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Mark Brooks
Managing Director at FMC Ventures
Raleigh, North Carolina
Overview
Mark Brooks is a seasoned VC and board member specializing in AgTech and ClimateTech, currently serving as a Managing Director at FMC Corporation and on the boards of various innovative companies. With a strong background in strategic planning and entrepreneurship, Mark has played pivotal roles in driving growth and success in the AgTech sector, making impactful contributions to companies like AgBiome and Traive.
Work Experience
Managing Director, FMC Ventures
2022 - Current
Leading the venture capital arm of FMC Corporation. Purpose is to find and invest in game changing startup companies that are shaping the future of agriculture and food production. Emphasis on Seed, Series A, Series B stage Global scope. #AgTech #ClimateChange
FMC Corporation is an US-based chemical manufacturing company producing solutions for the agricultural, textile, and healthcare industries.
Board Observer
2024
Peptide discovery platform for insect control in crop protection. FMC Ventures co-led the oversubscribed $14m Series A round in mid 2024.
Board Observer
2023
AgroSpheres is developing game changing biodegradable encapsulation technologies that enable the development of high efficacy biological pesticides. The platform directly addresses the three key bottlenecks facing biologicals today: cost, performance, and stability. FMC Ventures invested in the company's Series B equity round.
AgroSpheres develops novel technologies that aim to set a new standard for bio-based delivery of active ingredients.
Raised $52,949,653.00 from Ospraie Ag Sciences, Lewis & Clark AgriFood, Bidra Innovation Ventures, FMC Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, Zebra Impact Ventures, Ospraie Ag Sciences, Bidra Innovation Ventures, FMC Ventures and Lewis & Clark AgriFood.
Member Board of Directors
2022
Micropep is developing micro-proteins to turn up or down gene expression in plants. Company is building a discovery platform to identify solutions that (1) increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, (2) improve yields.
Board Member
2021
Traive is a FinTech startup, reimagining credit in agriculture. The company's platform assesses farmer's credit profiles by looking at their credit scores and considering factors like agronomic performance, behavior, experience, and growth potential, thereby enabling agricultural businesses to improve financial decisions based on the risk score of each farmer individually. The company operates throughout Brazil.
Director Board Of Directors
2020 - 2022
Board director and member of compensation committee. Premier Crop Systems is a leading precision ag-data processing and analysis company. Premier’s technology drives better agronomic decisions, leading to higher yields, increased profits and more sustainable practices for their customers. Often working behind the scenes and headquartered in Des Moines, IA, Premier works with leading retailers, agronomists and directly with growers. Premier has been in the investment portfolio of Syngenta Ventures since 2017.
Premier Crop Systems is a precision ag-data processing and analysis company.
Raised $4,650,444.00 from Syngenta Ventures.
Board Member
2020 - 2022
Agrivida is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing a new generation of enzyme solutions to feed livestock more efficiently, reduce negative environmental impacts, and produce more healthful food for an expanding consumer population. Agrivida has been in the Syngenta Ventures portfolio since 2011.
Agrivida creates an enzyme solution to improve poultry and swine nutrition.
Raised $72,798,233.00 from Batios Holdings, Syngenta Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Middleland Capital, Open Prairie, Sandbox Industries, Iowa Corn Opportunities and TechAccel.
Board Member
2020 - 2022
AgBiome is a venture-backed agricultural product discovery company based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. AgBiome uses its proprietary platform to collect, isolate, analyze, and test microbes for use in agriculture as biological products and as sources of trait genes.
AgBiome - The GENESIS Platform Business is a provider of microbial collection to develop sustainably sourced ingredients.
Syngenta Group Ventures, Investment Manager
2020 - 2022
$150m Venture Capital fund of Syngenta Group, a leading agriculture inputs company • Co-led development of a re-imagined strategy for the fund. The approach included comprehensive approaches to AgTech, FoodTech, FinTech, regenerative ag, AI/ML, automation, Sustainability, and generally ClimateTech • Served as a Board member on 4 companies in the portfolio. Responsibilities included shareholder governance, serving on comp or audit committee, and advising management on corporate strategy, org design, growth, product strategy and roadmaps, and M&A opportunities • Led 3 new equity investments, including diligence, syndicate negotiation, and investment committee approval • Supported 10+ equity investments as member of the investment team • Led a global pitch competition with 150+ startup companies in alternative proteins • Formed views of what is “around the corner” by engaging 250+ entrepreneurs and their innovations per year • Facilitated introductions from deal flow to cross-functional experts within the global corporate parent to explore collaboration, commercial partnerships, or product development regardless of investment status
Associate Director, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships
2017 - 2020
• Ignited strategic insights and revenue growth by being a skilled internal consultant for senior executive leadership, Board, and 50+ global internal teams to identify and exploit adjacent market opportunities and develop go-to-market plans • Pioneered and led the accounting and finance profession's first startup accelerator, a type of corporate venture capital (CVC). Generated investment opportunities and deal flow, conducted due diligence, made investments, and supported founders in building enduring companies. Selected 7 startups in which we invested for equity and providing access to mentors and technical experts (recognized with award from the CEO for this early accomplishment). Invested companies are North Capital, TrueUp, RegroupTax, Pluma, Gappify, Dryrun, Client Hub. Program has since invested in Scanye, The Climate Service, Gilded, and Tally Street. • Although not an accountant, recognized in 2018 by CPA Practice Adviser as a “20 Under 40 Superstar leading the development of technology in the accounting and finance profession” • Led mergers and acquisitions strategy, pipeline, and deal development with other accounting bodies and associations worldwide to expand our global reach and capabilities, particularly in adjacent markets (e.g., cybersecurity, government) and geographies (e.g., Asia) • Transformed the culture of innovation through org-wide innovation contests, training, and thought leadership. Designed and oversaw an internal innovation contest for staff resulting in >40% global staff being engaged, 137 novel ideas, with 13 being funded and prototyped • Coached and developed team reports to achieve high professional growth, empowered them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, higher performance, and space to be themselves • Selected for the internal VP successor leadership development program • Reported directly to COO
Senior Manager, Innovation
2014 - 2017
• Convinced senior leadership to support the developing a corporate venture capital function designed to accelerate R&D and growth into adjacent markets by investing in and partnering with startups within the global accounting ecosystem; resulted in the creation of the organization's first startup accelerator • Piloted 5 new business models in emerging markets with 13 state-level partners resulting in new revenue in <1 year, 1800 new student members, organization learning, and enhanced collaboration • Transformed the internal culture of innovation by developing and executing an innovation tournament, an innovation training program for staff in 9 countries, dedicated innovation spaces, and other high impact cultural initiatives that have engaged over 70% of global employees and significantly improved the internal culture (recognized with award from the CEO for these accomplishments) • Spurred new innovative thinking and thought leadership by launching a platform for idea sharing within the Accounting profession; awarded $10k innovation grant to implement from the American Society of Association Executives • Propelled thought leadership by becoming a routinely sought after speaker and author within 2 years with 20+ accepted invitations to speak at conferences, publish magazine articles and blog posts, and ad-hoc consulting requests • Drove high performance and high caliber output of millennial direct reports through focused professional development and coaching