Amanda Donohue-Hansen

Investment Director, dsm-firmenich Venturing

2024 - Current

Investment Director at the corporate venture capital group of dsm-firmenich. Investing in early-stage technology companies and innovative businesses in nutrition, health, and beauty.

Founder

2023 - 2024

Independent consulting business that advised entrepreneurs, startups, corporations, and investors with strategy, business development, investment diligence, capital planning and fundraising in the food and agriculture sector.

Managing Director

2020 - 2023

Investor and Managing Director of Cultivian Sandbox Ventures, a joint venture between Sandbox Industries and Cultivian Ventures, which raised two early-stage venture funds with a combined $250M in commitments to invest in early-stage food and agriculture technology companies. • Responsible for investment sourcing, financial analysis and diligence, term sheet negotiation, investment execution and portfolio management for Cultivian Sandbox’ second fund with $135MM in commitments. On average, evaluated 100 companies, conducted deep diligence on 10 out of 100, and led 1 new investment in a company each year. • Supported Managing Directors of Cultivian Sandbox’ first fund with portfolio management, follow-on investment analysis, and valuations. • 1 of 7 Investment Committee Members for the second Cultivian Sandbox fund, responsible for portfolio construction strategy, evaluating and approving new and follow-on investments , and managing allocation of the reserves pool of the fund. • Served as Board Director on 2 portfolio companies and Board Observer on 5 portfolio companies across the two funds. • Managed the Fund’s relationship with several strategic corporate and financial LPs, including sharing regular updates on portfolio and fund financial performance as well as strategic insights relevant to each LP. • Helped lead a team of 1 vice president, 2 associates, summer MBA interns, and administrative staff as well as collaborated with in-house Finance and Legal Counsel on investments, portfolio and fund management. • Represented Cultivian Sandbox Ventures at industry conferences and events, including as an Advisory Board Member of Rethink’s World Agritech Summits.

Vice President

2019 - 2020

Partner

2020 - 2023

Partner at Sandbox Industries, a Chicago-based investment management firm with $1.6B in assets under management and investments in technology companies transforming some of the most critical industries to human livelihood: healthcare, insurance, and food & agriculture. • Leader on Sandbox’ food & agriculture investment team, responsible for investment and management of its Cultivian Sandbox venture funds and the firm’s food & agriculture fund strategy. • Organized firm-wide learning & development opportunities and training, including case studies on investment negotiation and portfolio management, best practices related to sourcing and board governance, and crowd-sourcing sessions on investment diligence. • Early adopter of new technology tools, such as Carta for more streamlined investment valuations and Affinity for relationship and investment opportunity management, both of which were later adopted across other funds in the firm.

Board Observer, Investor

2023 - 2023

Nuritas combines artificial intelligence and genomics to discover and unlock plant-based bioactive peptides with functional health benefits for use as ingredients in food, personal care, health, and nutrition applications. As Board Observer, supported management with business development, strategic partnerships, capital planning, and fundraising.

Board Observer, Investor

2022 - 2023

Supergut is an evidence-based nutrition brand advancing health through the gut microbiome. The company's line of food and beverage products feed the gut with resistant starch, a prebiotic fiber, to promote a healthy gut microbiome, improve the body's natural ability to manage blood sugar, satisfy hunger, strengthen immunity, enabling individuals to boost and balance the immune system. • Sourced, led diligence, and helped execute investment in the company’s Series A financing • As Board Observer, supported management with company strategy, business development, marketing, supply partnerships, capital planning and fundraising • Managed the Fund’s investment in the company, including sharing regular company updates and quarterly Board reports for the Fund’s Investment Committee, preparing annual investment valuation for Fund auditors and LPs, and managing financial reserves strategy

Board Member, Investor

2021 - 2023

Copper Cow Coffee is a sustainable premium coffee brand that is bringing to market the highest quality and most sustainable Vietnamese Robusta coffee. • Sourced, led diligence, and helped execute co-lead investment in the company’s Series A financing • As Board Director, supported management with company strategy, business development, recruiting senior management and independent board directors, annual financial audit, and capital planning and fundraising • Led diligence and execution of the Fund’s follow-on investment in the company • Managed the Fund’s investment in the company, including sharing regular company updates and quarterly Board reports for the Fund’s Investment Committee, preparing annual investment valuation for Fund auditors and LPs, and managing financial reserves strategy

Board Observer, Investor

2020 - 2023

Culture Biosciences offers biotechnology companies an easier, faster, and cheaper way to do biomanufacturing R&D in the food, agriculture, industrial, and biopharma sectors. Culture’s platform of automated cloud bioreactors offers scientists full control of experimental design and allow real-time monitoring and process changes. Beyond generating data more quickly, Culture’s platform provides advanced data visualization and analytics tools to generate new insights into bioprocesses. • Sourced, led diligence, and helped execute lead investment in the company’s Series A financing • As Board Observer, supported management with company strategy, business development, recruiting of executive leadership team and independent board directors, and fundraising • Led diligence and execution of the Fund’s follow-on investment in the company’s Series B financing • Managed the Fund’s investment in the company, including sharing regular company updates and quarterly Board reports to the Fund’s Investment Committee, preparing annual investment valuation for Fund auditors and LPs, and maintaining investment reserves strategy

Angel Investor

2022 - 2022

Modak is a US-based platform leveraging the power of fintech, gamification, and community to promote financial literacy and empower teens to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

Board Observer, Investor

2020 - 2022

Corvium developed a food risk intelligence software designed to continuously aggregate risk and quality data generated during food production and distribution, making the world a safer place to eat. Neogen (NASDAQ: NEOG) acquired Corvium in 2023 and now markets its software as "Neogen Analytics." As Board Observer, supported management with business development and strategic partnerships as well as analysis of potential exit strategies and shareholder returns scenarios for the Board of Directors and management.