Agriculture 2023: MATTHEW RYAN

CEO, SOLI ORGANIC, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Published August 30, 2023 by Virginia Business

The 34-year-old Soli Organic closed on a Series D funding round in October 2022 totaling nearly $125 million, funds that will go toward expanding its high-tech, soil-based indoor farms where it grows herbs and leafy greens for sale at more than 20,000 retail stores. Started as Shenandoah Growers, Soli rebranded in 2021 and is now a national company, with facilities in Washington state and South Carolina. With the latest funding, the company plans to build an automated indoor farm and packing facility in San Antonio.

Ryan became Soli’s CEO in 2021. Last fall, Ryan said that Soli is seeking indoor farm locations in the Midwest and Northeast, which would allow it to distribute fresher products to regional grocery stores. With its growing physical footprint, Soli hired former Tesla infrastructure director Jeff Jackson as its chief infrastructure officer this year.

A Harvard University graduate, Ryan has served on the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals board of directors since January 2020.

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