For Immediate Release

A New Kind of Venture Capital Sprouts in Austin

Austin, TX — February 24, 2010 — Calling for investment in local food systems to rejuvenate the Central Texas economy, heal the environment and meet growing consumer demand, Slow Money Austin is hosting a special forum April 21 at City Hall, the first to focus on capital investment in the regional food system.

Held in collaboration with the national Slow Money Alliance, and in partnership with Austin’s Sustainable Food Center and the City of Austin, the Slow Money Austin Showcase will shed light on business and investment opportunities within the Central Texas food economy. Innovative entrepreneurs, emerging enterprises, producers struggling to meet demand, and local organizations leading the way toward sustainable and financially beneficial growth will discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities integral to this emerging market.

The following evening, on Earth Day, the Slow Money Austin Showcase Dinner will be held at the critically acclaimed Barr Mansion, known for its historic setting and commitment to local organic cuisine and culture. The Dai Due Supper Club, featuring celebrity artisans Jesse Griffiths and Tamara Mayfield, will provide a menu that marries local food awareness with award-winning culinary experiences. This special dinner program will showcase the delectable, diverse and sustainably grown riches of Central Texas.

Event sponsors include Barr Mansion, Austin Ventures, Greenling, White Mountain Foods, Casa Brasil, Coyote Creek Farm and the LBJ School of Public Affairs’ RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service.

With these two events, Slow Money Austin hopes to bring consumers, food businesses, civic leaders and investors together to learn about the regional farm-to-table-to-farm chain, and explore funding alternatives essential to the continued growth of the regional food economy.

Numerous studies have proven that shifting food spending to locally grown foods reduces distribution costs, creates jobs and keeps money in local economies. They've also shown that those companies using sustainable practices, especially organic farming methods, are healing the land and creating healthier, more food-secure communities. [See Resources.]

"Consumer demand for local and organic foods has never been stronger," says Mason Arnold, founder and chief executive officer of Texas local and organic grocery delivery company Greenling. "Even in a recession, people are purchasing more organic and local foods, but with limited access to growth capital, many of our suppliers and business partners are struggling to keep up."

Such predicaments are usually music to a savvy investor’s ears, but as is typical with emerging markets, appreciating the unique opportunities at hand often requires foresight and understanding, which is where Slow Money comes in.

"There is growing investor interest in businesses that generate a financial return as well as positive social impact," says Scott Collier, managing director of Triton Ventures, an Austin-based venture capital firm. "For example, cleantech investing was a relatively unfocused activity until venture firms, seeing opportunity in addressing a number of pressing societal needs, started putting substantial equity capital to work in the sector. Within eight years, when overall U.S. venture investing has fluctuated between $20 and $30 billion, cleantech venture investing has grown from less than $1 billion to a record $5.6 billion in 2009."

According to Collier, the Slow Money movement represents a national conversation around similar potential investment opportunities. "At roughly $20 billion, the U.S. organic food industry is less than 3% of the total but is growing at about 20% per year. The Slow Money movement highlights opportunities to invest in the growing sustainable food sector to achieve respectable long-term returns on invested risk capital."

Beyond the investment potential, reciting the rest of the story is one of Slow Money Austin's aims. That, and providing an enlightened perspective on regionally focused food enterprises often pigeon-holed as "quaint" — but proving anything but.

"Slow Money is not referring to a trip back in time," says Arnold. "On the contrary, it's about reinventing our future in a way that's actually beneficial, renewing and rewarding."

The April 21 Slow Money Austin Showcase, held in the Council Chambers at Austin's City Hall, will run from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and seating is limited. The April 22 Slow Money Austin Showcase Dinner at Barr Mansion begins at 6 p.m. Tickets priced at $125 are inclusive of both the dinner and the City Hall event.

Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Visit our Events section to register.

About Slow Money Austin
Slow Money Austin was formed to promote capital opportunities for local, organic and sustainable food enterprises throughout Central Texas. Inspired by the national Slow Food and Slow Money movements, we invite you to learn more about our mission to advance an environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable economy for Austin and beyond.

About the Slow Money Alliance
Taking its name from Slow Food, the Slow Money Alliance encourages capital sources to invest "as if farms, food and fertility matter" by building greater investment resources for Community Food Enterprises.

For further information, visit the Events section, call us at 512-827-8270 or email us at