Jeff's graduate research studying crop genetics with smallholder tomato farmers in West Africa helped him develop an appreciation for the potential of detailed farm records to lead to an improvement in sustainability. Through over 20 variety trials in seven countries, Jeff studied both the agronomy and genetics of horticultural crops and the economics of production, distribution, and processing, developing a whole-picture view of small-scale agriculture. In the process, Jeff gained experience in managing a large and geographically dispersed team in a resource poor rural environment, and gained exposure to the wide variety of challenges farmers face at all stages of the growing process.

He graduated from Yale with a B.S. in molecular biology in 2002, and earned his doctorate in plant breeding from Cornell in 2009.

Giulia M. Stellari

Giulia is a plant breeder with more than 6 years of hands-in-the-dirt farm and record keeping experience. Her graduate research relied on keeping detailed growing, observation and harvest records both out in the field and in greenhouse environments. She has improved valuable plant varieties and contributed novel genetic resources and tools to a global industry. She is an expert in crop biodiversity and the conservation of plant genetic resources.

Coming from an Italian family with strong ties to the land and a strong culinary tradition, Giulia is fascinated by both the art and science of farming.

She is a graduate of Harvard (A.B. s.c.l. Biology) and earned her Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology and Genetics from Cornell.

Stephen R. Simmons

Stephen held the role of director of technology at both Idealab! and AmericanTowns, and is a veteran in the world of start-up tech. Managing successful teams and building cutting edge software has been his deepest passion and career for over a decade. Having extensive research, analysis, and data mining expertise, he brings an unmatched wealth of experience, contacts, technical knowledge and enthusiasm to our young company.

He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.S.E. in Computer Science Engineering.