who we are
At Danone Ventures, we are a global team of corporate venture experts building bridges between Danone teams and the startup ecosystem.
Our Team
Jakub Kalinowski
VP, MANAGING DIRECTOR DANONE VENTURES
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When He's Not ...
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Words to Live By
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Aurelien Cohen
General Counsel
Aurelien is the General Counsel of Danone Ventures, where he supports all legal aspects of investment activities and provides strategic counsel to the portfolio companies in legal and regulatory matters. Aurelien's sound business sense, pragmatism and passion for finding the most collaborative solutions make him the lawyer you want to have on your team.
Prior to joining Danone Ventures, Aurelien was senior legal counsel to Danone's corporate development group, where he led numerous transactions around the world, gained valuable industry experience and developed a deep understanding of long term partnerships. He's a former attorney with Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier (Paris) and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (NY). He holds an LLM from Columbia Law School, a law degree from University Paris 2, and is a graduate of ESSEC Business School in Paris. Aurelien is admitted to both the New York and Paris bars.
When He's Not Lawyering
Aurelien loves spending time with his Swedish wife and their two American sons. He likes running along the Hudson River, staying close to his friends wherever they may be, and daydreaming about furniture design and vintage pieces.
Words to Live By
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Jean Prevot
VP Partnerships and Science
Jean boasts a notable trajectory in food operations within Europe and the U.S., where he spearheaded the launch and growth of a startup's operations to national prominence. Shifting gears from operations to investment, Jean has spent the past seven years at Danone Ventures, initially bolstering the operations of portfolio companies and later channeling six investments into Food and Climate Tech.
In deep collaboration with Danone, Jean is currently responsible for the preliminary validation of science and technology of potential investments and orchestrates strategic partnerships between Danone and these startups. His role capitalizes on his wide knowledge of the industry to nurture the expansion of the portfolio and enhance the collaborations with Danone. Jean's academic foundation is rooted in a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Arts et Métiers Paris Tech, which has underpinned his successful career and expertise in the field.
When He's Not Keeping the Gears Turning
Jean loves to cook and bake, especially with his wife and three kids. When not in the kitchen, he enjoys spending time outdoors on backpacking trips.
Words to Live By
Ain't no mountain high enough.
Ana Maria Hincapie Valencia
Partnerships Development Director
Ana Maria brings her extensive knowledge on ingredients and packaging production, infant nutrition, dairy, operations and procurement to support the partnership creation between Danone and Danone Ventures' portfolio companies.
Prior to Danone Ventures, Ana Maria held several positions within Danone Specialized Nutrition, Procurement and Innovation, which included enabling high-quality standards within the portfolio of infant nutrition ingredients and packaging suppliers, definition and implementation of several procurement strategies and the co-creation of the Danone Procurement Innovation program.
During her 17-year tenure at Danone, she gained valuable expertise within ingredients production, specialty and commodities markets worldwide. With her passion for food innovation, her openness and multicultural background, she is a truly believer in the opportunities of partnerships to reach common goals. She holds a Food Science master's degree from AgroParisTech and 17 years of international business experience.
When She's Not Facilitating Partnerships
She is traveling the world with her husband and children, discovering remote places, great people and delicious food.
Words to Live By
The magic of creation by the power of people connection.
Matthieu Bigot
Senior Manager - Ventures and Finance
With a strong background in Corporate Finance and entrepreneurship, Matthieu manages the portfolio on a daily basis and plays a key role in driving financial due diligence and acquisition processes for new investments.
Prior to joining Danone Ventures, Matthieu spent nearly six years in Transaction Services (M&A) at PwC, working in both Paris and London. Driven by his lifelong passion for automobiles, he then founded an exclusive marketplace for top car collectors worldwide, highlighting his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Matthieu is a graduate of Paris Dauphine University, having majored in Corporate Finance and Financial Engineering.
When he is not interacting with our Portfolio Companies
Matthieu loves exploring new destinations, indulging in good food, and spending quality time with friends and family. Visiting Namibia is his next big adventure!
Words to Live By
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Bobby Sommers
Legal Counsel
Bobby provides legal, regulatory, and strategic counsel to Danone Ventures in connection with its investments and existing portfolio. Bobby is committed to advancing sustainable innovation within the food and agriculture sectors.
Prior to joining Danone Ventures, Bobby was an associate at Milbank LLP in the Global Corporate/M&A group. Bobby holds a J.D. from the University of Connecticut and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Sociology from Binghamton University.
When He's Not Analyzing and Advising
He's experimenting with new recipes, enjoying time outdoors and exploring with his family.
Words to Live By
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
BRENDA WU
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ANALYST
Brenda is the Science and Technology Analyst at Danone Ventures. With a background in chemistry and synthetic biology, Brenda brings analytical and scientific thinking to the team. She plays an active role in conducting scientific due diligence on innovative start-ups while incorporating insights gathered from scientific publications and experts to help understand the investment opportunity. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Caltech and a Master of Science in Chemistry from Stanford.
When She's Not Assessing Patents
Brenda is a plant enthusiast and she is hoping to explore the NY Botantical Gardens soon.
Words to Live By:
Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters.
Riley Kerin
Junior Ventures Analyst
Riley plays a key role in supporting the DV portfolio and team by conducting in-depth market research and analysis, exploring emerging technologies, and contributing to deal sourcing efforts that inform strategic investment decisions. Passionate about innovation, Riley is dedicated to identifying market trends that position Danone at the forefront of industry innovation.
Her experience spans impact investing, ESG strategy, and coordinating start-up accelerator programs. Riley holds an MPA from NYU Wagner with a specialization in Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment, and earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina.
When She's Not Exploring the Start-Up Ecosystem
She is on the beach, enjoying live music, and testing new recipes from different cookbooks.
Words to Live By
Fight the good fight, and enjoy yourself always.
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