Our mission
We are a non-profit working to change the way money moves through the agricultural system in the Midwest. We attract and direct investment so that the right kind of capital, in the right amount, flows to the areas with the greatest strategic potential to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture.
What is a capital orchestrator?
A capital orchestrator is a coordination layer for capital—built to align the many different sources of funding, investment and other expertise needed to shift an entire system, not just fund a single deal.
Second Growth operates across a network that includes investors and funders, farming representatives, policymakers, community groups, and manufacturers—connecting capital to the areas where it can have the greatest strategic impact. Our governance is deliberately multi-stakeholder, giving all of these voices a seat at the table, and building in checks and balances that guard against mission drift.
The logic is simple: no single organization can shift an entire agricultural system on its own. A capital orchestrator doesn’t try to replace what already exists—it connects and amplifies it, building the trust and coordination that let capital flow to where it can have the most impact, at the scale and pace the transition demands.
Four strategic functions
Field Building: Building knowledge and momentum for the transition
Creating the trust and shared understanding that make the whole model possible. By developing a clear picture of capital gaps and needs, telling compelling stories, and supporting ongoing learning, our field building program builds investor confidence in regenerative agriculture as an asset class—and brings new capital allocators into the fold.
System Intelligence: Knowledge infrastructure for the ecosystem
The System Intelligence Platform brings together data on system change, capital flows, and emerging opportunities across the Midwest. It helps identify where capital is needed, where gaps exist, and where promising opportunities are emerging—providing the intelligence that guides SGM’s investment and matchmaking activities.
Catalytic Fund: Deploying capital to accelerate the transition
The fund deploys concessionary capital to move deals from nearly financeable to financeable—using grants, guarantees, and concessionary loans to de-risk transactions and unlock further investment. It also funds the enabling conditions the system needs to function: training, technical assistance, and the narrative and demand-building work that don’t fit a single deal but are essential to the transition at scale.
Matchmaking: Connecting capital to the right opportunities
The Matchmaking Program connects capital providers with investment opportunities that are ready to move toward financing. Rather than treating each opportunity in isolation, it brings complementary deals together into coordinated portfolios, helping investors see where their capital fits within the wider system. By building coalitions around shared needs, it helps capital move further and achieve more than individual investments can alone.