Frederick Smith

Frederick Smith has over 10 years of experience in business development, policy analysis, market research, strategy consulting, and investing. In 2012, they began their career as a Regenerative Food Systems Consultant and Investor for Tastebud Consulting, where they provided business development, policy analysis, market research, and strategy consulting for nonprofits and entrepreneurs, primarily in sustainable/regenerative/biodynamic agriculture and specialty foods. Frederick also invested in (mostly) food/farm and climate tech businesses.

In 2014, Smith worked as a North Coast and Bay Area Program Coordinator for California FarmLink, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lender. There, they performed business development and underwriting of agricultural loans, including land loans, and developed and facilitated 23 leases between landowners and farmers over two years.

In 2011, Smith worked as an Investor Relations Intern for Farmland LP and a Business Development Associate for Phycal. At Farmland LP, they worked with the CEO to expand investor relations and marketing objectives with socially responsible impact investors. At Phycal, they assisted in the development of aggregation and supply chain strategy for a 50,000 acre feedstock-to-biofuel farm in the Hawaiian Islands.

In 2012, Smith also worked as a Consultant and Advisor for the Business Entrepreneurship Center at Napa Valley College and as a Professor and Event Planner for the Inspired Business Plan Series.

In 2016, Smith worked as a Business Development Manager for the Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation, where they developed and strengthened relationships with banks, elected officials and community leaders in Montana and northern Idaho.

In 2018, Smith worked as a Storyteller, Researcher & Social Media Manager for Epic Ocean Adventure, where they dive-volunteered, researched, conducted interviews, wrote about coral restoration, conservation finance and other solutions to conserve coral reef ecosystems.

In 2021, Smith co-founded Community Roots Hawaii, a non-alcoholic elixir lounge and retail space, focused on providing 100% locally-sourced drinks, grab-and-go food items and sustainably packaged food products.

In 2022, Smith began working as a Business Development Manager for UCapture, where they are an investor and sometimes business development manager.

Frederick Smith has an extensive education history. Frederick obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from Denison University between 1991 and 1995. Frederick then went on to receive a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana between 1999 and 2003, with emphases in Natural Resource Policy. In 2010, they earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management, with a focus on Marketing & Finance. Frederick is currently enrolled at UH Hawaii - Hilo in a NonDegree program in Marine Sciences, which they began in 2020. In addition to their formal education, Smith has obtained a number of certifications, including Content Creation: Strategy and Tools from LinkedIn in 2022, Divemaster from PADI in 2022, Coral Reef Restoration Mentored Course from Reef Resilience Network in 2022, International Certificate of Competence - ICC from Royal Yachting Association (RYA) in 2020, Yachtmaster Theory Certification from Royal Yachting Association (RYA) in 2020, Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping - Emergency Response Training from STCW Direct in 2019, Coral Restoration 1 Specialty & Coral Reef Conservation Specialty from PADI in 2018, and Standard First Aid, CPR and AED from American Heart Association in 2020.