Earth First Food Ventures (EFFV) is a venture capital platform offering ESG/impact investing in innovative food technologies, mostly in the precision fermentation space, focusing on alternative dairy from precision fermentation. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Earth First Food Ventures co-founder and CEO Brian Ruszczyk to learn more.
Brian Ruszczyk’s Background
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What is Brian Ruszczyk’s background? Ruszczyk said:
“I have over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, with a particular focus on working with High-Net-Worth families worldwide. My educational background is in International Relations, which I studied as an undergrad, and I later undertook a Masters in Economics and Latam Studies at Johns Hopkins, all of which was great preparation for a financial career that’s been spent largely outside the United States.”
“Over the course of my career, I’ve held leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Private Bank Suisse, where I headed the Latin America division, and later at Deutsche Bank, where I led the Private Bank for Greece and Turkey, during which time I was responsible for managing over $10 billion in assets across different regions.”
“Living abroad for many years has given me a unique perspective on global wealth management, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with talented teams across different cultures. Though I grew up in Connecticut, I now call Geneva home, which has been a great base for my work in international finance for the last 25 years.”
Evolution Of EFFV’s Thesis
How has your firm’s thesis evolved over time? Ruszczyk noted:
“Initially, our firm focused on providing asset management services to wealthy families. However, we recognized an opportunity to create a greater impact by aligning our expertise with sustainable investment themes. Over time, our focus shifted toward pioneering innovative food technologies that address climate change and ESG concerns.”
“Our first major venture in this space was partnering on a land-based aquaculture project, which raised more than $300 million. Today, our attention is laser-focused on scaling the Alt-Dairy sector through precision fermentation, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to solve environmental challenges while delivering financial returns.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for your firm so far? Ruszczyk reflected:
“Seeing the continuing success of our portfolio partners has been so rewarding it’s difficult to pick just one particular instance. Witnessing our investments contribute to solutions that address pressing global challenges has been immensely gratifying.”
“I take great pride in knowing that our firm plays a role in reshaping the future of food at a time of growing concern around the environmental costs of the global food system. It’s not just about generating returns – it’s about driving meaningful change in industries that are crucial for both people and the planet.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of your firm’s most significant milestones? Ruszczyk cited:
“A key milestone for our firm was the successful closing of the aquaculture fund in collaboration with global partners. This accomplishment enabled the significant advancement of land-based aquaculture, a promising solution for sustainable seafood production. We were able to leverage this success to expand our influence in the food technology space, setting the stage for our current focus on precision fermentation in the Alt-Dairy sector.”
Investment Success Stories
When asking Ruszczyk about investment success stories, he highlighted:
“We’ve had great success building economies of scale with our aquaculture partners who are currently in the process of developing three mega facilities for Atlantic Salmon production in Japan, France, and Virginia. Each facility, with a production capacity of 10,000 tons, utilizes Recirculating Aquatic Systems (RAS) technology. This approach allows for sustainable salmon farming on land, reducing the environmental impact typically associated with traditional aquaculture.”
AUM And Other Metrics
When asking Ruszczyk about AUM and other notable metrics, he revealed:
“While we are a relatively small venture firm, we currently manage $45 million in assets under management (AUM). Despite our size, we have built a strong track record of identifying high-potential investment opportunities in innovative food technologies. Our focus is on driving growth and delivering significant value through strategic partnerships and projects that align with our long-term vision for sustainability and impact.”
Industry Focus
What are some of the industries that your firm is focused on? Ruszczyk replied:
“The traditional dairy industry is facing a dairy deficit to the tune of 20-30 million tons by 2030, which presents a $60-90 billion opportunity for investors willing and able to get involved now. As such, our current focus is on scaling precision fermentation technologies for the Alt-Dairy sector: ‘Dairy Without The Cow’. This approach allows for the production of dairy alternatives without the environmental downsides of traditional dairy farming. We support innovators developing consumer products that match or even surpass conventional dairy in terms of taste and nutritional content, as well as cost, while dramatically reducing the carbon footprint. It’s an exciting space that we believe holds transformative potential for the future of food.”
Differentiation From Other Firms
What differentiates your firm from other firms? Ruszczyk emphasized:
“Unlike many firms, we focus on later-stage investments. We’ve learned that being a first-mover in synthetic biology isn’t always an advantage; it’s about scaling when the technology and market are ready. Our approach involves entering at a stage where we can support proven technologies and help scale them rapidly. This strategy allows us to de-risk our investments while maximizing our ability to make a meaningful impact. By targeting sectors like precision fermentation and aquaculture, we position ourselves at the intersection of innovation and scalability.”
Future Firm Goals
What are some of your firm’s future goals? Ruszczyk pointed out:
“Looking ahead, our primary focus is on scaling Alt-Dairy technologies through precision fermentation to achieve price parity with traditional dairy. We’re currently in the midst of an active $10 million Series A funding round, which we’re offering to investors on a tokenization model in collaboration with Securitize, who are market leaders in tokenizing real-world assets via blockchain. This model is truly innovative and allows High-Net-Worth/Family Office investors of the kind I’ve worked with over the years to get in on the opportunities in this sector, as it enables smaller investments than are typically made in the world of Venture Capital. Accredited investors from both the US and abroad can purchase tokens for a minimum investment of $100,000, subject to KYC and AML requirements, which can be done directly via the EFFV website. This funding will enable us to continue developing alternative dairy products that are sustainable, and also competitive in terms of cost, as well as taste and nutrition. Our vision is to create a future where these alternative proteins are mainstream, offering consumers a viable, eco-friendly choice.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Ruszczyk concluded:
“At EFFV we are solely focused on scaling the Alt-Dairy industry from precision fermentation over the next decade. The technologies and fermentation processes are here that will enable us to produce dairy, at scale, at price parity, all without the cow.”
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