Benjamin Vitale Email & Phone Number

Portland, Or, Us

Portland, Oregon, Us

Agriculture Capital empowers its stakeholders to invest sustainably in the transformation of the world’s food and agriculture systems. Since 2014, the firm has managed significant farm and food assets across two continents, focusing on investments that regenerate resources to build long-term value. Agriculture Capital’s data-driven strategies remove carbon, support biodiversity, foster resilience and produce healthy, nutritious food in a way that respects the natural environment.

Prosarmo is advancing sustainability, water and energy transition infrastructure development, financing & consulting services. Prosarmo is modified from the Greek word prosarmózo which means to adapt, adjust or fit.Our objective is to work collaboratively with private equity and infrastructure investors, their portfolio company CEOs and boards, and fund managers that have a fiduciary responsibility to enable near-term and long-term investments and businesses to be both climate-friendly and climate-resilient. Leveraging the current and future climate-related policies, we look for growth and investment opportunities to advance water, sustainability, and energy transition infrastructure development and financing.Prosarmo is working to accelerate the practical implementation of climate-friendly and climate-resilient programs to strengthen sustainable investment portfolios, hone origination strategies, anticipate growth opportunities, meet sustainability goals, and implement robust due diligence and risk management so that we can adapt to the future world we face.

Portland, Oregon, Us

Resilient develops and manages a portfolio of renewable fuels, wastewater and water infrastructure investments. As the CEO and board member, I led the company to complete equity investments into projects that produced essential utility services, improved water resource management, and accelerated the transition to more sustainable infrastructure. Resilient was founded in 2019 and acquired by Partners Group in 2021. We built a nine-figure balance sheet and were cashflow positive in the first year of operations during the COVID pandemic.With equity backing from Partners Group, Resilient finances and develops new infrastructure including wastewater to renewable natural gas (RNG), potable water, wastewater treatment, industrial water reuse, stormwater, desalination, and emerging contaminant treatment (such as PFAS). The firm also acquires and upgrades existing infrastructure through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Resilient provides proven water-related technologies “as a service” or through the Design Build Finance Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) delivery method for clients in target industries: energy, agriculture, microelectronics, data centers, heavy industry, technology, hydrogen production, direct carbon capture, real estate, and food & beverage sectors.At Resilient, sustainability is in our DNA. Sustainability means re-engineering the approach to the production, consumption, and reuse of goods and resources. We support infrastructure development to help clients achieve corporate ESG goals as measured by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or those of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Portland, Or, Us

Co-head and equity investor for launching Equilibrium's Water & Waste business that developed and financed sustainable infrastructure investments. As a member of the Investment and Management Committees, established the investment strategy at the intersection of real assets and private equity to unlock value for pension, foundation, endowment and family office clients. Sustainability champion including fund reporting as a B Corporation, GRESB standards, and proprietary metrics, including stakeholder and policy engagement.Co-managed the Fund I (~$200 million) and Fund II (target $300-400 million) including capital raising, origination, portfolio construction, talent development, negotiations, asset management and risk management. Project financing was enables by long-term contracts for wastewater process, water reuse, renewable energy and renewable fuels revenue streams. The projects also leveraged private activity bonds, other loans and tax advantages as part of the investments.Mentored and recruited cross-disciplinary team that negotiated long-term renewable natural gas contracts based on low-carbon fuel and renewable fuel standards (LCFS & RFS), deal structuring, debt agreements, structured investments to optimize the capital stack, and exit preparation.

Portland, Oregon, Us

Led the renewal and expansion plan for the nation’s first carbon asset manager and climate change solutions provider.Managed the Investment Committee, stewarded a $20 million low-carbon portfolio and implemented new environmental and social governance (ESG) screen across an $11 million investment portfolio.Successfully invested in renewable energy, renewable natural gas, agriculture, forestry and transportation sectors. Managed the P&L, budget approval process, financial analysis, due diligence, asset management, talent acquisition and compensation with a goal to improve non-profit operational excellence.Engaged political and legislative leaders to improve cap and trade, carbon market, and low-carbon fuels (RFS & LCFS) policies and regulations at the federal and state levels with positive results in California, Oregon and Washington.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

Designed innovative $100 million (target) low-carbon fund including climate finance and project development windows for integrated conservation finance structures.Created strategies to work with leadership at Wal-Mart, Disney, 3M, Ford, Dell, Ricoh, Toyota, and Office Depot to implement climate change and sustainability solutions that created business value including from supply chain improvements.Initiated a $30 million carbon project portfolio in emerging markets on over 2.5 million acres around the world including Brazil, China, Ecuador and Madagascar. With in-country team members and partners, developed some of the first forest carbon projects under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. Engaged the World Bank and multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies on innovative projects that sequestered carbon, protected biodiversity and improved local community outcomes. Worked with colleagues and experts to integrate, monitor and evaluate multiple benefits for all projects including economic development, local community and indigenous peoples' benefits and outcomes in addition to climate mitigation benefits.Advised heads of state, ministers and partners on climate change, reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD) and land-use change for early natural climate solutions in Guyana, Liberia, Madagascar and Suriname. Supported in-country and policy teams on carbon development finance and economic benefits to have impact at scale and to share best practices across regions.Contributor to the books A Climate for Life, CEMEX, 2008; Climate Change & Forests, Brookings Institution, 2008; Voluntary Carbon Markets, Earthscan, 2008. Co-author on numerous articles including Banking on the Environment, 2009.

Raised corporate financing for businesses from a network of venture capitalists, angels, and corporate investors.Analyzed and recommended businesses for investment by our venture capital clients. Invented and managed new investment deal sourcing, financial analysis and review processes that led to the filing of a business process patent application and that assisted 6 company financings in 18 months.Managed $8 million budget, 45 person financial and technical team, contractual negotiations for $2 million in debt financing, legal matters, and intellectual property issues working with three law firms. Prepared for successful merger and assessed international joint venture opportunity.Launched the services and software on time within 3 months. Results exceeded board and investor expectations, enabled $2 million in venture capital financing and $100,000 in early revenue.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

As a director in the Motorola venture capital investment group, analyzed business plans and recommended outstanding technology businesses for investment. Authored a business plan for a wireless B2C financial services business. Team successes included Broadcast.com and NetSpeak.Developed market research and business cases for Motorola’s start-up broadband Internet and telephony services. Recommendations resulted in re-prioritized product features. Negotiated licensing agreements working closely with executives from Intel, Cisco and other companies.Held other management and technology positions within numerous Motorola divisions including Motorola ventures, and the cellular phone and cable modem businesses.

Mba, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing

Bscee, Computer & Electrical Engineering