Ryan Bethencourt

Ryan Bethencourt is a prominent figure in the sustainable food and biotechnology sectors, currently serving as the Managing Partner at Sustainable Food Ventures (SFV). In this role, he is responsible for sourcing deal flow and making investment decisions, focusing on early-stage companies in the plant-based, cell-based, and recombinant food sectors.23

Background and Achievements

Bethencourt co-founded Indie Bio in 2014, where he played a significant role in funding 42 biotech startups, contributing to the growth of the portfolio's market cap to $3.2 billion. He has been instrumental in backing notable companies such as UPSIDE Foods and Geltor.123 Additionally, he co-founded Wild Earth, a leading direct-to-consumer plant-based pet food company, which gained significant attention after appearing on "Shark Tank," where he secured a $550,000 investment from Mark Cuban.45

His educational background includes studies at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, Berkeley, and Stanford, focusing on business, biotechnology, and molecular biopharmaceuticals.4 Beyond his investment roles, Bethencourt has also been involved in various initiatives aimed at fostering innovation in biotechnology and sustainable food production, including serving as an advisor to several organizations and startups.45

Current Focus

At Sustainable Food Ventures, Bethencourt continues to champion sustainable food innovations, emphasizing investments that do not involve animal agriculture. His work is pivotal in shaping the future of food through supporting startups that aim to revolutionize how food is produced and consumed.36