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1st Course Capital

Venture capital

Redwood City · Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked

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Investment thesis

1st Course Capital invests in exceptional entrepreneurs building companies that transform the food system. The firm's focus centers on advancing a food system that is healthier for both people and the planet, backing founders driving change across food and agriculture. It also shares thoughts, learnings, and outside perspectives relevant to this mission.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Series A
HQ
Redwood City, CA, US
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2019
Tracked investments
25

Team · 4 people

from the firm's website

What they invest in

from 20 of 25 portfolio companies

FoodTech ×14Consumer ×9Healthtech ×6SaaS ×5Circular Economy ×4Wellness & Fitness ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Direct to Consumer ×3

HQs:United States×8Australia×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 15 portfolio companies
60%
solo founders
9 of 15 mapped founding teams
27%
repeat founders
of 11 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×92 founders×43 founders×2

Where their founders studiedfrom 11 founders with education data

Cornell ×2University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business ×2

What their founders studiedfrom 10 founders with field-of-study data

Business & Management ×4Politics & Policy ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 11 founders with career history

Airbnb ×2AWB Limited ×2

Investments · 25 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
AgriDigitalagridigital.io

AgriDigital builds digital and capital infrastructure for grain and fertilizer supply chains, connecting agribusinesses through a technology platform and inventory financing solutions.

AgTechB2B MarketplacesSaaSAustralia, AU

Emma Weston(CEO & Co Founder)inBen Reid(Head of Growth & Co Founder)inBob McKay(Chairman & Co Founder)in

Co-investorsSquare Peg Capital

Attane Healthattane-health.comin

Attane Health provides nutritious groceries and educational resources tailored for people with chronic health conditions.

Digital HealthFoodTechHealthtechWellness & Fitness

Emily Brownin

Co-investorsAcumen AmericaBluestein VenturesKCRise FundMissouri Technology CorporationBeta Boom

Attunehealthattunehealth.comin𝕏

Attune Health combines genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics with functional nutrition and lifestyle modification to treat people with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesBeverly Hills, US

R. Swamy Venuturupalli(MD, FACR, Founder)

BlueCartbluecart.comin𝕏

BlueCart is a wholesale management platform that connects food and beverage distributors with restaurants, cafes, hotels, and foodservice businesses.

B2B MarketplacesFoodTechSaaS

Co-investorsBlueRun VenturesColumbia Partners

Bobbiehibobbie.comin

Bobbie manufactures baby formula and builds workplace support for parents.

ConsumerFoodTechHealthtechWellness & FitnessSan Francisco, US

Laura Modi(Founder)in

BoardSarah Hardy(Director)Sara Adler(Director)

Co-investorsBaukunstGroundForce CapitalIngeborg InvestmentsLakehouse Venture PartnersNextView VenturesPrecursor Ventures+6 more

Chiyowearechiyo.com

A company offering personalized supplement recommendations for women through a quiz-based matching system covering fertility, prenatal, postpartum, and hormone balance categories.

FemTechHealthtech

Irene Liu(Founder & CEO)inJennifer Jolorte Doro(Founder)

Co-investorsBread And Butter Ventures, LlcDorm RoomFlare Capital PartnersHelmIngeborg InvestmentsLighthouse Network Ventures Llc+4 more

Dispatch Goodsdispatchgoods.comin𝕏

Dispatch Goods operates a reverse logistics platform that enables businesses to implement reusable container systems and circularity in their operations.

Circular EconomyClimate TechE-commerceFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSan Francisco, US

Lindsey Hoell(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsBranded Strategic HospitalityBread And Butter Ventures, LlcClear Current CapitalCleo CapitalCongruent VenturesGreat Circle Ventures+7 more

Drinklumendrinklumen.com

Lumen produces nutrient-dense beverages formulated with bioactive superfoods and marketed as healthy drink options.

ConsumerFoodTechWellness & Fitness

Yasir Hashim(Co-founder & CEO)

Co-investorsSpringdale Ventures

Farmshelffarmshelf.com

Farmshelf manufactures at-home hydroponic indoor garden systems that enable consumers to grow fresh leafy greens and herbs without pesticides or plastic packaging.

AgTechFoodTechHardwareIoTSan Francisco, US

ANDREW JAMES SHEARER(Executive Officer, Director)MANAN RAJESH GANDHI(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsSOSV

GlacierGridglaciergrid.comin𝕏

GlacierGrid provides smart energy management software that monitors and optimizes HVAC and refrigeration systems to reduce energy consumption and costs.

AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechConstruction TechEnergySaaSRichmond, US

Manik Suri(Founder and CEO)inJoe Parisi(Founder)inNicki Parisi(Founder)inGerald Zingraf(Chief Operating Officer)inLiz Piontkowski(VP of Operations)Alex See(VP of Product)in

Co-investorsBarrel VenturesBay Bridge Ventures ClimateClocktower VenturesCollaborative FundDeciensDoon Capital+13 more

Goodlesgoodles.com𝕏

Goodles produces snacks and gives away at least 1% of products sold to organizations addressing food insecurity, focusing on supporting children's nutrition and well-being.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechImpact & Social GoodSocial

Jen Zeszut(Founder)inPaul Earle(Founder)

Co-investorsAlumni VenturesAngel groupAurumBasecamp FundCosmic Venture PartnersFourward Ventures+7 more

Helloellementhelloellement.com𝕏

Ellement produces personalized prenatal supplements customized monthly to individual nutritional needs from preconception through postpartum.

FemTechHealthtech

Hellotorihellotori.ai

Tori builds ShiftCoach, an AI system that records and transcribes drive-thru orders to track crew performance, detect upsell and add-on opportunities, and surface coaching insights in real time.

AI & Machine LearningFoodTechSaaS

Co-investors53 Stations

KOSTERINAkosterina.comin

Kosterina produces extra virgin olive oil and organic Mediterranean food products sourced from southern Greece, alongside natural skincare leveraging olive oil for hydration and antioxidant benefits.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechWellness & FitnessNew York City, US

KostasKaterina (Katina) Mountanos(Founder)in

Co-investorsAssembled BrandsEvolution VC PartnersKarpReillyLakehouse Venture PartnersStella Capital

Maevmeetmaev.com

Maev produces raw, fresh dog food made with human-grade USDA protein and formulated by PhD veterinary nutritionists.

ConsumerFoodTechHealthtech

Co-investorsBFG PartnersContraryDorm RoomGood FriendsWillow Growth PartnersSpringdale Ventures

OpenCityopencity.co

OpenCity offers ShiftCoach, an AI system that records and transcribes drive-thru orders to track crew performance, detect upsell opportunities, and provide real-time coaching.

AI & Machine LearningFoodTechSaaSBoston, US

Yi Chen(Executive Officer, Director)

BoardSteve Fredette(Director)Marcia Hooper(Director)Nicholas Belsito(Director)Kevin King(Director)

Co-investorsNXT Ventures

PATH Waterdrinkpathwater.comin𝕏

PATH makes refillable aluminum water bottles designed to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Circular EconomyConsumer

Co-investorsAltelanBloom8Florida FundersForma CapitalPreston-Werner VenturesRaptor Group+1 more

Plantprovisionsplantprovisions.co

Plant Provisions makes plant-based deli slices from chickpeas and vegetables, designed as alternatives to traditional cold cuts for sandwiches.

Circular EconomyConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Mike

Uptogoodenergyuptogoodenergy.com

Up To Good produces a sparkling beverage made from coffee fruit, a byproduct of coffee production, positioning it as a natural energy source with clean ingredients.

Circular EconomyConsumerFoodTech

Lars

Whipnoticwhipnotic.comin𝕏

Whipnotic produces whipped cream infused with fruit juices and flavor essences using patented technology.

ConsumerFoodTech

Lori Gitomer(Founder)inTracy Luckow(Founder)in

Co-investorsRCV Frontline

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

EllementGooder FoodsLumenOver The Top FoodsUp To Good

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has 1st Course Capital made?
1st Course Capital has 25 tracked investments.
What stage does 1st Course Capital invest at?
1st Course Capital invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does 1st Course Capital focus on?
1st Course Capital focuses on AgTech, FoodTech, Impact & Social Good.
Where is 1st Course Capital located?
1st Course Capital is headquartered in Redwood City, US.
Who does 1st Course Capital co-invest with?
1st Course Capital most often shares deals with Bread And Butter Ventures, Llc, Dorm Room, Lakehouse Venture Partners, among 64 tracked co-investors.

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