Ponderosa Ventures

Ponderosa Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to driving radical change in the food, agriculture, and ocean sectors to meet climate, biodiversity, water, justice, and human health goals. They invest between $100,000 and $750,000 in pre-seed and seed-stage companies globally, with a particular focus on the United States and Europe. Their streamlined investment process aims to provide quick decisions, typically reaching a yes or no within an average of 18 days, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on building their companies while Ponderosa supports transformative innovations in these critical sectors.

The firm's investment strategy centers on early-stage companies that are working to transform the food, agriculture, and ocean sectors. They prioritize investments that align with their mission to address pressing environmental and health challenges. Ponderosa Ventures is a member of Galvanize Climate Solutions, which provides them with an investment committee, legal and structural support, and access to the platform’s insights. This partnership allows Ponderosa to share learnings from its early-stage work in the food, agriculture, and ocean space while maintaining its own name and presence in the market.

Ponderosa Ventures is co-founded by Evi Steyer and Tom Steyer, who serve as members of the Ponderosa Investment Committee. Chloë Payne is a Principal at the firm, and Anthony Cortese serves as an Associate. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and operates globally, with a focus on the United States and Europe. Their commitment to sustainable and impactful businesses reflects their dedication to addressing critical environmental and health issues through strategic investments.