PORTFOLIO

Vitality is proud to present its first three portfolio companies. We have spent 18 months meeting founders and reviewing a growing pipeline of pre-seed and seed stage nature-based startups across the United States and around the world. Thank you to our pre-fund investors for supporting the Vitality vision.

These founders and the solutions they are building fully represent our approach, values, and Fund 1 strategy. 

Viewing the world through the lens of natural intelligence and biomimicry we can borrow from nature to create solutions to some of our most pressing challenges in a way that is ultimately more sustainable and resilient.

Our first portfolio companies are drawing from nature’s intelligence to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and durably sequester it as stone, support sustainable agricultural practices to restore health of the soil, and decarbonize the cement industry. 

Nature-based carbon dioxide removal

Target Market Size: $10B

Marcela Flores

CEO & Founder

  • A multi-award winning, 3x entrepreneur and industry professional

  • MSt Sustainability Leadership

  • Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

  • 16 years in CPG

  • 18 years in food systems (as an entrepreneur and in global companies Unilever, Quorn Foods, Divine Chocolate)

  • TierraSphere is a truly nature-based solution to one of the most prescient problems facing our world today—the task of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG) to remove them from the atmosphere. TierraSphere has developed a solution that enhances a natural carbon capture process, the Oxalate-Carbonate Pathway (OCP). In simple terms, TierraSphere is leveraging plant species to capture carbon and turn it into a very stable form of a rock that can remain in the soil for thousands of years. Their enhanced process also promotes co-benefits like improved water quality, improved water retention, increased biodiversity, and improved soil health. They back up the quality of their solution through the use of an AI-powered monitoring, verification and reporting (MRV) methodology that is developed to measure dozens of key metrics. The TierraSphere solution is scalable across multiple geographies and can be utilized by customers seeking net-zero or carbon negative goals in almost any sector.

    • UK-based seed-stage carbon dioxide removal company

    • Nature-based solution enhanced by significant scientific research, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) via native plants using Oxalate-Carbonate Pathway (OCP)

    • Minimal to no negative impacts compared to other CDR alternatives (BECCS, DACCS, ERW, biochar)

    • Multiple co-benefits in addition to high quality carbon credits (biodiversity, soil health, water quality, etc)

    • Organic CO2 Captured Annually & Cumulatively 

    • Inorganic CO2 Captured Annually & Cumulatively 

    • Biodiversity (micro and macro level) 

    • Soil Nitrogen Levels

    • Water Quality 

    • Soil Water Retention 

    • Water Use YoY Trends

Agtech for sustainable, regenerative agriculture

Target Market Size: $163B

Sara Hinkley

CEO & Founder

  • Bachelors in Business Management from Texas State

  • Masters in Healthcare Administration from Colorado State

  • Family History in farming

  • Honoree in 2024 Leaders in Agriculture Award

  • Our existence is tied to the fate of farmers across the globe. In the United States, industrialized farming practices have depleted the topsoil to dire levels. This is a result of overuse of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides coupled with practices like monocropping. The need for tools and technologies to support farmers trying to implement practices that restore and preserve the health of the soil is clear. The urgency of the moment is compounded by an increasingly critical labor shortage in the agricultural sector with significant impacts on farm productivity, food prices, food security, and ripple effects across the entire economy.

    BOPA (Barn Owl Precision Agriculture) is developing solutions and tools, including their signature Autonomous Nano Tractor, focused on making sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices viable for small and midsize farmers who are struggling with increased costs, decreased revenue and profit margins. Their mission is to “help farmers secure the food supply, save the climate, and rediscover love of the job.” The company is committed to improving the ability of farmers to manage and grow crops with decreased pesticide and herbicide use, which improves health of the soil and health of the crops and decreases leeching of harmful chemicals into the water.

    • US based seed-stage agtech company focused on sustainable agriculture solutions for small farmers

    • HQ’ed in Colorado, founded by a 4th generation farmer

    • Farming in North America is facing a dire labor shortage, rising costs, and soil depletion

    • Autonomous nano tractors allow a shift to regenerative agriculture practices and decreased reliance on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides

    • Water Retention

    • Biodiversity (Micro & Macro level)

    • Nitrogen Levels

    • Carbon Levels

    • Plowing Frequency

    • Herbicide Use (Annually & Cumulative)

    • Pesticide Use (Annually & Cumulative)

    • Nutrient Density 

    • Synthetic Fertilizer Use

    • Cost Savings to Farmers

    • Equipment Cost Annually

    • Revenue Growth & Margins

    • Acres Planted YoY Trends

    • Crop Yields YoY Trends

Nature-based Cement

Target Market Size: $32B

Mary Lempres

  • Masters of Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute

  • Bachelors of Fine Art from the Pratt Institute

  • MIT Solve 2024 Finalist

  • Founded and led a biodesign studio focused on products, materials, and services

Founder & CEO

Shannon Parker

Co-Founder & Head of Business

  • MBA from Duke University

  • Masters of Environmental Management from Duke University

  • Previously acquired Founder & COO

  • Former Director of Corporate Development & Sustainability at Circ INC

  • The foundation of our modern built environment is cement and concrete, specifically Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) which was invented in the 1800s and has changed very little in 200+ years. The problem with our current reliance on PCC is the cost and energy required to produce it. Globally the cement industry represents 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. ReefCycle is a deep tech startup focused on decarbonizing the cement industry and building climate-resilient infrastructure. Their nature-inspired technology harnesses plant-based enzymes to mimic the biomineralization processes seen in shells and reefs, forming biocement and bioconcrete from upcycled waste and renewable resources. This innovative approach eliminates the need for fossil fuels, mining, and industrial processing, while operating at room temperature, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of traditional cement production. 

    • US based pre-seed startup focused on decarbonizing the cement industry

    • Chemical based reaction that can occur at room temperature

    • No GHG emissions, no reliance on coal power or “green” concrete additives that are actually industrial waste products 

    • Tons of biocement manufactured annually

    • Biocement use in built environment sector trends YoY

    • CO2 emissions avoided by using biocement 

CONTACT US

Please reach out to learn more about these incredible founders, our approach, and opportunities to partner as we build Vitality Fund 1 in 2025!

Natalya Wallin

Founding Partner & GP

Contact me on LinkedIn or at

natalya@vitalityvf.com