FTW Ventures
Venture capitalSan Francisco · Pre-Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked
Investment thesis
FTW Ventures focuses on early-stage companies tackling major challenges in the global food system. The firm backs bold innovators building technology and solutions aimed at improving how food is produced and delivered, with a stated mission of building a better world.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 4 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 8 of 27 portfolio companiesAgTech ×4Biotech ×4FoodTech ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Circular Economy ×2Logistics & Supply Chain ×2SaaS ×2Advanced Manufacturing ×1
HQs:United States×4United Kingdom×1
Investments · 27 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathGeebung
Anthony Musumeci(Executive Officer, Director)Albert Tietz(Director)
BoardSarah Nolet(Director)
Board seatJenn Burka· per SEC Form D
FreshFry makes plant-based pods that clean and extend the life of cooking oil in commercial kitchens, keeping food quality high and operations safe.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyFoodTechLouisville, US
Jeremiah Chapman(Co-Founder & CEO)Jacob Huff(Co-Founder & COO)Alex Frommeyer(Director)
Board seatJenn Burka· per SEC Form D
Champaign, US
Michael Tai(Executive Officer, Director)Ted Netland(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJames Caffyn(Director)
Brilliant Harvest is an AI-powered helpdesk platform designed for equipment dealers that streamlines customer experience through automated technical support, knowledge management, and cross-departmental collaboration.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningSaaS
Remi Schmaltz(CEO and Founder)
Chee Hau Teoh(Cofounder)
Phytoform Labs develops GM-free genome editing tools and trait engineering technologies for crop improvement, with a focus on potato and tomato varieties.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechHarpenden, GB
William Pelton(Executive Officer, Director)Nicholas Kral(Director)Dhiraj Singh(Director)
Quorum Bio develops genetic engineering tools for precision fermentation, enabling the production of complex natural products using engineered non-model microbes.
AgTechBiotechFoodTech
Sudharsan Dwarknath, Ph.D(Co-Founder & CEO)Yasuo Yoshikuni, Ph.D(Co-Founder & Advisor)
Spoiler Alert helps businesses with global supply chains reduce food waste and sell surplus inventory, addressing food insecurity and environmental sustainability challenges.
B2B MarketplacesCircular EconomyClimate TechData & InfrastructureFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSBoston, US
Ricky Ashenfelter(Cofounder)
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does FTW Ventures invest at?
- FTW Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is FTW Ventures's typical check size?
- FTW Ventures typically writes checks of $100K – $500K.
- What sectors does FTW Ventures focus on?
- FTW Ventures focuses on AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, FoodTech.
- Where is FTW Ventures located?
- FTW Ventures is headquartered in San Francisco, US.
- Does FTW Ventures lead rounds?
- FTW Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamBrian Frank -- FTW Ventures
LA Venture Podcast · Brian Frank
Fancy Food Show Excite Talk with FTW Ventures’ Brian Frank
Gretchen VanEsselstyn · Brian Frank
Images
Co-investors · 6
SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a venture and innovation platform focused on the food and agriculture industries, running startup programs, corporate innovation initiatives, and a venture fund that invests in AgTech and FoodTech companies.
Cantos Ventures is an early-stage venture firm founded in 2016 that provides initial capital and ongoing counsel to founders building deep technology in areas such as robotics, energy, space, defense, and advanced manufacturing.
Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital fund backing innovative early-stage companies in the food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors that advance healthier, more humane, and sustainable outcomes.
SOSV is a deep tech venture capital firm that makes first-check pre-seed investments and follow-on rounds in startups focused on human and planetary health, providing lab space and hands-on support at its US locations.
Mayfield Fund is a venture capital firm publishing perspectives on artificial intelligence, focusing on what it calls the Collaborative Intelligence era where humans and AI work together.
Firms observed investing alongside FTW Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with FTW Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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