Get to know the thought leaders sharing their insights at the Future Food Systems event (25-26 January, Online | 2 March, London) in our dedicated speaker interview series.
Independent Forums: What is your favorite food?
Renske Lynde: Wild caught salmon
Independent Forums: Who or what has inspired you this year and why?
Renske Lynde: Laura Modi, CEO of Bobbie, one of our portfolio companies. Not only has she launched a business during a pandemic, but she has built a movement that encompasses eliminating stigma in early parenthood for formula use, prioritizes parental mental health as the key to help babies thrive and challenged the insurance industry for providing breast pumps – but not formula – to mothers who have had mastectomies. Laura represents the best of what we look for in entrepreneurs who are changing the food system.
Independent Forums: What is your biggest source of motivation?
Renske Lynde: Recognizing that if we do our jobs right as a fund, we will prove that there is indeed no trade-off between doing well and doing good.
Independent Forums: How would you describe a typical day?
Renske Lynde: Lots of Zoom meetings! Connecting with entrepreneurs, investors and potential supporters/advisors for our portfolio.
Independent Forums: What’s one thing about you that most people don’t know?
Renske Lynde: That I used to be a competitive fencer!
Independent Forums: What’s one thing about your organization that you wish more people knew?
Renske Lynde: How much time we spend helping entrepreneurs, even those who will not ultimately be a good fit for our fund. We know how difficult it is to build a business in the food system, and so we try to be helpful to many more entrepreneurs than we are able to invest in directly.
Independent Forums: Where do you see the biggest opportunity for transformation within the food system?
Renske Lynde: After what we have learned about the fragility of our food system during the pandemic, I think we have an enormous opportunity to truly value and focus on creating a truly inclusive system that prioritizes the health and well-being of all who touch it and all who help us nourish ourselves each day.
Independent Forums: What are you most looking forward to at Future Food Systems 2022?
Renske Lynde: Connecting with new people who can help us and who we can help!
Renske will be speaking in the 'Future Value Chains & Economic Models (Innovative Approaches)' session on 26 January 2022.
Register here to join the conversation.