Eric Ellestad is the Co-founder and CEO of Local Roots, an agricultural technology company pioneering modular indoor farming technologies. He is an entrepreneur and investor focused on scalable technologies that tackle some of the worlds most challenging resource scarcity driven problems.

Eric is the product of a 4^th generation family-owned manufacturing company that is the North American market-leader for refrigerated semi-truck trailers. After spending his early career at the family business, he became an angel investor and built a portfolio of early stage companies that are commercializing technologies around food, water and energy. He serves on the board of two companies and advises across the portfolio.

Eric received his B.A. in Applied Mathematics, Economics and Pre-Medical Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and studied Supply Chain Management and Technology Commercialization at USC Marshall School of Business. He spends his free time playing soccer, surfing, hiking and camping.