe, especially in Italy and France, but is open to considering investments outside the region. The firm leverages its capital, industry expertise, and network to support entrepreneurs in developing new food categories, cleaner processes, and disruptive business models.

Founder Collective is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional office in New York City. Established by a group of successful entrepreneurs, the firm aims to provide a supportive framework for early-stage technology companies. It emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurs raising the least amount of capital necessary to maintain control over their firms. The company focuses on seed-stage investments and is industry agnostic, although it shows a preference for businesses that incorporate information technology. Founder Collective seeks to guide startups through the complexities of venture capital, drawing on the firsthand experiences of its partners who have founded and sold their own technology companies.

Foresight Group is a private equity investment manager based in London, United Kingdom, with a history spanning over 35 years. The company manages more than £7.2 billion in assets across various funds for a diverse clientele that includes large institutional investors, family offices, private and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retail investors. Foresight focuses on growth-stage companies in sectors such as business products, consumer services, healthcare, information technology, and clean technology, primarily in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The firm's investment strategies emphasize a strong commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, reflecting the evolving expectations of today’s investors and aiming to create a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Reshape Holdings is a venture capital firm based in New York, specializing in growth capital investments. The firm focuses on technology-enabled companies that require real estate to expand their operations. By targeting this intersection of technology and real estate, Reshape aims to support innovative businesses in scaling their solutions and achieving significant growth.

Nimble Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies and employs a multi-stage investment strategy that includes commitments to venture funds, direct investments, and secondary transactions. Nimble Partners collaborates with emerging seed and early-stage venture managers to support innovative startups, while also investing in growth-stage companies that have demonstrated market traction. Additionally, the firm acquires stakes in late-stage market leaders through secondary transactions. With a team that possesses extensive experience and industry knowledge, Nimble Partners is dedicated to fostering growth and driving innovation in the technology sector.

Ventech China is a venture capital firm based in Shanghai, specializing in early-stage investments across diverse sectors, including B2B, B2C, software, and hardware. As a part of the larger Ventech network established in France in 1998, it manages multiple funds focused on the Asian market. Ventech China's investment strategy encompasses a range of industries, with particular emphasis on communities, M-commerce, Big Data, and Fintech. Its portfolio includes notable companies such as Keep, a leading fitness training app, WonderFull, a Japanese M-commerce platform, Juzi, a prominent entertainment news platform, Datawin, a key player in big data solutions for sales leads, and Blued, a leading gay community app in China. Ventech China aims to support innovative startups on their journey to becoming global leaders in their respective fields.

Collaborative Fund is a venture capital investment firm based in New York, founded in 2010 by Craig Shapiro. The firm focuses on funding companies that prioritize creativity and collaborative consumption, aligning its investments with emerging trends in the creative class and sustainable business practices. Collaborative Fund targets various sectors, including climate, consumer products, industrial solutions, precision health, children's products, food, health, and financial services. As a Registered Investment Adviser, the firm aims to support innovative businesses that contribute to positive societal and environmental change.

Korea International Cooperation Agency is a government organization for development cooperation in Korea.

S2G Investments is a multi-stage investment firm that targets venture and growth-stage businesses in food and agriculture, oceans, and energy sectors. The firm provides capital to businesses shaping the future of food systems and energy resources, aiming for significant sector transitions. S2G Investments assist entrepreneurs and leadership groups in seeking innovative, market-driven solutions aimed at providing increased value, better results, and superior performance compared to conventional options.

Advantage Capital is a private equity firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, with additional offices across the United States. The firm specializes in growth equity, lending, and mezzanine debt capital investments, focusing on small businesses at various stages of development, excluding seed-stage companies. It aims to drive economic development in underserved communities, both urban and rural, by investing in sectors such as communication, information technology, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. Advantage Capital seeks to make initial investments ranging from $0.5 million to $10 million in companies with sales under $5 million and also provides various forms of debt capital, including senior and subordinated loans. The firm has invested over $3.8 billion in more than 800 portfolio companies and projects, supporting over 66,000 jobs nationwide. Its geographic focus includes states like Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, and Texas, among others, with a commitment to enhancing local economies through targeted financial solutions.

Tyson Ventures, LLC is the venture capital arm of Tyson Foods, Inc., established in December 2016 and located in Chicago, Illinois. The firm focuses on investing in startup, early-stage, and mature companies within the food and agriculture sectors. Tyson Ventures emphasizes food production, packaging, distribution, nutrition, food waste, and safety, while also targeting innovative companies and technologies related to fresh meats, poultry, and prepared foods. Additionally, the firm is interested in companies that develop meat substitutes and alternative proteins, address food insecurity, and enhance resource application within the food supply chain. Tyson Ventures aims to play a strategic role in the companies it invests in, often seeking a board observer position to foster collaboration and innovation in the food industry.

Continental Grain Company is dedicated to working with its existing agricultural businesses pursuing strategic opportunities in protein-based businesses while taking advantage of new investment opportunities. Established in 1813 as a grain trading firm based in what is now known as Arlon, Belgium, Continental Grain Company grew to become one of the largest privately held companies in the world. Through its diversified operations and investment activities, Continental Grain Company builds long-term value in partnership with exceptional management teams. The Company's goal is to attain financial success in ways that reflect favorably upon its employees and business partners. With a rich entrepreneurial legacy and significant permanent capital, Continental Grain Company continues to seek new global growth opportunities across the food and agriculture landscape through its various investment groups, including CGC Ventures, Corporate Investments, and its middle market investment group, Arlon.

Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent, incorporated public-law institution is its public service mandate. Enshrined in law, it governs the bank's economic, social, and environmental commitment.

Arch Grants is a nonprofit organization that accelerates economic development and community revitalization by providing $50,000 equity-free grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who locate their early-stage businesses in St. Louis. Through its rigorously competitive Global Startup Competition, Arch Grants retains and attracts the most innovative entrepreneurs to the St. Louis region. This program is an aggressive effort to inspire the next generation of employers, civic leaders, and philanthropists for St. Louis. The industry-agnostic Global Startup Competition is year-round, with grants awarded once in the spring and again in the fall. Arch Grants funds innovative technologies, products, and services wrapped within scalable business models that have the potential to make a national or international impact.

Mandi Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2019 and headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, with additional offices in Brussels. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in startups that leverage technology to enhance efficiency and sustainability within the food and agriculture sectors. Mandi Ventures focuses on seed-stage companies across various industries, including food, climate tech, fintech, wellness, and life sciences, primarily in the Americas, Europe, and Israel. The firm is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of disruptive technologies that are transforming food production and consumption. With a robust global network of industry leaders, Mandi Ventures collaborates closely with founders to support the development and commercialization of innovative solutions, helping emerging companies realize their full potential on an international scale.

Redrice Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2017. The firm focuses on investing in purpose-driven consumer brands and related technology companies at the seed stage. Redrice Ventures targets sectors including B2B, consumer goods, and retail tech, aiming to support innovative businesses that align with its mission to foster impactful consumer experiences. Through its investments, Redrice Ventures seeks to drive growth and development in emerging markets while promoting sustainable and socially responsible practices.