MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Windfall Bio, an agtech/climate startup focused on transforming dilute methane emissions into value-add products, today announced it has established a team of industry leaders and experts to bring the first-ever methane-to-organic fertilizer solution to market, providing an agricultural resource for farmers. Notably, the company appointed Frank Crespo, a co-founder of Windfall Bio, as chief operating officer, and Jordan Smith as vice president of engineering, both leading the team to address dilute methane emissions, one of the largest and most underappreciated problems for global warming.
The creation of the Board of Advisors serves to support Windfall Bio’s growth, expand its network and underscore its commitment to empowering farmers of all sizes to be a part of the methane solution. The Board consists of a group of individuals with a collective wealth of expertise and high status within their respective industries, including Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy and expert in decarbonization technologies and climate impacts; Lori Giver, chief science and sustainability officer at Calysta, Inc., a leader in cellular agriculture; Lance Ruppert, Strategic Market Development Manager for GROWMARK, Inc., a top five ag retailer in the U.S.; Ilya Sokolov, general manager specialized in healthy and sustainable foods and beverages for brands such as Danone, PepsiCo and Bel Group; Nick Schwanz, brand strategy and co-founder of Solar Punk Farms; and Daniella Taveau, former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulator and environmental/agricultural regulatory expert.
“We are a company just coming out of stealth so we’re incredibly proud to gain the backing of big-name investors and the support of truly impressive and strategic executives and advisory members. As we establish a new market and create a new category of methane capture and transformation into organic fertilizer for the agriculture sector, this is incredibly important,” said Josh Silverman, co-founder and CEO of Windfall Bio. “This team of industry ‘avengers’ is part of Windfall’s origin story and further cements our solution and its potential impact. We are now well-positioned for future partnerships with leading manufacturers and retailers to bring our solution and platform to life technically and commercially.”
Windfall Bio’s solution uses proprietary nature-based technology that enriches natural methane-eating microbes—mems—from the soil. These organisms consume methane directly while also capturing nitrogen from the air to produce an organic fertilizer with potentially better bioavailability, reduced runoff and reduced downstream emissions compared to synthetic ammonia fertilizers. The result is a living organic fertilizer that is more natural for soils and for the environment. Windfall’s technology is a unique win-win-win for farmers, consumers and climate.
In the chief operating officer role, Crespo will work closely with the leadership team to execute Windfall Bio’s strategy, help drive company growth and establish its product supply chain. Crespo brings over 30 years of operational expertise in driving innovation in supply network capabilities and performance. Prior to Windfall Bio, Crespo was chief supply chain officer at Indigo Agriculture, where he led efforts to transform the agriculture value chain, building capabilities that increase grower profitability while responding to consumer preference.
“Windfall Bio is committed to understanding pain points for farmers and the agriculture industry in adopting technologies to address methane emissions,” said Crespo, co-founder and COO of Windfall Bio. “I’m proud to join a team that enables sustainable farming practices for both large and small farms by providing a low-cost, low-maintenance solution to capture methane, and allows operators to transform these waste emissions to high-value organic fertilizer.”
As vice president of engineering, Smith will leverage his decades-worth of experience in agricultural engineering as a registered civil engineer with deep knowledge in applying biology to solve problems. He will work closely with the executive and R&D teams to develop innovative solutions that will help solve some of agriculture’s biggest problems as it relates to methane emissions. Prior to joining Windfall Bio, Smith started a specialty fertilizer business, Greensmith Advanced Plant Nutrition, and held senior engineering roles at California Public Utilities Commission, State Water Resources Control Board, Aurora Algae, Inc., among others.
“Windfall Bio is a pioneer in the agtech industry, and is creating an opportunity for biological and technical solutions to help the agriculture sector rather than create more challenges,” said Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, a Nobel Prize in Physics winner and member of Windfall Bio’s Board of Advisors. “Windfall’s investment in resources to bring together the leaders who possess a deep understanding of methane-focused technologies as it relates to the needs of farmers emphasizes its dedication to building an ecosystem of driving ambition and inspiring continual breakthroughs in the solution.”
The executives and Board join the team on the heels of the company launch, including the announcement of a $9 million raise led by Mayfield and UNTITLED—a venture fund founded by Magnus Rausing of the TetraLaval Family—with participation from additional investors including B37 Ventures, Baruch Future Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Cavallo Ventures and MCJ Collective.
About Windfall Bio
Windfall Bio is a nature-based agricultural technology company that harnesses methane-eating microbes to transform harmful methane into organic soil nutrients on site. Windfall Bio will drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the Earth’s food system, increasing profits for the farmers that feed our communities without increasing costs to consumers. Windfall Bio provides microbes, digestors, and associated services that allow for the capture and transformation of methane from a variety of sources, including direct capture of methane carbon from the atmosphere.
Founded in 2022 and based in Menlo Park, CA, Windfall Bio is venture-backed by top-tier firms including Mayfield, UNTITLED, B37 Ventures, Baruch Future Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Cavallo Ventures and MCJ Collective.
To learn more about Windfall Bio’s solution and its benefits for farmers and everyday eaters, visit www.windfall.bio
