November 30, 2004

Survey for Food and Organic Entrepeneurs

Note: This is a survey created by Investors' Circle for food and organic entrepereneurs, start-ups and mature for-profit companies whether they are interested in creating venture capital or not. We endorse the vision and mission of Investors' Circle.

Dear Food and Organic Entrepreneur,

We need your help.

We at Investors' Circle have embarked on a project whose goal is to more effectively respond to early-stage food companies like yours, steering more money towards the building of a healthy food system. We are calling this project Slow Money (a friendly reference to Slow Food), and we have already generated significant interest from multiple constituencies, including investors, philanthropists and some of your fellow entrepreneurs.

IC is a non-profit national network of angel and institutional investors, foundation officers and entrepreneurs who seek to achieve financial, social and environmental returns. Our mission is to catalyze the flow of investment to early-stage private companies that address major social and environmental problems. Our website is http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=14143982&u=129079. Since our founding in 1992, 178 food and organics company briefings have circulated to Investors' Circle's members, and 24 of those companies received investments totaling $14 million (out of $95 million of investments in over 150 companies). We are asking our companies to fill out this survey, but we also want to reach out beyond that universe so that we can be sure to get a full picture of this sector.

I attended their recent conference in Boston, MA and found this group to be totally committed to their vision and mission. If you are an entrepreneur, start-up company or mature company seeking venture capital, this group is a good group to contact.

If you are a food or organic entrepreneur with a for-profit company, we invite you to complete the following survey. Although the Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit organization, I filled it out on behalf of the Foundation since Investors Circle wanted to hear our thoughts on this subject. Their preference is for-profit companies, however. Farms are considered for-profit.

We would like to ask for 30-40 minutes of your time to complete a survey http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j =14143982&u=129080) that will be instrumental in our sector mapping process and, ultimately, in our strategy design. Please note that if your company is no longer in business, your participation in this survey is still extremely important. We realize this is a significant investment of time, and hope that, as a partial result of your efforts, this project becomes very significant for the field as a whole. Your confidentiality will be respected, and your effort greatly appreciated.

Woody Tasch
Chairman and CEO

Link to Slow Money Survey:
http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=14143982&u=129081

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This page was posted on 11/30/04