FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 15, 2025 – Downland, the succession planning startup dedicated to improving land access for young farmers, has been selected as one of the top five finalists for the prestigious Female Founders in Food Tech Pitch Showcase at Future Food Tech San Francisco. Chosen from a competitive field of 115 applicants, this recognition highlights Downland's innovative approach to addressing critical challenges in agricultural succession and regenerative farming practices.

"Being selected among the top finalists validates our mission to transform how farmland transitions between generations," said Jessi Roesch, CEO and Founder of Downland. "With over 70% of U.S. farms set to change hands in the next two decades, our platform creates sustainable pathways for preserving agricultural land while empowering the next generation of regenerative farmers."

The Female Founders Pitch Showcase, facilitated by Supply Change Capital, provided Downland with the opportunity to present on both the Startup Arena mainstage and at the exclusive Female Founders Mixer during the Future Food Tech conference on March 13-14. The event gathered 1,700 industry leaders, innovators, and investors committed to building a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Supply Change Capital, led by Managing Partners Noramay Cadena and Shayna Harris, brings exceptional expertise to the food tech investment landscape. Their combined experience spans aerospace engineering, sustainable food strategies across 20 countries, and over 90 investments between them. The MIT Sloan alumni have created a powerful investment platform that recognizes transformative potential in the agricultural technology sector.

Downland stood alongside impressive fellow finalists including Deco Labs (the competition winner), a Tufts University spin-out developing enabling technology for cultivated meat; demi Composting; Mothership Materials; and Voltair.ai.

Succession planning, the cornerstone of Downland's approach, addresses a monumental economic transition in American agriculture. With over $2 trillion of real estate value and $225 billion of food production set to change hands in the next two decades, Downland's platform offers critical solutions to ensure farmland remains productive and sustainable. By connecting retiring landowners with the next generation of farmers trained in regenerative practices, Downland preserves agricultural heritage while securing future food production capacity.

This recognition at Future Food Tech comes shortly after Downland's feature in Foodbytes by Rabobank's 2024 report on sustainability-focused startups and its partnership with the CleanTech Fellows program at the University of Texas's McCombs School of Business, further validating its innovative approach to one of agriculture's most pressing economic and social challenges.

Future Food Tech San Francisco is part of a global series of events held in San Francisco, Chicago, and London, bringing together decision-makers from startups, investment firms, technology leaders, and major food brands to collaborate on creating healthier food systems. The conference addresses critical themes ranging from ingredient development for more stable supply chains to the role of AI in food and the complexities of scaling biotechnologies.

About Downland. Downland is dedicated to accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture by improving land access for young farmers. Through estate and succession planning, Downland empowers families who wish to keep their farm in agriculture even if there's not an heir interested in carrying on the operation by matching with a skilled farmer in search of land.

About Supply Change Capital. Supply Change Capital is a venture capital firm specializing in food tech investments, with a focus on supporting innovative and sustainable solutions in the food system. Founded by MIT Sloan alumni Noramay Cadena and Shayna Harris, the firm leverages their combined expertise in engineering, food sustainability, and investment to identify and support transformative companies, investing in over 90 companies to date.

Media Contact: hello@godownland.com