Michael Lavin

Managing Partner

2017 - Current

I run the investing and fund management activities of Germin8 Ventures, which is a multi-stage venture capital firm investing in transformative Food & AgTech with strong strategic backing. Our goal is to combine unique domain expertise with best-in-class investment approaches to support the most capable teams and technologies shaping the Agrifood sector in ways that have major positiv consequence on food security, population health, as well as the prosperity of producers and their local communities.

Investment Committee Member

2024

Mentor and Collaborator

2017 - 2020

Mentor

2018 - 2020

Associate Board Member - Good Food Accelerator

2018 - 2019

Mentor

2017 - 2019

Investment Banking Associate

2012 - 2017

Served as an investment banker at Chicago-based Mesirow Financial, successfully executing numerous M&A, capital raising and restructuring transactions across a variety of sectors, including food & agriculture, industrial technology, aerospace & defense, packaging and industrials for clientele ranging from boutique family- and founder-owned companies to the Fortune 500. In addition to primary investment banking responsibilities, I also served on Mesirow’s three person corporate development team and advised the board of directors on matters related to acquisitions, investments and divestitures, as well as other corporate strategy initiatives and personal investing by board members.

Associate, Mesirow Financial Consulting

2011 - 2012

- Advised Fortune 500, leading legal and government clientele - Corporate Turnaround & Financial Restructuring - Litigation, Forensics, Investigative & Intelligence Services - Management Consulting

Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory Intern

2011 - 2011

Management Consulting Engagement - Led a team from the University of Illinois in a four-month project to develop an algorithm-based tool for Alvarez & Marsal to prospect potential clientele likely to face distress in six to eighteen months in the future.

Corporate Finance and Risk Management Intern

2009 - 2009

- Developed manual and policies for risk management best practices and protocols - Structured and negotiated equipment financings - Applied data analytics in the development of hedging strategies and formation of synthetic hedges - Investigated injury events and created preventative measures - Financial analysis

Accounting/Operations Intern

2008 - 2008

- Food manufacturing and production spanning multiple operations throughout the value chain - Lean manufacturing practices - Data analytics and quality control - R&D and product development - Supply chain logistics - Accounting