St. Louis investment firm names new operating partner

ST. LOUIS, MO - June 11, 2020

The firm has tapped JoAnn Brouillette for the role. She is managing partner and president of Demeter LP, an Indiana-based agribusiness. In addition, Brouillette is chair of the National Grain & Feed Association and a trustee of Purdue University.

“We’re very excited to welcome JoAnn to our investment team,” said David Taiclet, general partner and managing director at Lewis & Clark AgriFood. “Her impressive credentials will add further depth to our investment and operating experience in working with growth stage companies in the food and agriculture sectors.”

Launched in 2019, Lewis & Clark AgriFood provides later-stage venture investments and growth capital to agriculture and food companies.

Brouillette’s appointment comes as Lewis & Clark AgriFood continues to grow its operations. Lewis & Clark AgriFood launched as part of Lewis & Clark Partners (LACP), which was created by Tom Hillman, Brian Hopcraft and David Taiclet. LACP also includes local venture capital firm Lewis & Clark Ventures.

Lewis & Clark AgriFood earlier this year had its first exit and has started to invest from its new AgriFood Fund II and Rural Business Investment Co. funds. It has raised a combined $186 million for the two funds, according to regulatory filings. The Lewis & Clark founders developed the agrifood investment arm to expand upon their venture capital firm’s expertise in the food and agriculture industries, seeking to develop a broader funding strategy to target the two industries.