Q&A with Cultivian Sandbox’s Summer MBA Associate
Seth Udelson is pursuing his MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with intended concentrations in Finance and Strategic Management. He graduated from Swarthmore College with dual majors in Economics and Political Science and completion of pre-medical curriculum. For two year, Seth worked at a boutique investment advisory firm helping endowments and foundations, and afterwards, helped to start a single family office focusing on impact investment for a large family.
Tell me about yourself and your journey that got you here. Why are you interested in food and agriculture?
Growing up in the Midwest is a pretty good pathway for developing an interest in agriculture — I spent a lot of time growing up, driving through agricultural townships. That interest increased at Swarthmore College, where I concentrated on development economics, a field that focuses fairly heavily on agricultural policies. After graduation, I was lucky enough to help start a family office focused on impact investing and spent time conducting diligence in investments in water rights, alternative protein and agricultural financing. My interest in food and agriculture is borne of these different experiences — more than most sectors, food and agriculture are deeply intertwined with both culture and economics and the way in which we think about these sectors is a good proxy for our individual and societal values.
What areas/spaces in the food and agriculture industry are you most interested in learning more about?
I am very interested in how food and agriculture maps into the larger sustainability landscape. Our pool of natural resources isn’t getting any larger — and so I’m very interested in learning more about the ways in which producers and value-add participants can increase their resource efficiency and decrease waste byproducts.
What drew you to a food and agriculture venture fund for your summer internship? What are you most looking forward to learning from this internship? What are you excited to learn about investing?
I came to graduate school with the intention of transitioning to a venture capital firm that had sector focus in one of the impact themes in which I had focused at the family office. Through friends within Sandbox Industries and the Food, Environment, Agribusiness and Development Group at Booth, I had early touch points with members of the Cultivian team. They are rigorous thinkers who are passionate about their domain and I leapt at the chance to join the firm for the summer.
One obvious strength of the Cultivian team is the tremendous amount of subject-matter expertise. I am so looking forward to spending time with my colleagues and tapping their reservoirs of knowledge and experience. Also, though I have some private equity and venture capital experience, I focused on predominantly public market investing before graduate school and getting the chance to join entrepreneur calls and management meetings and pick up nuances from my colleagues at Cultivian feels like being called up to the “big leagues.”
Is there a particular Cultivian Sandbox investment that you really like or think is particularly exciting/interesting?
I am excited about the investment in Full Harvest. I am passionate about food accessibility and am worried about the scale of waste in our food system. Providing a two-sided marketplace for “surplus” is an efficient solution — and I applaud any firm that is able to ensure more effective food delivery.
What are two fun facts about you?
Fun is in the eye of the beholder, but here goes.
- I am a fourth-generation Clevelander and both of my grandfathers started small family businesses that still stand after decades: one that sells eyeglasses, the other sand and gravel.
- I can read and spell most anything backwards.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I’ve always wanted to live in Paris. I speak no French but I’ve been raised to believe that the museums and food are the best in the world and I’m only getting older!
If you were any food, plant, or animal, what would you be and why?
My knee-jerk reaction is kale. If you throw it into salads or smoothies, it feels pretty healthy. You can also salt the heck out of it and make chips that are probably terrible for you. Kale’s got admirable range.
