ADVOCATING FOR

People, Animals, and the Planet

PURPOSE

At Stray Dog, We...

believe in creating and choosing kind alternatives that reduce the suffering of animals caused by humans

extend our compassion for animals to farmers, farm workers, and rural communities and support shifting from harmful and unfair industrial models of agriculture to systems that are humane, regenerative, and resilient

encourage and respect all thoughtful food choices that are better for people, animals, and the planet

celebrate the bond between companion animals and their guardians, and hope that loving a dog, cat, or other animal evolves into care and concern for all animals, as it has for all of us at Stray Dog

seek to preserve the ecosystems of wild terrestrial and aquatic animals, including mitigating global climate change

ADVOCATES

Who We Are

Stray Dog comprises two organizations that advocate for people, animals, and the planet.

Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative, early-stage companies across the food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors that are driving a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future.

To cultivate dignity, justice, and sustainability in the food system, Stray Dog Institute provides nonprofit allies with funding, strategic research, and opportunities for collaboration. Together, we hope to build a more compassionate world for people, animals, and the environment.  

Our Team

Tom Conger

Stray Dog Institute

Stray Dog Institute

Tom Conger

As Executive Director, Tom leads Stray Dog Institute and serves as program officer for the philanthropic work of related entities. To create a more compassionate food system, he leverages decades of experience providing foresight, strategy, and innovation services to global companies contributing to the food and agriculture value chain. Before joining Stray Dog Institute, Tom started and sold two companies: Social Technologies and Give.com.

Laura Driscoll

Stray Dog Institute

Stray Dog Institute

Laura Driscoll

As Research Director for Stray Dog Institute, Laura acts as staff scientist. She identifies research objectives, produces research publications, and coordinates contributing writers and researchers. She has ten years of experience in food systems science and animal advocacy at the global level. She is a board member for Greenermind, a nonprofit professional network for environmental changemakers.

Lisa Feria

Stray Dog Capital

Stray Dog Capital

Lisa Feria

As CEO and Managing Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in food operations and consumer packaged goods, including leadership of billion-dollar brands. She is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 22), a passionate vegan and triathlete, and serves on the boards of Mercy for Animals, the Great Plains SPCA, Miyoko’s Creamery, and Deliciou.

Patrick Figgie

Stray Dog Capital

Stray Dog Capital

Patrick Figgie

As Senior Associate of Stray Dog Capital, Patrick leverages six years of prior experience in private equity and investment banking to support all stages of the deal flow. Previously, he was with Union Capital, a private equity firm primarily focused on food manufacturing, where he was responsible for sourcing and analyzing new investment opportunities and supporting growth and operational improvement initiatives at existing portfolio companies.

Lauren Kohler

Stray Dog Institute

Stray Dog Institute

Lauren Kohler

As Stray Dog Institute’s Food Systems Program Director, Lauren develops and executes food system-related grantmaking, activities, and strategy. Lauren brings an academic and professional background in food systems and environmental studies to her work. Previously, Lauren worked for the Yale Sustainable Food Program as a Senior Advisor, Farm Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator, leading community engagement in food systems learning.

Jennifer Laue

Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Jennifer Laue

Jennifer is Co-founder and Vice-chair of Stray Dog Capital, Stray Dog Institute, Stray Dog Policy, and GlassWall Syndicate and is a board member at Companion Protect. She is also on the nonprofit board of Humane Society International.

Chuck Laue

Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Chuck Laue

Chuck is Co-founder and Chair of Stray Dog Capital, Stray Dog Institute, Stray Dog Policy, and GlassWall Syndicate. He is also Executive Chair at Companion Protect, Vice-chair at Asurion, and board member at Gathered Foods and BlueNalu. Chuck also chairs Great Plains SPCA and the Humane Society Legislative Fund and is a board member at the Humane Society of the United States.

Kathy Lowery

Stray Dog

Stray Dog

Kathy Lowery

As Executive Assistant, Kathy assists Chuck Laue and his affiliated entities with operations tasks including scheduling, finance administration, record keeping, and compliance. Prior to the founding of Stray Dog, she supported Chuck at Asurion, and prior to that, worked as a paralegal.

Johnny Ream

Stray Dog Capital

Stray Dog Capital

Johnny Ream

As Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Johnny brings 15+ years of strategy and venture capital experience, with leadership in sourcing, evaluating, and executing a wide range of investment and growth opportunities, as well as driving growth within venture capital fund portfolios. Before Stray Dog Capital, Johnny served in strategy and corporate venturing roles as a generalist focused on disruptive technologies across numerous industries.

Kelsie Rudolph

Stray Dog Capital

Stray Dog Capital

Kelsie Rudolph

Kelsie is the Executive Assistant at Stray Dog Capital, assisting Lisa Feria, CEO, and the Stray Dog Capital team. Before joining Stray Dog, Kelsie worked to protect federally managed lands and waters with the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, DC, for more than seven years. In her free time, Kelsie enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with friends and family, and playing frisbee with her dog, Andy.

Brennan Tucker

Stray Dog

Stray Dog

Brennan Tucker

Brennan is the General Counsel of the Stray Dog companies. He joined the company in July 2021, after having long worked as outside counsel to the companies. Previously, Brennan advised entrepreneurs and investors over 24 years as a corporate attorney in private practice. Brennan is active in the nonprofit community as a Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing and Board Secretary of Great Plains SPCA.

Stray Dog

Brennan Tucker

Brennan is the General Counsel of the Stray Dog companies. He joined the company in July 2021, after having long worked as outside counsel to the companies. Previously, Brennan advised entrepreneurs and investors over 24 years as a corporate attorney in private practice. Brennan is active in the nonprofit community as a Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing and Board Secretary of Great Plains SPCA.

Partner Organizations

GlassWall Syndicate is a large group of venture capitalists, foundations, trusts, non-profits, and individual investors who share a similar investment thesis and want to accelerate mainstream adoption of products and services that will make a difference in the lives of animals and people and that are better for the planet.

Macy Marriott

Macy Marriott

As Director of GlassWall Syndicate, Macy is a highly strategic leader with a unique fusion of corporate and nonprofit experience. She previously worked within the financial services industry performing risk-based audit activities. Macy is a longtime vegan with a keen understanding of the obstacles entrepreneurs and investors face in a nascent industry. She is also part of the Investment Advisory Council for the Material Innovation Initiative.

Rochelle Jordan

Rochelle Jordan

As Operations Coordinator of GlassWall Syndicate, Rochelle performs strategic planning tasks and supports overall operations. She previously worked in both veterinary and human medicine. She is a longtime vegan with a passion for animal welfare, public health, and environmental sustainability. In her spare time, Rochelle hikes with her dog, plays in a recreational soccer league, and volunteers for the Humane Society of the United States.

Affiliated Organizations

Members of the Stray Dog team are directly involved with several mission-aligned organizations, including a pet insurance company and two private foundations.

FROM OUR SITES

News & Articles

Our newest research report, Alt Protein for Good: Plant-Based Alternative Protein in the United States outlines ways to build momentum for inclusive food system change and ensure the broadest and…
Non-scientists in leading meat producing and consuming nations watered down IPCC’s calls for diet change away from animal consumption, showing the harm of letting power shape public narrative.
European colonization of North America normalized intensive animal farming and transformed Indigenous diets as a tool of cultural erasure. Decolonizing the US food system offers pathways to restorative justice for…
While seaweed can reduce methane production by farmed cattle, it cannot offer a feasible climate alternative to reducing animal farming.
Political ecology, with its interdisciplinary roots and emphasis on power dynamics, offers valuable insights and perspectives for advocates fighting industrial animal agriculture.
Shifting the legal paradigm to recognize nature’s rights can support food system reform for the common good.
Industrial animal agriculture relies heavily on pesticide-intensive field crops, making animal exploitation a surprising cause of much US pesticide consumption.
Faunalytics’ content director karol orzechowski discusses the importance of basing farmed animal advocacy on sound data.
International climate change gatherings have begun to acknowledge the climate impact of animal farming. Will recent recognition translate to action?
In this guest post, Farm Action examines a great contradiction at the heart of US food and agriculture policy.
Growing demand for farmed salmon in wealthy nations of the Global North is placing a strain on wild fish populations and local food systems of the Global South.
Digital tools can gather and interpret data that may enhance farmed animal well-being and productivity. Are such tools beneficial or harmful to the interests of farmed animals?