EVOLve_19: Travis Andren [6/28/2022]

Travis Andren, CEO and CoFounder of LEMNA in Phoenix

Not to sound remorseful, but there are so many problems to solve in this world that sitting back and watching doesn’t seem like an option any longer.

Twitter: @TravistyDesigns

This interview is part #EVOLve Series with one of our @posi2ive community members — in partnership with Responsibly Ventures. Interviewees have been active in our weekly *VC Impact* community roundtables on Twitter Spaces [each Friday 3:30pm PT] and community. In each self-paced and self-authored interview, we ask impact Founders / Investors what they are doing to change the world, and why they’re motivated to focus on their area of impact. Hope you all enjoy!

The Interview

Top Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

• 6: Clean Water / Sanitization
• 9: Industry / Innovation / Infrastructure
• 11: Sustainable Cities / Communities

Impact verticals your venture focuses on:

• ClimateTech
• EnviroTech
• Sustainable Agriculture

Please share what you’re building, your professional background, and what inspired this venture.

Currently I am building Lemna, a phytoremediation solution for livestock manure wastewater. Lemna produces large format harvests of duckweed, an aquatic plant species that can clean water, has the same protein content as soybeans, and can fix multiple problems associated with the anaerobic digestion of food-waste.

Lemna is an offshoot of its sibling company, Seedling, which converts municipal food-waste into blockchain-precise organic fertilizers, hydrogen fuel, renewable energy, PHA bioplastics, pressed fiber packaging, all in support of the regionally installed S.E.E.D. (Sustainable Economic Enhancement Device), a circular economic agricultural utility and educational center.

These initiatives have been designed over the past decade through the assistance of graduate studies in Environmental Policy Management, and Innovation & Venture Development masters programs.

What’s the impact focus of your venture? And how do you plan to measure impact?

Lemna’s direct impact is the reduction of nitrates and phosphates introduced to groundwater and surface water through the over-application of manure fertilizer to crop lands.

These metrics are analyzed within the technology and quantified in real-time. Secondary to water contamination is the reduction of emissions from manure lagoons, as Lemna aims to enable farmers to process manure same-day, eliminating the need for open pit lagoons.

Tertiary to water and emissions would be the downstream effects that the utilization of duckweed can have in place of soybeans, and also in treatment of anaerobic digesters who seek to process high-lignin containing organic waste.

What’s driving your impact focus?

Lemna was originally designed to remediate the upstream causes of freshwater harmful algae blooms, a growingly common result of some types of agriculture. In addition, Seedling needed a commercial source of duckweed for the formulation of its precision fertilizers from food-waste. Lemna provides multisided value to farmers who seek to remediate their wastewater while also deriving a new revenue stream.

What are some obstacles standing in the way of the impact you have planned?

As with every early startup, fundraising is an ongoing challenge when pre-revenue. Beyond that, the scientific knowledge base of the investment community, paired with a limited segment who invests in agriculture; has made this process even more challenging. Almost to the point where we would start to advocate for EdTech, because we’re seeing so many demonstrated incidents of short attention spans and limited scientific understanding within the broad investment community.

How do you stay motivated?

Keeping tabs with emerging findings relating to climate change and species extinction. Not to sound remorseful, but there are so many problems to solve in this world that sitting back and watching doesn’t seem like an option any longer.

Additionally, we are striving to stop the social movement that is attempting to end animal agriculture. These farmers have been underserved for so long, while enduring growing economic and now social pressures from various segments of society. Despite their best efforts to educate the public on how animal-inclusive agriculture is healthier for all involved, the vegan community continues to strive toward shutting down an industry that’s as old as humanity itself.

Tell us about your market, customers, and team.

Our primary market consists of dairy farmers, hog farmers, and beef feedlots; our secondary market focuses on aquafeed companies, anaerobic digesters (including the poultry industry), and anyone seeking to remediate wastewater without chemical treatment.

Lemna has a three person founding team consisting of two product designers and one supply chain logistics specialist. Between us we currently hold more than a dozen patents; five university degrees; have produced more than a billion dollars in direct product revenue; have managed hazardous materials logistics globally for fortune 100 companies.

How do you keep yourself healthy — e.g., mentally, physically, emotionally?

By chance, mostly. It is safe to say that in the past five years of designing and launching startups, I am currently in the worst physical shape in decades. However my wife is a saving grace in that she keeps an eye on my nutrition, encourages physical activity (including with our rescue dog), and has more patience than most.

What are you currently educating yourself on?

Hydrology, biology, agronomy, animal science, all in the name of a greater understanding of circular economics and system based design.

What books, podcasts, or newsletters should our community read — to better understand your area of impact?

• “The Selfish Gene” — Richard Dawkins
• “Massive Change” — Bruce Mau and the Institute without Borders
• “Earthcare — an anthology in environmental ethics” — Clooney & Mosto
• “Environmental Ethics” — Light & Rolston
• “Thinking in Systems” — Donella Meadows
• “Biomimicry” — Janine Benyus

What do you do outside of work, that you like to brag about?

I’m regularly clocked doing more than 50 mph on my snowboard. I’m a registered NaStar racer, although I have not competed due to a previously shattered clavicle while attempting to break 60mph.

How can the @posi2ive community support your efforts? (*Not public solicitation, nor securities offerings)

Better educate the investment community on the science behind sustainability. Provide fair and accurate assessments of industries, like animal agriculture, that have newly formed movements pushing against them.

Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. If you’re a Founder / Investor focused on VC Impact, we’d love to invite you to share your story here (#EVOLve) with the posi2ive community. If you’re an LP or GP in venture, we’d also love to have you apply to our private VC Impact Capital Community.