Upon graduating from MIT with a BS in Chemical Engineering, Jacob founded TechTrader, an early web-based B2B supply chain platform, followed by the development and launch of YellowJacket Software, a peer-to-peer derivatives trading platform supporting a broad spectrum of segments (from weather and energy to agriculture) in 2004. In 2011, he set his sights on the film industry, founding Venture Forth, a film, finance, and production company focused on high-quality and impact-driven independent films.
It wasn't until 2014 where he co-founded The Farm Project with Zooey Deschanel, with the goal of reconnecting people with food. This led to the first Lettuce Grow Farmstand in 2017 which was their original hydroponic gardening system helping people grow and harvest their own produce which helps eliminate food waste. The pandemic accelerated the growth of the Farmstand with people focusing on home cooking.
"It just dawned on me that it makes zero sense to go to a grocery store to buy fresh produce because it's not fresh. When grocery stores first had produce people thought it was crazy – and now it's normal to buy your lettuce in a plastic bin."
"My experience with Lettuce Grow exceeded my wildest imaginations. Our children are fascinated by the different seedlings that arrive and love watching them grow. Seeing my daughter pick a piece of lettuce or harvest a zucchini has been a highlight. I'll cut live spinach and place it directly into my protein shake. It's truly a family affair."
Read more at forbes.com