Mercaris

Mercaris is the market leader for up-to-date data and online trading for the organic and non-GMO agricultural sector.

  • Stage Full Product Ready
  • Industry Other
  • Location Silver Spring, MD, USA
  • Currency USD
  • Founded November 2012
  • Employees 4
  • Website mercaris.com

Company Summary

Mercaris is a market data service and on-line trading platform for organic and non-GMO agricultural commodities. These segments of the agricultural industry saw $35 billion of sales last year in the US alone, but the development of market infrastructure lags consumer demand, resulting in an opaque marketplace with high transaction costs. Mercaris will bring transparency to this marketplace, resulting in the growth of sustainable agriculture.

Team

  • Kellee James
    CEO/Founder

    Former economist and early hire at the start-up company Chicago Climate Exchange, an on-line trading platform for carbon credits, which was acquired in 2010 for $603 million. Appointed by President Obama as a 2009-2010 White House Fellow, advised Secretary of Agriculture and Undersecretary of NOAA on environmental markets. MBA and MA International Development from American University, BA Spanish from University of Kentucky.

  • Christopher Duesing
    CTO, co-Founder

    Worked with Kellee James for 5 years at Chicago Climate Exchange. As Director of Software Development , responsible for the architecture, design and development of key projects and strategic in-house financial and web applications. Managed several groups of outsourced developers and external projects. Handled data integration between exchange and market data distributors.

Advisors

  • Sharon Martin, Advance Financial
    Accountant
    Unconfirmed

Previous Investors

  • Omidyar Group (Founder of Ebay)
    Unconfirmed
    Kapor Capital
    Unconfirmed
    Bescancon Trust (Former Executive at Whole Foods Market)
    Unconfirmed

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