GroundForce Capital Appoints Eric Desai as Partner to Lead B2B Investments Tied to the Food System
2024年5月9日 - 7:00PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
GroundForce Capital, an investment management firm that backs
high-potential companies seeking to improve the health and
longevity of people and the planet, announced the appointment of
Eric Desai as Partner. In his new role, Mr. Desai will lead the
firm’s B2B growth investments tied to the food system, actively
shaping this strategy and overseeing the full investment
lifecycle.
This strategic hire follows GroundForce Capital’s announcement
last year to expand its focus more broadly in both the B2C and B2B
sectors that address the most pressing issues tied to human and
planetary health. For B2C, the firm is targeting companies that
promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles across industries,
including consumer food and beverage, consumer services, personal
care, vitamins and supplements, and multi-unit retailing. In the
B2B sector, GroundForce Capital is investing in companies
catalyzing the transition to healthier, lower carbon and
regenerative food production. The firm is currently investing out
of its $330M fund, which targets investments between $15 million
and $50 million in growth stage companies generating gross revenues
of $10 million to over $100 million. Mr. Desai will spearhead the
firm’s B2B growth investments, which will focus on technology
solutions in areas such as supply chain management, agtech,
foodtech, manufacturing, resource management, and circularity.
By leveraging his deep industry expertise, Mr. Desai aims to
enhance the alignment of incentives among mid-to-upstream
stakeholders and evolving end consumer demands, to unlock new
levels of efficiency, sustainability, and value creation. “The
addition of Eric Desai as Partner not only fortifies our team, but
also brings his proven track record and deep commitment to
investing in B2B technologies that improve the sustainability,
security, and health of our food system. His expertise and
foresight are already shaping our approach, setting us on a path to
achieve more ambitious objectives and establish GroundForce Capital
as a frontrunner in the industry. This perfectly aligns with our
mission to deliver both financial returns and meaningful impact,”
stated Mark Rampolla and Dan Gluck, Co-Founders and Managing
Partners at GroundForce Capital.
Mr. Desai brings over ten years of experience in climate
investing and has made over 25 growth investments. Prior to joining
GroundForce Capital, Mr. Desai was a Managing Director at Vidavo
Capital Partners, a growth equity investment firm specialized in
growth technology companies improving food security, farmer
prosperity, and climate resilience across the agrifood system.
Previously, Mr. Desai was a Partner at Greenhouse Capital, a growth
equity investment firm specialized in B2B climate technologies. He
earned an MBA from the University of California Berkeley Haas
School of Business. He holds a BS in Finance and Accounting from
the University of Arizona.
Eric Desai, Partner at GroundForce Capital said, “I'm thrilled
to be part of this institutional-grade platform and team, which is
uniquely positioned to tap into the market's need for growth-stage
investment partners, with extensive expertise and networks within
the food and agriculture system. Our team has consistently
demonstrated our ability to help companies rapidly increase value
while aligning with essential climate and human health
objectives.”
About GroundForce Capital
GroundForce Capital is an investment management firm that backs
high-potential companies seeking to improve the health and
longevity of people and the planet. The firm provides capital,
strategic guidance and operating expertise to visionary companies
including Bobbie, Liquid Death, OWYN, Miyoko's Creamery,
KinderFarms, Thistle, and Vive Organic. GroundForce Capital's
leadership team is comprised of innovators behind leading food and
beverage brands, such as ZICO Beverages, an early pioneer in the
coconut water category acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 2013,
and Health Warrior, a superfood company purchased by PepsiCo in
2018.
GroundForce Capital has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area
and Los Angeles. For more information about the Firm, visit
GroundForceCapital.com.
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