The Opportunity
Fresh food determines where consumers shop and how much they spend, making fresh a strategic priority for grocery retailers.
But fresh is fragile. It is highly perishable and exposed to weather and economic shocks, resulting in supply disruptions, rising costs, and quality issues.
A new generation of startups is emerging to address these challenges using new technologies and business models.
The Fresh Investment Club was created to back these startups through industry leaders who invest their knowledge, network, and capital.
Who We Are
The Fresh Investment Club is a referral-based network of food and ag industry leaders who invest in promising startups shaping the future of fresh food. We share a passion for innovation and a vision for a healthier, more sustainable, and more profitable fresh food system.
What We Invest In
We invest in startups improving the cost, quality, and surety of supply of fresh food
At-A-Glance
Scope: Fresh food and ag innovations from farm to fork
Stage: Early and growth-stage companies (Seed through Series C)
Role: Co-invest alongside experienced lead investors
Returns: Market-rate returns, risk-adjusted (not concessionary)
Geography: Americas and Europe
Check size: $250k-$1M
Investment Themes Across the Fresh Food Supply Chain
Ag Inputs
Genetics, crop nutrition, and crop protection technologies that improve yield, cost, resilience, and flavor
Production Systems
Ag robotics, automation, and controlled environment agriculture that increase the efficiency and reliability of production
Post-Harvest Protection
Packaging and shelf-life extension technologies that preserve quality, reduce waste, and extend market reach
Supply Chain Data & Monitoring
Sensors, IoT, quality monitoring, shelf-life prediction, and supply chain visibility technologies that generate real-time insights across the supply chain
Operational & Retail Software
Supply chain management software, production planning tools; merchandising assortment and planning systems, pricing and promotion optimization tools, and other decision-support tools
Select Investments
For Prospective Members
Join a curated network of food and agriculture industry leaders investing in the future of fresh. Members gain access to professionally vetted venture investment opportunities and invest alongside experienced lead investors.
How It Works
Fundamentally, this just means we’ll share investment opportunities with you. Nothing else is required. Prospective members are typically introduced through existing members or already know the organizers. If you are interested in joining, you are welcome to reach out directly. There are no membership dues and members choose whether or not to participate in each investment opportunity.
We identify promising startups across the fresh food and agriculture ecosystem through our research and network, conduct diligence, and select the strongest opportunities for investment.
Members receive a small number of curated investment opportunities each year, typically up to four.
You choose whether to participate in each investment opportunity. If you invest, you do so alongside other members through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created specifically for that startup investment.
If a company you invested in is acquired or goes public, you receive your share of the proceeds based on your ownership in the investment.
Who It's For
The Fresh Investment Club is designed for food and ag industry leaders such as executives, operators, founders, entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers, investors, family businesses, and companies.
You must be an accredited investor in order to join. (New to investing? Click here to assess whether you’re an accredited investor.)
Why Join?
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Access curated venture investment opportunities
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Network with experienced venture investors and industry peers
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Contribute industry knowledge and networks to help startups scale
About the Organizers
The Fresh Investment Club is led by Chris Cochran and Nathan Lohrmann, who bring more than 25 years of combined experience across the fresh food industry, including corporate innovation, startup advising, and venture investing.
Chris Cochran
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Chris Cochran serves as a trusted advisor and investor in innovation across the fresh food industry. He co-founded Walmart’s fresh innovation team and now advises fresh technology startups on commercialization and market strategy through his firm Good Food Advisors. Chris works across retailers, brands, and startups to advance innovation in fresh food.
Nathan Lohrmann
Co-Founder and Partner
Nathan Lohrmann focuses on innovation and venture investing in the food and agriculture sector. He advised Fortune 50 food companies as a management consultant and worked on growth strategy at Relish Works and Constellation Brands. Nathan has spent the past several years working with agrifood venture investors to evaluate startups and support early-stage companies.
Our Origin
We first worked together at ReFED, then re-joined forces to build a dedicated food and agriculture investment vertical for a family office. This included developing the investment thesis, sourcing and diligencing opportunities, and completing the first pool of investments. That experience led us to launch the Fresh Investment Club to expand access to high-quality investment opportunities in fresh innovation.