The GuidePost: October 2023
Trailhead Capital Closes Fund I, Fractal Agriculture Officially Launches, Trailhead at RSFI and more.
Happy Fall from all of us at Trailhead Capital.
We are excited to announce the close of our inaugural fund, Trailhead Capital Regeneration Fund I (the “Fund”). Thanks to the overwhelming support from our investors, we are able to continue our mission of investing in early-stage companies that are making an active impact on the regenerative agriculture sector.
Managing Partner Pete Oberle explained what the close of the Fund means for us at Trailhead Capital and how we aim to make an impact in the regenerative agriculture industry:
“The current food system has done what it was intended to do: feed the world. Regenerative agriculture can improve upon that through its unique ability to transform an industry from a major carbon source to a huge carbon sink, minimize the 30%-40% of food that is wasted every year, and improve the quality of the food we eat. Spurred by the convergence of tech progress and consumer demand, accelerating corporate commitments, government funding and investment dollars indicate improved recognition of that potential, and we’re honored and humbled to be partnering with our investors and entrepreneurs to make it a reality.”
We wouldn’t be here without the support of our investors and their shared goal to reshape the world of food as we know it through regenerative agriculture. We will continue to work tirelessly with our early-stage portfolio companies to make these goals a reality.
New Investment
Fractal
Investing alongside farmers to fund farms that drive profit and impact.
PR Newswire: Fractal Agriculture Launches Investment Platform to Address US Farmland Financing Crisis
[Podcast] Future of Agriculture: Equity Capital for Farmland with Ben Gordon and Kyle Mehmen
Successful Farming: A New Way to Buy More Farmland
Fractal Blog: When Should You Chase After a Land Deal?
LinkedIn: Why We Started Fractal
General Updates
CamoAg
Digital solutions for farmland investors and managers in mapping, analytics, and ESG compliance.
Bezinga: AgWare and CamoAg Announce Integration for Streamlined Appraisal Workflow at Risk360 Conference
Clean Crop Technologies
Using electricity to revolutionize food safety from field to fridge.
Clean Crop Blog: Clean Crop Named Manufacturer of the Year
Eion
Removing atmospheric carbon permanently and verifiably, with enhanced rock weathering on soil.
Funga
Harnessing forest fungal networks to address the climate crisis.
Crystal Ball [Podcast]: Fungal Networks as a Climate Solution
LandTrust
Connecting ag producers with recreation & conservation markets.
The Wall Street Journal: Montana Ranchers’ New Side Hustle: Giving Tourists the ‘Yellowstone’ Experience
Fox News: Montana ranchers give visitors the 'Yellowstone' experience
Local Line
E-commerce for the local food system.
Local Line: Local Line and Freight Farms Partner to Support Growth of the Local Food Industry
Local Line: Local Line Launches Subscriptions (Finally!)
Omeat
Pioneering game-changing solutions to the health, environmental, and animal welfare challenges posed by animal agriculture.
Clayton County Register: Introducing Omeat: Revolutionizing the Ethical Food Industry
Provision Analytics
A single platform to capture and analyze all food safety and quality data.
Trace Genomics
Whole genome sequencing of the soil microbiome.
Business Insider: More than 25% of biodiversity is under our feet — but we're destroying it. A biotech startup that's raised $56 million has a plan to help save our soil.
PR Newswire: Trace Genomics and Taurus Agricultural Marketing partner to bring next-generation soil testing to Canada
PR Newswire: Trace Genomics expands relationship with CHS Inc.
White Leaf Provisions
Bringing the first 100% regeneratively farmed, biodynamic, organic & GMO-Free baby food line to retail in the US.
White Leaf Provisions Blog: Meghan and Dr. Avena: A Candid Conversation in Honor of Infertility Awareness Month
Q3 ICM Impact Partner Coffee - September 2023
Trailhead Capital was excited to partner again with Impact Capital Managers on the Q3 Partner Impact Breakfast. This gathering provided local ICM members a chance to catch up and learn about what all of them are working on.
Denver Startup Week VC Meet and Greet - Sept. 20, 2023
Trailhead Capital is proud to have sponsored and participated in Denver Startup Week’s VC Meet & Greet. It’s always great to engage and interact with the ever-growing local community of VCs, entrepreneurs, and service providers looking to make Denver and the state of Colorado the next big hub for innovation and start-up companies!
Regenerative Food Systems Investment (RFSI) Forum - Sept. 26-27, 2023 - Denver, CO
The RFSI Forum maintained its status as one of the largest events within the regenerative food and agriculture space, having attracted investors, entrepreneurs and everyone in between. Being focused on “how” the regenerative food systems work, this year’s RFSI Forum tackled the most pressing questions facing investment in regenerative agriculture and food. Trailhead Capital is proud to have worked with RFSI for the third year in a row to support the forum.
Roots So Deep (You Can See The Devil Down There) - Oct. 10, 2023 - Boedecker Theater, Boulder, CO
“Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there)” is a four-part documentary series all about inventive farmers and maverick scientists asking if an underutilized way to graze cattle, that mimics the way bison once roamed the land, can help get farmers out of debt, restore our depleted soils, rebuild wildlife habitat and draw down carbon. This special screening will be showing Episodes 1 and 4 and there will be a Q&A and discussion with director Peter Byck following the show.
AgFunder News: FTC urged to tackle rampant greenwashing; set criteria for ‘carbon neutral,’ ‘net zero’ claims
Axios: Lab-grown meat companies want a world of steak without slaughter
Food Business News: ADM regenerative ag program set to expand
The Guardian: More than half of Earth’s species live in the soil, study finds
Lancaster Farming: Innovating Finance for Regenerative Agriculture Through Partnerships
Morehead State Public Radio: Kentucky push for regenerative farming as new farm bill is crafted
Morning AgClips: California Climate Action Matching Grant Awarded
Phys.org: Computer science can help farmers explore alternative crops and sustainable farming methods
Specialty Food Association: Walmart, PepsiCo Support Regenerative Agriculture
Yahoo! News UK: Farmers following nature friendly farming model to help make more money
Discover opportunities across our network of transformational companies, including:
New Accounts Manager - Fractal Agriculture. Help build out Fractal’s direct farmer sales channel with the potential to either expand one’s book of business as an individual contributor or to grow into a key sales leader in the organization.
Operations Manager - Funga. Seeking an organized, relationship-oriented administrator passionate about climate solutions to provide in-person support to the team as Funga grows.
Quality Assurance Lead - Omeat. Develop, train and track Quality Systems, Food Safety standards, and Federal and State requirements that are designed for all aspects of the process to ensure that Omeat maintains a safe product with consistent quality.