WHAT WE DO

At Branchfood, we work with corporate leaders, food innovators, industry experts, investors, and government leaders to catalyze and foster sustained growth in the food industry, and improve the global food system for generations to come.

Since our founding in 2015, we’ve supported 900+ food founders, hosted 225+ events, and formed 180+ industry partnerships. We launched Branch Venture Group, a membership organization and angel investment network, that fosters connections between investors and promising food ventures which has invested over $3.7MM across 18 portfolio companies. We also launched Food Edge, New England’s leading annual summit congregating the industry’s largest brands, dynamic startups, disruptive leaders, and leading researchers to discuss the future of food and explore trends, strategies, and actionable insights to help industry stakeholders succeed.

Over the last decade, the food industry has undergone a massive transformation due to increasing consumer interests in health and sustainability. As the community of founders and change agents seek to build a better future of food to meet this demand, Branchfood seeks to support and catalyze this work.

If you are a corporate leader, food innovator, industry expert, investor, or government leader, we invite you to join us in our mission to increase sustainability and resiliency across the food value chain.

WE STRIVE TO

Promote innovative businesses leading the future of food
Unite the community of passionate changemakers building a better food system
Increase connectivity and collaboration across the food value chain
Support food innovators growing transformative food businesses
Foster education, specifically around CPG and agri-food tech innovation

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Innovation is not only the rote development of new products and services, but requires collaborative undertaking on behalf of individuals with diverse backgrounds. Fostering intercultural exchange, and leveraging different, unique perspectives will create food system solutions that seek to sustain future generations to come. Branchfood has always been committed to building an inclusive community that values diversity and facilitates collaboration. We intend to support underrepresented business owners within Branchfood and we are proud to be helping individuals representing 14 various nationalities. Our commitment to diversity is also reflected in our leadership team, which is led by 4 women from different ethnicities.

OUR STORY

Food has always played a leading role in my life. Hailing from a family with strong Lebanese and Polish roots our family dinners were often a globally inspired experience. When I was 16 years old my grandmother was diagnosed with stage IV Leukemia and the outlook was grim. My family set out to find alternative ways to support my grandmother’s health and began exploring the benefits of plant-based diets, sparking my curiosity in nutrition. This period turned out to be a pivotal time for me and prompted my dedication to the creation of a healthier food system for all.

Fast-forward to 2013 when I was completing my MSc. in Food Policy and Nutrition at Tufts University. I pursued an internship at Techstars Boston where I witnessed first-hand the power of innovation and technology in disrupting – and improving – industries. With my grandmother in mind, I started a Meetup group to bring people together and discuss opportunities for innovation aimed at improving our food system. The group gained tremendous popularity, sparking interest from leading Boston conveners such as Cambridge Innovation Center, General Assembly, Venture Cafe, and the MIT Enterprise Forum. Not only did the Meetup Group serve as a platform for like-minded individuals to discuss plans for transforming the food system, but it also helped many working on food-related startups to connect with and help each other. A viable path of entrepreneurship started to take hold creating an even greater need for support in Boston. Through a partnership with the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in downtown Boston, I launched a hub for the food community to convene, work, and create change. And thus Branchfood was born.

Today, Branchfood supports innovation across the food industry through multi-stakeholder collaboration and access to our thriving community of food innovators, which is the largest in the world. Our advisory services, events and programming, and investment activities lay the foundation for our work and impact.