Presentation title:

"Vegan sector update 2024 - Are the news headlines heralding the 'death of veganism' true?"

Biography:

David Pannell is a vegan business expert and the presenter of the Vegan Business Tribe Podcast. David has advised a number of high-street food chains, brands and manufacturers to help them better understand the vegan marketplace and is a regular speaker on understanding the plant-based consumer. A former manufacturing-sector ambassador for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, David founded Vegan Business Tribe in 2020 which has grown into a support community for hundreds of vegan businesses around the world. He is also the UK agent for The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark scheme. 

Additional information:

https://promotevegan.co/

http://veganbusinesstribe.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davepannell/

Presentation title:

"Is Profitability on the Horizon? Exploring the Future of Alternative Proteins” 

Biography:

Suzanne Van Der Maarel is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning global commercial roles and venture capital. Passionate about impactful investments, she focuses on advancing projects that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability. While living in Singapore, Suzanne's transition from corporate roles to fostering positive change led her to actively participate in various initiatives in the alternative protein industry before joining Kickstart Innovation in Zürich, where she guides food and retail stakeholders in innovation strategies, connecting them with startups for mutually beneficial collaborations and leads the investor engagement program.

A perpetual learner, Suzanne is currently finishing Columbia Business School’s Venture Capital and Private Equity Program and has completed Cambridge’s Business Sustainability Management course in addition to her BA from Breda University of Applied Sciences. 

She balances her professional pursuits with a love for exploring plant-based cuisine, discovering the beautiful Swiss landscape, and attempts to keep a regular yoga.

Additional information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannevdmaarel/ 

Biography:

Indy Kaur, a thought leader and Founder of Plant Futures, collaborates with plant-based businesses to advance a healthier, sustainable food system. She partners with UK retailers, brands and suppliers, launching new initiatives including building the UK's roadmap to growth. Plant Futures offers market intelligence and strategic clarity to businesses and investors in the plant-based market.

Additional information:

https://www.plant-futures.com/about 

Presentation title:

Panel of discussion:  "The Key Learnings of Raising Money from Venture Capital Funds"

Biography:

Tatiana, a decade long vegan, is always scouting for the next unicorn! She holds expertise in deal pipeline management, having engaged with 2000 + pre-seed startups and conducting due diligence reporting. Her contributions extend to VC fundraising, where she built a database of 800 + climate-friendly LPs. 

Tatiana was a Venture Associate with G-Force/Founders Factory

Additional information:

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-chiaramonte/ 

Presentation title:

Panel of discussion:  "The Key Learnings of Raising Money from Venture Capital Funds"

Biography:

Deimena Drasutyte (Dei) is a serial entrepreneur. In 2014 she opened the first vegan food stores, grocery delivery service, and wholesale distribution company (Veggo) which had operations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. She exited Veggo in 2019 to later start her new impact-driven venture HERlab. As the CEO of HERlab, Dei was chosen to become GFI’s inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Accenture’s directed mentorship program mentee, and led the company to winning four highly competitive UK Government grants. Dei has a degree in mathematics and is a Board Member of the Lithuanian food awareness and animal welfare organisation Gyvi Gali. 

Additional information:

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/deimenadrasutyte/

https://www.herlab.bio/ 

Presentation title:

"Prospering with Purpose: Navigating the Future of the Vegan Fashion Industry" 

Biography:

Emmanuelle Rienda is a pioneering creative director, deeply rooted in exploring social and environmental justice through the lens of ethical luxury. She is best known for founding Vegan Fashion Week in Los Angeles, a trailblazing event that challenges and redefines industry norms. Her unwavering commitment to creating systemic change led her to establish the Ethical Luxury Group, a unique initiative guiding brands toward sustainable and ethical principles, ultimately contributing to a more compassionate and environmentally responsible fashion industry. Her expertise and distinctive contributions to the fashion industry solidify her status as a leading figure in the transition to better practices. 

Additional information:

@emmanuellerienda / @veganfashionweek / @ethicalluxurygroup www.veganfashionweek.org / www.ethicalluxurygroup.com 

Presentation title:

"The current Food System is Bad Math :Impact Investing in Plant-based Innovation"

Biography:

Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech™ Invest, the Advisor to the Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF, EATV, listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Elysabeth is an expert in investing in food systems transformation and speaks internationally on the intersection of investing, sustainability, and our global food supply system.  She recently spoke at the U.N. Global Leaders Compact Summit, the United Nations Climate Change Summit, COP27 and COP28, Yale University and several Bloomberg Intelligence events.  

Elysabeth began her career with Kellogg Company working on Special K and Frosted Mini-Wheats before investing for a small family office. A graduate of Northwestern University and the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Elysabeth consults and advises, through her company Alfano Advisory Services, C-Suite Executives on the sustainable food industry landscape, direction and whitespaces.  

Lastly, Elysabeth hosts the Plantbased Business Hour, a podcast which features the CEOs and business leaders in the industry.  The Plantbased Business Hour is considered “The Gold Standard” for those who want to understand, participate in, and capitalize on the growing Plant-based Innovation sector.  She is also the host of Upside & Impact: Investing for Change, distributed on the New York Stock Exchange website platform, ETFCentral.com.

Elysabeth contributes to ESG Clarity, WGN Radio, Vegconomist, CAIA and FinTechTV on a regular basis. 

Additional information:

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysabeth-alfano-8b370b7/