GroundForce Capital Appoints Eric Desai as Partner to Lead B2B Investments Tied to the Food System

SAN FRANCISCO & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GroundForce Capital, an investment management firm that backs high-potential companies seeking to improve the health and longevity of people and the planet, announced the appointment of Eric Desai as Partner. In his new role, Mr. Desai will lead the firm’s B2B growth investments tied to the food system, actively shaping this strategy and overseeing the full investment lifecycle.

This strategic hire follows GroundForce Capital’s announcement last year to expand its focus more broadly in both the B2C and B2B sectors that address the most pressing issues tied to human and planetary health. For B2C, the firm is targeting companies that promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles across industries, including consumer food and beverage, consumer services, personal care, vitamins and supplements, and multi-unit retailing. In the B2B sector, GroundForce Capital is investing in companies catalyzing the transition to healthier, lower carbon and regenerative food production. The firm is currently investing out of its $330M fund, which targets investments between $15 million and $50 million in growth stage companies generating gross revenues of $10 million to over $100 million. Mr. Desai will spearhead the firm’s B2B growth investments, which will focus on technology solutions in areas such as supply chain management, agtech, foodtech, manufacturing, resource management, and circularity.

By leveraging his deep industry expertise, Mr. Desai aims to enhance the alignment of incentives among mid-to-upstream stakeholders and evolving end consumer demands, to unlock new levels of efficiency, sustainability, and value creation. “The addition of Eric Desai as Partner not only fortifies our team, but also brings his proven track record and deep commitment to investing in B2B technologies that improve the sustainability, security, and health of our food system. His expertise and foresight are already shaping our approach, setting us on a path to achieve more ambitious objectives and establish GroundForce Capital as a frontrunner in the industry. This perfectly aligns with our mission to deliver both financial returns and meaningful impact,” stated Mark Rampolla and Dan Gluck, Co-Founders and Managing Partners at GroundForce Capital.

Mr. Desai brings over ten years of experience in climate investing and has made over 25 growth investments. Prior to joining GroundForce Capital, Mr. Desai was a Managing Director at Vidavo Capital Partners, a growth equity investment firm specialized in growth technology companies improving food security, farmer prosperity, and climate resilience across the agrifood system. Previously, Mr. Desai was a Partner at Greenhouse Capital, a growth equity investment firm specialized in B2B climate technologies. He earned an MBA from the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business. He holds a BS in Finance and Accounting from the University of Arizona.

Eric Desai, Partner at GroundForce Capital said, “I'm thrilled to be part of this institutional-grade platform and team, which is uniquely positioned to tap into the market's need for growth-stage investment partners, with extensive expertise and networks within the food and agriculture system. Our team has consistently demonstrated our ability to help companies rapidly increase value while aligning with essential climate and human health objectives.”

About GroundForce Capital

GroundForce Capital is an investment management firm that backs high-potential companies seeking to improve the health and longevity of people and the planet. The firm provides capital, strategic guidance and operating expertise to visionary companies including Bobbie, Liquid Death, OWYN, Miyoko's Creamery, KinderFarms, Thistle, and Vive Organic. GroundForce Capital's leadership team is comprised of innovators behind leading food and beverage brands, such as ZICO Beverages, an early pioneer in the coconut water category acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 2013, and Health Warrior, a superfood company purchased by PepsiCo in 2018.

GroundForce Capital has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. For more information about the Firm, visit GroundForceCapital.com.