Food & Ag Startup Legal Bootcamp

Please join Venture Catalyst at University of California, Davis, Aliment Capital and Morrison Foerster for a seven-week Food & Ag Startup Legal Bootcamp.

With a rapidly growing population, demand for food is expected to increase exponentially and our future depends on today’s innovative solutions to feed the world safely and sustainably. Disruptive startups in the food and agriculture sectors are revolutionizing the way we address the world’s food challenges and paving the way for a better tomorrow. To ensure you get your industry-changing ideas off the ground, it is critical that you have a solid understanding of the legal issues that arise when launching and growing a startup in this field. 

Our course features interactive sessions designed to introduce startups, entrepreneurs and others interested in the food and agriculture industries to the legal knowledge needed to grow your business, protect your innovations, and navigate the challenging regulatory landscape. Leading lawyers from MoFo’s globally recognized Food + Agriculture industry team will lead each session with a real-world experience-based approach and provide insights on key legal issues across the sector.

The course begins Thursday, March 28, 2024, 1pm - 2pm PT, and runs every Thursday through May 9, 2024.

Session Topics

Session 1: IP 101 & Recent Developments in Food & Ag Patent Litigation | March 28, 2024

This session will include an introduction to food & ag IP law, including patentability, FTO, and IP diligence, as well as a discussion of recent trends in food & ag patent litigation.

Speakers:

• Anita Choi, Partner, Patent Strategy + Prosecution Group, Morrison Foerster

• Matthew Chivvis, Partner, Patent Litigation Group, Morrison Foerster

Session 2: Formation and Early-Stage Financing – What You Need to Know | April 4, 2024

From entity structure and incorporation to SAFE and convertible debt fundraising approaches, this session will offer insights on how to launch and grow startups while avoiding common legal pitfalls that can negatively impact future fundraising. Join us to hear from Harrison Rice, visionary founder and CEO of Shaka Tea, a company that revolutionized the beverage industry with its innovative approach to tea, on his journey in the fundraising process. 

Speakers:

• Finity Jernigan, Partner, Emerging Companies + Venture Capital, Morrison Foerster

• Harrison Rice, Founder & CEO, GigaDAC/Roya Capital, formerly Shaka Tea

Session 3: Navigating Food Law & Regulations for Disruptive Food & Ag Innovations | April 11, 2024

Led by the most recent former chief counsel of FDA, this session will provide you with strategic insights on the ever-evolving regulatory landscape governing food & ag products. 

Speakers:

• Stacy Cline Amin, Partner & Chair, FDA + Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance Group, Morrison Foerster, former FDA Chief Counsel and Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services

• Brigid Bondoc, Partner, FDA + Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance Group, Morrison Foerster 

Session 4: The Ins and Outs of Patent Licenses & University Technology Transfer | April 18, 2024

Collaboration and licensing transactions are vital to driving innovation in the food & ag sectors, and this session will equip you with an understanding of how to reduce risk and negotiate such agreements for mutual benefit.

Speakers:

• Matthew Ferry, Partner, Life Sciences Transactions + Licensing Group, Morrison Foerster

• Eugene Sisman, Senior Intellectual Property Officer and Interim Director, Innovation Access, Technology Transfer Office, University of California, Davis

Session 5: Strategic Considerations in Food Advertising, Labeling, & Litigation | April 25, 2024

This session will guide you through current food labeling and marketing laws and how to prevent food safety liability as you seek to launch your food & ag innovations in this highly complex industry.

Speaker:

• Claudia Vetesi, Partner, Class Actions + Mass Torts and Product Life Cycle Groups, Morrison Foerster 

• Lena Gankin, Associate, Litigation Group, Morrison Foerster

Session 6: Negotiating Term Sheets and Financing Processes Simplified | May 2, 2024

This session will discuss the basic concepts, structures and processes behind venture capital investments in preferred stock, including identifying and selecting lead investors, negotiating term sheets, undergoing diligence and timelines.  

• Fredo Silva, Partner & Co-chair, Social Enterprise and Impact Investing Group, Morrison Foerster

• Tim Bluth, Principal, Aliment Capital

Session 7: Client Success Story | May 9, 2024

Madeline Haydon, Founder of Nutpods, is a trailblazer in the plant-based creamer industry. Her innovative vision and dedication have not only transformed the way people enjoy their coffee but have also paved the way for sustainable and delicious dairy alternatives. Through her leadership, Nutpods has become a symbol of quality, taste, and ethical consumerism, empowering individuals to make conscious choices without compromising on flavor. Join us for a fireside chat with Madeline reviewing her success story and wrapping up our Food & Ag Startup Legal Bootcamp.

• Chuck Cotter, Partner, Emerging Companies + Venture Capital, Morrison Foerster

• Madeline Haydon, Founder, Nutpods

Upon registering for this course, you will receive a unique Zoom link that provides access to each of the individual sessions on our schedule. Please use this same link to join each session. You will receive a reminder email containing your personal link before each session. You may attend all sessions during the seven-week program, or only those of interest to you.