RW
Rob Wilder
Venture Partner at FTW Ventures
· San Francisco, California, United States
Check size
Undisclosed
Lead stage
pre-seed
Deals tracked
23
Sectors
Food & Agricultural Technology, Sustainable Agriculture
Food & Agricultural Technology
Sustainable Agriculture
Food Supply Chain
Beverage Technology
Biotech
Climate Solutions
pre-seed
seed
Series A
Early-stage
United States
San Francisco, California
About Rob
Rob Wilder is a venture capital investor and managing partner at Caldwell's Dubai office (appointed Sep 2025). He is associated with FTW Ventures, a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on innovation in travel and hospitality sectors. His investment activity spans fintech, restaurant technology, and hospitality infrastructure
Investment thesis
Early-stage venture investments in food and agricultural technology, travel, and hospitality innovation
FTW Ventures is an early-stage venture fund focused on food and agricultural technology that deploys capital to support founders solving systemic challenges across the food system. Rob Wilder, as Venture Partner, brings operational and financial expertise from his decades-long career in food hospitality and his founding of FoodTech Angels to identify and mentor innovative early-stage companies leveraging technology to transform food production, distribution, and consumption. The fund invests across biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, food supply chain optimization, beverage innovation, and health-food intersection, seeking disruptive science and technology solutions that modernize food systems while preserving environmental and human welfare across farm-to-table ecosystems
Investment philosophy
FTW Ventures is a leading early-stage venture fund focused on food & agricultural technology, with Rob Wilder guiding portfolio companies in food, restaurants, and leveraging technology to transform the global food system.
Investment focus
Early-stage innovation in travel, hospitality, and food service sectors, with demonstrated interest in fintech solutions for underrepresented and minority-owned operators
Areas of expertise
Recent activity
Live platform data · proprietary, citable layer
Notable portfolio
Boston Bioprocess
ALTR
Sylvan Health
FreshFry
Izote Biosciences
Arise
Quorum Bio
Earthodic
Heritable
Brilliant Harvest
Snowline
People Science
Thombar
Geltor
Spoiler Alert
Notable deals
InKind Hospitality – $250M fund commitment for minority-owned restaurant operators (Mar 2023)
How to approach Rob
Food & AgTech — Invests in genomics, sustainable farming, efficient refrigeration, and food-as-medicine across the food system value chain.
Travel & Hospitality — Supports early-stage innovation in travel and hospitality sectors.
Frequently asked
Does Rob Wilder invest at pre-seed stage?
Yes. They invest at pre-seed, seed, Series A stage.
Their geographic focus includes United States, San Francisco, California.
What is their typical check size?
Check size is not publicly disclosed. They currently invest through FTW Ventures.
What sectors does Rob Wilder focus on?
Rob Wilder primarily invests in Food & Agricultural Technology, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Supply Chain, Beverage Technology.
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