Chipotle invests in 6 more emerging companies
They are part of the fast-casual chain’s Cultivate Next venture fund to support entrepreneurs working to solve challenges in agriculture, supply chains, and technology.
July 8, 2026
Chipotle has identified six emerging companies to receive investments as part of its Cultivate Next venture fund, initially launched in 2022.
They are Benchmark Labs, IMIO, Clean Crop Technologies, Athian, SIMPLi, and PopID. Each company has been chosen because they align with Chipotle’s mission to “Cultivate a Better World” by creating solutions to challenges in agriculture, supply chains, sustainability, food systems, and restaurant technology. The companies also support Chipotle’s long-term goal of operating 7,000 restaurants in North America.
"Together, these companies demonstrate how innovation is reshaping agriculture, sustainability, supply chains and the guest experience, creating new opportunities to build a more resilient food system,” President and Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Curt Garner said in a statement. "Their technologies have the potential to create meaningful value for farmers, suppliers, restaurant operators and guests alike."
The companies
IMIO develops microbial agricultural solutions designed to improve soil health, crop performance, and farm productivity while reducing dependence on conventional chemical inputs. The objective is to help growers improve crop productivity and farm resilience. Charlie Smith founded IMIO in 2018 in Vermont.
Clean Crop Technologies develops technology designed to improve food quality and reduce waste to solve for the significant portion of food that is produced but never consumed. The company was founded by Daniel White and Daniel Cavanaugh in 2019 after they witnessed how contamination challenges in agricultural supply chains could limit market access and create losses for growers. It is based in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Athian helps food companies capture and claim environmental improvements by aggregating, verifying, and certifying emissions reductions achieved through on-farm practice changes. Athian was founded in 2022 by Paul Myer and Kendra Tolley through a collaboration among livestock industry partners. It is based in Indianapolis.
SIMPLi’s objective is to build transparent and responsible supply chains rooted in regenerative organic products while “connecting consumers to the origins of their food” and meeting consumers’ higher demand for supply chain transparency. SIMPLi was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife duo Matt Cohen and Sarela Herrada and is based in Philadelphia.
PopID develops digital identity and payment technologies designed to create faster and more seamless guest experiences across physical and digital environments. The company’s use of biometrics unlocks pay-by-bank networks in retail in the U.S. and abroad, resulting in lower payment processing fees for merchants. PopID was founded in 2016 by CEO John Miller and a team of technology and business leaders including Kourosh Gohar, Sean Olson, and Virginia Dadey. It is based in Los Angeles.
These six companies join a growing list within the Cultivate Next portfolio. Since 2022, Chipotle has also invested in companies such as Vebu and Hyphen, as well as Local Line, GreenField Robotics, Nitricity, Meati, Zero Acre Farms, and more. Last year, Ohio-based sandwich-and-salad concept Brassica received an investment from Cultivate Next.
In 2024, Chipotle doubled its venture fund to $100 million to pursue more partnerships. At that time, former CEO Brian Niccol said the amount of innovation since launching the Cultivate Next fund has surpassed expectations. Chipotle has considered hundreds of companies, but has made its investments in the ones with the highest potential for commercial engagement, he added.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
Follow her on TikTok: @aliciakelso
About the Author
Alicia Kelso
Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News
Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com, and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America, and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.
Follow her on TikTok @aliciakelso
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