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Cooks Venture appoints Ankur Agrawal as Chief Financial Officer
US based Cooks Venture – a next generation AgTech and food company committed to regenerative agriculture and supply chain transparency – is pleased to announce a $4 million capital raise led by Golden West Food Group as part of a long-term strategic partnership with the company. This investment will enable expansion of national distribution to wholesale and retailers. Cooks Venture is proud to simultaneously announce the hire of Ankur Agrawal as chief financial officer. Agrawal was instrumental in securing the agreement with Golden West Food Group.
Cooks Venture – founded by Matthew Wadiak, former COO and founder of Blue Apron – is an establishing regenerative agriculture system through a combination of crop science, animal breeding and husbandry and long-term data monitoring. Cooks Venture has been working in stealth for many years, but launched onto the scene in 2018 with a plan to reshape agriculture from the ground up.
“Consumers are always looking for a wider variety of ethically sourced meats, and we like to be at the forefront of what’s new and innovative in the market,” says Josh Solovy, President, Golden West Food Group. “We align with Cooks Venture’s philosophy that better animal husbandry yields higher quality, great tasting and better for you foods. That’s why we invested in Cooks Venture and believe they, in short time, will be a market leader for pasture-raised, heirloom and heritage bred, regenerative poultry in the US.”
Agrawal is joining Cooks Venture at a time of rapid expansion. Fresh off the heels of raising $12 million in secured financing, the company is working to advance the capacity and reach of regenerative farming nationwide. Agrawal will apply his deep financial knowledge to lead the company’s sustainable growth, building new investor partnerships and establishing core processes.
As a member of the leadership team, Agrawal reports directly to Wadiak. “As Cooks Venture continues to expand, it is critical that we add trusted executives to our team, who can help grow the business. I look forward to seeing what Ankur can do for the company as we look to our second year,” Wadiak said.
“Matt is committed to making a positive, long-lasting impact on the agriculture and food systems,” said Agrawal. “Cooks Venture provides a unique opportunity to combine my passion for heathy food and food systems, reversing climate change and building strong businesses.”
Agrawal has worked in a variety of finance roles including FP&A, innovation finance, investor relations and corporate development. Most recently, Agrawal served as the VP of Finance at SeatGeek. Agrawal first met Wadiak at Blue Apron, where he worked for over three years. Prior to Blue Apron, Ankur worked at Pepsico in a variety of Finance roles. He began his career in investment banking with a focus on food and agriculture clients. As a result, Agrawal became passionate about making good food accessible while building financially stable businesses. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Yale University and a Bachelor’s Degree from New York University.