aaron brodkey
Program Manager at Big Idea Ventures
co-founder plant-based startup 🌱
hi ! ’ aaron ’ passionate plant-based food . upbringing wa really defined food : recipe family wa making holiday countless experiment kitchen friend & family . good food experience also made question bad , especially public school lunch unhealthy . interested led attend university michigan dove course public health , food policy , business understand , well , vegetable went public school lunch ! two semester public health literature one powerful nutrition lecture , made switch plant-based lifestyle vegan ever since . seeing power plant-based food solve challenge nutrition , food security , climate change , animal welfare , focused education developing analytical , system thinking , leadership skill grow space . also applied skill multiple student organization internship , including founding vegweek , yearly university michigan sponsored event brings thought leader student together learn discus topic nutrition , sustainability , animal ethic . , saw ability institution , business , market positively impact way eat , wa inspired work food industry support effort . 2019 joined michigan dining ( foodservice enterprise university michigan ) marketing management , applying passion food experience analytical thinking better communication growth . time mdining , opportunity develop marketing around university 's sustainable monday campaign ( less-meat monday program ) , collaborate u-m student faculty research around marketing plant-based food , grow $ 300k new revenue buy-ahead meal plan program . joined big idea venture , alternative protein vc accelerator , supporting plant-based & cell-based startup nyc accelerator . drove deal flow conducted dd 250 alt . protein deal , made 20 investment . beginning 2022 , decided take leap entrepreneurship co-founding alt . protein start-up change way consumer think plant-based . want chat food , sustainability , vc , start-ups , 'd happy connect !
Big Idea Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigideaventures
Program Manager
Big Idea Ventures is a venture capital firm with teams in New York, Singapore, and soon Paris, combining capital and partnership to support and grow the world’s most compelling plant-based and cell-based food companies. Our first fund is the New Protein Fund (US$50M), anchored by major institutional investors including AAK, Bel Group, Bühler Group, Givaudan, Temasek Holdings, and Tyson Foods. Our portfolio includes 65 companies (and counting) from 17 countries that are leading the way to a better food system for all.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQEV0sNfEqlZUA/company-logo_100_100/0/1548697243995?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=SyIQNqQ_VvUPXUrmd14-NmrTbhmRCF9JFKd_xr49OWE
Big Idea Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigideaventures
Program Associate
Chicago, Illinois, United States
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQEV0sNfEqlZUA/company-logo_100_100/0/1548697243995?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=SyIQNqQ_VvUPXUrmd14-NmrTbhmRCF9JFKd_xr49OWE
Michigan Dining
https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigandining
Marketing Coordinator
Ann Arbor, MI
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQHvnqnqfFfC-Q/company-logo_100_100/0/1519898719767?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=ABl78Ww5Oj4FexWFQWhwZaq5jRuqw0-zSSwvO8b898g
Renewal Mill
https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-mill
Social Media Marketing Specialist
Oakland, California (Worked Remotely in Ann Arbor)
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C560BAQFnZEU980M0kA/company-logo_100_100/0/1610602263446?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=mBzb37ubWFVXeWxr75U3Rbz5046_xlZbP2GkoCX6C7c
Renewal Mill
https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-mill
Social Media Marketing Intern
Oakland, California (Worked remotely in Ann Arbor)
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C560BAQFnZEU980M0kA/company-logo_100_100/0/1610602263446?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=mBzb37ubWFVXeWxr75U3Rbz5046_xlZbP2GkoCX6C7c
LIVEKINDLY Media Inc
https://www.linkedin.com/company/livekindly
Brand Outreach
Remote
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C560BAQFiUN7Lq1fa-g/company-logo_100_100/0/1611000676857?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=BkherW9JqLa4K5-PXDOOWNuYt1vM8BrlA7MRaKky1xc
Pod Foods Co
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pod-foods
Sales And Marketing Intern
Remote
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQEL1iGAlfwxxg/company-logo_100_100/0/1581353883691?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=8mOrhmRumOiOE9auSLUVnVlo6wpIzODhdF-BCAu28SE
Program in the Environment, Sustainable Food Systems concentration
Bachelor's
University of Michigan
https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan/
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQFGfERBPGurCg/company-logo_100_100/0/1519856309184?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=o8Br35Pgc_I5bZlgRXbswiWXP028ab5WkiGanT9EN34
High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates
Huron High School
https://www.linkedin.com/school/huron-high-school-09/
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQHmm6nsJAcYow/company-logo_100_100/0/1539911333266?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=AbilMXc18_5E-m93NenqxxNDXLkLprDFA3gfdCYze-g
Business and the Natural Environment
ENVIRON 208
Climate Change & Adaptation
ENVIRON 321
Elementary Statistics
SOC 210
Environmental Journalism
Environ 320
Environmental Law
Environ 475
Food Literacy For All
Environ 305
Food, Energy, and Environmental Justice
BIO 101
Foundations for Sustainable Food Systems
URP 427
General Ecology
EEB 381
Introduction to Psychology
PSYCH 111
Marketing for Social Change
COMM 417
Public and Small Group Communications
SM 101
Sustainability and Society
ENVIRON 207
Sustainability and the Campus
ENVIRON 391
Sustainability and the City
UP 357
Thinking With Animals - Writing and Academic Inquiry
ENGLISH 125
Urban Agriculture
NRE 554
VegWeek 2018 at the University of Michigan
• Lead organizer for an event garnering over 600 people in attendance across one week
• Raised and managed a $4,000 budget
• Wrote eight grants to University departments and nonprofits with a sustainable food focus
• Managed cosponsorships with multiple University of Michigan departments and over a dozen student organizations centered around sustainability, public health, medicine, and ethics
• Led all marketing and PR efforts including marketing material creation, Facebook advertising, local media engagement, and generating cosponsorships to grow attendance
http://seas.umich.edu/events/03_01_2018/vegweek_u_m
https://coursera.org/share/9e2ad72884b0fa490798242ecbb8002b
Python for Everybody
coursera.org
University of Michigan
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/local-seo
Local SEO
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-foundations-2
SEO Foundations
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-keyword-strategy-2
SEO: Keyword Strategy
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-link-building-in-depth-2
SEO: Link Building in Depth
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-videos-3
SEO: Videos
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/building-customer-loyalty-2
Building Customer Loyalty
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/data-visualization-storytelling
Data Visualization: Storytelling
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-pivot-tables
Google Sheets: Pivot Tables
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-lightroom-cc
Learning Lightroom CC
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-advanced-tips-and-tricks
Google Sheets Advanced Tips and Tricks
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-essential-training
Google Sheets Essential Training
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-advanced-formulas-and-functions
Google Sheets: Advanced Formulas and Functions
www.linkedin.com
LinkedIn
https://coursera.org/share/b0a388067b523878484c14bb39629b6f
Using Databases with Python
coursera.org
University of Michigan
https://coursera.org/share/b0a388067b523878484c14bb39629b6f
Using Python with Databases
coursera.org
University of Michigan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theo-mourad-b06298201
Theo Mourad
Co-Founder at THEO's Plant-Based
Chicago, IL
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zfotis
Zachary Fotis
Working towards a more just food system
Chicago, IL
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-silver-4001a04a
Andrew Silver
CEO at MoLo Solutions
Greater Chicago Area
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokya
Tokya Dammond
CEO and Founding Partner Geni LLC,  Founder SymBio Impex (USA) and Symbio Polska S. A. (PL)
Woodstock, NY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-ellis-5a37ab143
Eugene Ellis
--
United States
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/marie-smith-5357a1157
Marie Smith
Anti-speciesist rights activist law student 🌱
Truro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekitty
Kitty Liang
Have fun & do good.
New York, NY
https://se.linkedin.com/in/joakim-odelberg-51a13a36
Joakim Odelberg
Explorers Club Fellow, Awarded film/photojournalist, public speaker, tv-host
Sweden
https://in.linkedin.com/in/ramit-s-malhotra-42637023
RAMIT S MALHOTRA
Director at SPARROW LIFE-CARE (P) LIMITED (a bath & body products co)
Gurgaon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstraightedge
greg edge
Certified master animal cruelty investigator, animal rescue specialist, environmental and humane educator
Greater Asheville
https://de.linkedin.com/in/grahamhenry
Graham Henry 🌱
Whole Plant Food Educator & Advocate of a Whole Plant Food way of eating for health and for a sustainable planet
Berlin
https://in.linkedin.com/in/ashokzalpuri
Ashok Zalpuri
Managing Director at Novoscient Pharmaceuticals
Gurgaon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-ezell-616a89b8
Jake Ezell
Network & System Engineer at Climate First Bank (I/O)
Gainesville, FL
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mann-13ab401
David Mann
SVP, Head of ETF Capital Markets -- Franklin Templeton
Alamo, CA
https://in.linkedin.com/in/dr-ramaswamy-sundaram-8baa8b39
Dr.Ramaswamy Sundaram
Independent  Consultant- Tea Processing
Chennai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-hallam-40932b12
Jamie Hallam
Manager - Materiel Business Analytics at FedEx Express
Memphis, TN
https://za.linkedin.com/in/nerinekoch
Nerine Koch
Technical Marketing Specialist: Speciality Crops (Agriculturist) at InteliGro (Pty) Ltd - previously known as Terason
City of Cape Town
https://za.linkedin.com/in/azwihangwisi-magadzu-800340203
Azwihangwisi Magadzu
Student at University of Venda for Science and Technology
Vhembe
Steven Mangan
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        Aaron was a great addition to the Michigan Dining management team. He is a strong communicator and leader, and helped our department with sales, marketing, and sustainability. His position began with building and coordinating a team of student interns to help deploy marketing across our 30+ units and catering business. As needs developed, he confidently began to take on additional responsibilities including supporting communications for our food pantry, advisory committee, and student organization partnerships. Aaron’s yes mentality and empathy made him a great team player and a pleasure to manage.

Aaron also shined in his work around sustainability. He took the initiative to collaborate with students and faculty across the University to identify sustainability opportunities for our department, and we are actively working on implementing his recommendations around plant-forward menuing. I'm confident Aaron will be very successful in his next position and make a big impact in his career.
Absolutely thrilled to have won the "highest impact potential" Award yesterday at the FoodHack Demo day!! 🏆  🙌  A huge thanks to the panel of…
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Liked by Aaron Brodkey
We are thrilled to announce our $5.7M seed round funding led by Astanor Ventures with participation of existing investors Big Idea Ventures…
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Liked by Aaron Brodkey
🐝 🍯 HONEY WITHOUT BEES BAGS 5.7million! Go MeliBio, amazing to see this pioneering company go from strength to strength. Not only are they giving…
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Liked by Aaron Brodkey
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V-Entrepreneurs Network
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12183869
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University of Michigan Alumni
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/41029
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Vegan Business
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8296699
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Vegan Mainstream
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2027865
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IFSTAL (Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching and Learning)
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8481225
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Food, Beverage & Grocery Professionals Group
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/724417
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Vegan Leaders in Corporate Management
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6786729
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MEET THE MEATLESS | Meatless Foods | Meat Alternatives | Meat Analogues | Plant-Based Foods
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10477326
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Organic Food Industry
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2697656
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Food Sales & Marketing Companies
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4342609
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U-M Sustainability Fellows and Scholars
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5186779
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Social Media Marketing Group by Connect365.io
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/66325
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PROGRESSIVE GROCER
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1775564
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Vevolution's Plant Based Business Hub
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12240802