Jenn Smith
Jenn Smith leads food and ag innovation programs for Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement, including the Grow-NY program, an annual $3M competition for innovative, early stage, high growth potential businesses working anywhere in the agrifood system. Through CREA she co-directs an ag tech hardware accelerator and runs a Dairy Product Innovation initiative and activities […]
Alon Chen
Alon is CEO and co-founder of Tastewise, the AI-driven data platform the food and beverage industry’s leading brands use to innovate quickly, market effectively, and grow sales. Alon was a senior Google executive, and has a wealth of experience in leveraging AI and big data across technology, business and marketing. Alon initiated and launched the […]
Tim McCollum
Tim McCollum never set out to redesign the global chocolate industry. He grew up playing sports, avoiding homework, and roaming the woods of a small town in New Jersey. After graduating from Denison University, Tim signed up for the Peace Corps. Two years in Madagascar provided amazing sunsets, seafood, and a window into a small […]
Julia Olayanju, PhD.
Dr. Julia Olayanju is the Founder and President at FoodNiche. An internationally recognized thought leader, she drives conversation towards a healthier food system through her contributions on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, and as the host of the FoodNiche Changemakers Podcast. Julia is a nutrigenomics expert and highly-regarded college-level educator. She completed her Ph.D. degree in […]
Trish Thomas
Trish Thomas is the Co-founder and CEO of Every body Eat. She is a serial entrepreneur, problem solver, 4x founder, and lifelong mountain climber (the proverbial kind). She sold her first company four years out of college, built the first safe online community for kids, scaled a media company to distribution in 100 countries and […]
Jonathan Deutsch, PhD.
Jonathan Deutsch, PhD, CHE, CRC, is professor in the Departments of Food and Hospitality Management and Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University and a certified hospitality educator. Before moving to Drexel, Deutsch built the culinary arts program at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York (CUNY) and the PhD concentration in food studies at the […]
Martin Slayne, PhD.
Dr Martin Slayne is VP of Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Ingredion. He is responsible for global regulatory compliance, enabling innovation and business growth. Prior senior executive positions heading up global scientific and regulatory affairs, compliance, food safety and nutrition organizations at The Hershey Company, Mondelez International and PepsiCo. Martin is a leader on […]
Anne Greven
Anne Greven is a strategic finance executive with Big 10 banking experience and a reputation for catalyzing innovation of businesses and business models in food, agriculture, and sustainability. A business leader with strong investment, capital markets, and commodities expertise, Anne has a proven ability to build and rebuild companies and teams, positioning them to succeed […]
Philip Demokritou, PhD.
Dr. Demokritou is currently the Henry Rutgers Chair and Professor in Nanoscience and Environmental Bioengineering at Rutgers School of Public health, Division Head at the Environmental Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) and Vice Chair in the Department of Environmental Occupational Health and Justice at Rutgers School of Public health. Before joining Rutgers, he was a […]
Bunmi Olayanju
Bunmi Olayanju is a finance and strategy professional with extensive global experience spanning various areas, including strategic and long-range planning, investment decision support, and performance management. An advisor to fintech and foodtech startups, Bunmi enjoys connecting innovative opportunities to capital for economic and social impact. He is a Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, a […]