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
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
Program Manager
Big Idea Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigideaventures
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
Program Associate
Michigan Dining
https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigandining
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
Marketing Coordinator
Renewal Mill
https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-mill
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
Social Media Marketing Specialist
Renewal Mill
https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewal-mill
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
Social Media Marketing Intern
LIVEKINDLY Media Inc
https://www.linkedin.com/company/livekindly
Remote
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C560BAQFiUN7Lq1fa-g/company-logo_100_100/0/1611000676857?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=BkherW9JqLa4K5-PXDOOWNuYt1vM8BrlA7MRaKky1xc
Brand Outreach
Pod Foods Co
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pod-foods
Remote
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQEL1iGAlfwxxg/company-logo_100_100/0/1581353883691?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=8mOrhmRumOiOE9auSLUVnVlo6wpIzODhdF-BCAu28SE
Sales And Marketing Intern
Bachelor's
Program in the Environment, Sustainable Food Systems concentration
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQFGfERBPGurCg/company-logo_100_100/0/1519856309184?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=o8Br35Pgc_I5bZlgRXbswiWXP028ab5WkiGanT9EN34
University of Michigan
https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-michigan/
High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQHmm6nsJAcYow/company-logo_100_100/0/1539911333266?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=AbilMXc18_5E-m93NenqxxNDXLkLprDFA3gfdCYze-g
Huron High School
https://www.linkedin.com/school/huron-high-school-09/
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
• 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
VegWeek 2018 at the University of Michigan
http://seas.umich.edu/events/03_01_2018/vegweek_u_m
University of Michigan
coursera.org
Python for Everybody
https://coursera.org/share/9e2ad72884b0fa490798242ecbb8002b
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Local SEO
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/local-seo
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
SEO Foundations
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-foundations-2
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
SEO: Keyword Strategy
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-keyword-strategy-2
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
SEO: Link Building in Depth
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-link-building-in-depth-2
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
SEO: Videos
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-videos-3
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Building Customer Loyalty
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/building-customer-loyalty-2
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Data Visualization: Storytelling
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/data-visualization-storytelling
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Google Sheets: Pivot Tables
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-pivot-tables
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Learning Lightroom CC
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-lightroom-cc
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Google Sheets Advanced Tips and Tricks
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-advanced-tips-and-tricks
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Google Sheets Essential Training
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-essential-training
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
Google Sheets: Advanced Formulas and Functions
http://www.linkedin.com/learning/google-sheets-advanced-formulas-and-functions
University of Michigan
coursera.org
Using Databases with Python
https://coursera.org/share/b0a388067b523878484c14bb39629b6f
University of Michigan
coursera.org
Using Python with Databases
https://coursera.org/share/b0a388067b523878484c14bb39629b6f
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theo-mourad-b06298201
Chicago, IL
Theo Mourad
Co-Founder at THEO's Plant-Based
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zfotis
Chicago, IL
Zachary Fotis
Working towards a more just food system
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-silver-4001a04a
Greater Chicago Area
Andrew Silver
CEO at MoLo Solutions
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokya
Woodstock, NY
Tokya Dammond
CEO and Founding Partner Geni LLC,  Founder SymBio Impex (USA) and Symbio Polska S. A. (PL)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-ellis-5a37ab143
United States
Eugene Ellis
--
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/marie-smith-5357a1157
Truro
Marie Smith
Anti-speciesist rights activist law student 🌱
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekitty
New York, NY
Kitty Liang
Have fun & do good.
https://se.linkedin.com/in/joakim-odelberg-51a13a36
Sweden
Joakim Odelberg
Explorers Club Fellow, Awarded film/photojournalist, public speaker, tv-host
https://in.linkedin.com/in/ramit-s-malhotra-42637023
Gurgaon
RAMIT S MALHOTRA
Director at SPARROW LIFE-CARE (P) LIMITED (a bath & body products co)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstraightedge
Greater Asheville
greg edge
Certified master animal cruelty investigator, animal rescue specialist, environmental and humane educator
https://de.linkedin.com/in/grahamhenry
Berlin
Graham Henry 🌱
Whole Plant Food Educator & Advocate of a Whole Plant Food way of eating for health and for a sustainable planet
https://in.linkedin.com/in/ashokzalpuri
Gurgaon
Ashok Zalpuri
Managing Director at Novoscient Pharmaceuticals
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-ezell-616a89b8
Gainesville, FL
Jake Ezell
Network & System Engineer at Climate First Bank (I/O)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mann-13ab401
Alamo, CA
David Mann
SVP, Head of ETF Capital Markets -- Franklin Templeton
https://in.linkedin.com/in/dr-ramaswamy-sundaram-8baa8b39
Chennai
Dr.Ramaswamy Sundaram
Independent  Consultant- Tea Processing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-hallam-40932b12
Memphis, TN
Jamie Hallam
Manager - Materiel Business Analytics at FedEx Express
https://za.linkedin.com/in/nerinekoch
City of Cape Town
Nerine Koch
Technical Marketing Specialist: Speciality Crops (Agriculturist) at InteliGro (Pty) Ltd - previously known as Terason
https://za.linkedin.com/in/azwihangwisi-magadzu-800340203
Vhembe
Azwihangwisi Magadzu
Student at University of Venda for Science and Technology
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.
Liked by Aaron Brodkey
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Absolutely thrilled to have won the "highest impact potential" Award yesterday at the FoodHack Demo day!! 🏆  🙌  A huge thanks to the panel of…
Liked by Aaron Brodkey
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We are thrilled to announce our $5.7M seed round funding led by Astanor Ventures with participation of existing investors Big Idea Ventures…
Liked by Aaron Brodkey
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🐝 🍯 HONEY WITHOUT BEES BAGS 5.7million! Go MeliBio, amazing to see this pioneering company go from strength to strength. Not only are they giving…
V-Entrepreneurs Network
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D07AQHrEdzjPTZ7ng/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631004337107?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=5vsRcHGmQ8Rz3TGXa6c_1-IloRewRvS9cNVOk91bUqU
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12183869
University of Michigan Alumni
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D07AQGoz1rM3LAZeQ/group-logo_image-shrink_200x200/0/1631365757636?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=JaGEEudvRcggaVbIhlDOzv4-hu1gQkVLU_iBUFxfjW8
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/41029
Vegan Business
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C5607AQGixza1fO8z1g/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1630999040866?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=2qtM2eSe-ecd8UyvwzDcRo84Mvx7zJV_bbnhGDq1qhg
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8296699
Vegan Mainstream
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D07AQG6Lh-PgkLf6g/group-logo_image-shrink_200x200/0/1631360866344?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=J39OFliRfNGo3tC_tzKE1BV6nd9yR1JUo2GIHjvhu4s
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2027865
IFSTAL (Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching and Learning)
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D07AQG_jCPWcXc0ZQ/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631005246490?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=nNqTy-ccJeqkjWkmyPdlfrygHMzx1WuhuoHx9WMWp3o
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8481225
Food, Beverage & Grocery Professionals Group
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E07AQF2RiAY4Qb_pw/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1630996718986?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=SxP5UIGr-txMaxLntfihu16QV1L1Ou8PavUyfVx0Gx8
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/724417
Vegan Leaders in Corporate Management
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C5607AQHkB-Fi7UBxCQ/group-logo_image-shrink_200x200/0/1631410835631?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=UmcViFfLAn6r1apyjB7VaFHRcktleeWj9pU6x5ebm8E
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6786729
MEET THE MEATLESS | Meatless Foods | Meat Alternatives | Meat Analogues | Plant-Based Foods
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E07AQEHyQ7cZzOlWg/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631007672448?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=UYwsCB6o3lTzRvNq32WhtZAT892EQ_1vVxmaBoiJGX0
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10477326
Organic Food Industry
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D07AQE259J7mjTAUw/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631004869951?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=fHp4ZXWdIMwicLD0r0OeZTdt-sZ1ku3aAXjjAw5mQC8
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2697656
Food Sales & Marketing Companies
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C5607AQEPQ0NQo8kFiA/group-logo_image-shrink_200x200/0/1631434864662?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=AArqbYZnPUQVmK37cNDyGrYaMqT-yW1xq08sXryozuA
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4342609
U-M Sustainability Fellows and Scholars
https://static-exp1.licdn.com/sc/h/4h1ldzvvebtszyx75ve7dst1v
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5186779
Social Media Marketing Group by Connect365.io
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C5607AQG4NoJKTFOLPQ/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1537306442230?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=1VV_FNq1R2Z2-uQc_6wIIWOsvvhX-NeW7K3Uw-QCpyQ
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/66325
PROGRESSIVE GROCER
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E07AQGkKdnpdoeqaA/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631006595034?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=Da8qOy5ASuJZsVB8cEY2l27IBigJ7kUw3SaRvoS93rc
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1775564
Vevolution's Plant Based Business Hub
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E07AQE-S0guaSzQ6g/group-logo_image-shrink_92x92/0/1631000020140?e=1647694800&v=beta&t=TObw1GEVMQOU0EKRwSvVhfo6HPBw1fXo1ZWQkMlT6LA
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12240802