Park Bench Capital

Air Protein, based in Berkeley, California, is a startup focused on creating sustainable protein from carbon dioxide. Utilizing a proprietary probiotic process, the company transforms CO2 into protein-enriched food products such as meat-free burgers, protein-enriched pasta, cereals, and beverages. This innovative approach allows for the production of protein without the use of hormones, pesticides, or herbicides, while also significantly reducing land and water usage compared to traditional meat production. Air Protein aims to provide a viable alternative for meat lovers seeking sustainable food options.

Dream Pops, LLC is a Los Angeles-based company that specializes in producing and selling plant-based frozen desserts. Established in 2016, it offers a range of dairy-free popsicles inspired by Colombian paletas, made from ingredients such as coconut milk, coconut sugar, fruits, and herbs. The product line includes flavors like mixed berry, chocolate with lion’s mane mushroom, vanilla matcha, coconut latte, and mango rosemary. Dream Pops prioritizes organic and gluten-free ingredients, utilizing techniques such as liquid nitrogen cooling and 3-D printing molds to create unique dessert offerings. The company distributes its products through retail stores and online platforms, catering to a growing demand for healthier, plant-based treats.

Guidewheel is a developer of an AI-powered factory operations platform that helps manufacturers enhance productivity and profitability across their operations. The platform utilizes a non-intrusive approach, similar to a smartwatch, to monitor machines by analyzing their electrical signals. This allows for real-time insights into machine performance, including operational speed, activity status, and early detection of potential issues. With the integration of additional sensors, Guidewheel’s technology offers increasing value related to profitability and sustainability. Founded at Stanford University, Guidewheel has already made strides with hundreds of manufacturers, achieving an average runtime improvement of 40%. The company aims to become the leading real-time intelligence platform for the world’s factories, contributing significantly to operational efficiency and addressing climate change challenges.

21Seeds is a craft-infused tequila made with real fruit in three flavors: Cucumber Jalapeno, Grapefruit Hibiscus, and Valencia Orange.

LawChamps operates a legal marketplace designed to connect consumers with local independent attorneys. The platform enables users to access a range of legal services on an on-demand basis, allowing them to match with attorneys who offer a-la-carte services at fixed rates. In addition to facilitating these connections, LawChamps also provides instructional programs and materials covering various topics, including small business management and housing law. This approach empowers individuals to engage legal assistance as needed, ensuring they can protect their interests effectively.

Einride AB, established in 2016, specializes in sustainable freight transportation. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with additional offices in Gothenburg and Palo Alto, the company manufactures electric trucks, known as Einride Pods, for road freight transportation of various goods. Einride also offers digital platforms for clients to plan, order, and track these sustainable transport services. Notably, Einride became the first company to operate an autonomous, electric freight vehicle on a public road in 2019.

Shaka Tea produces and sells herbal iced teas brewed from māmaki, a unique plant native to Hawaii. Founded in 2016 and based in Hilo, Hawaii, the company offers a range of bottled teas in various tropical fruit and botanical flavors, all of which are naturally caffeine-free and contain no added sugars. Shaka Tea emphasizes sustainability by supporting regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Its products are available in major retailers across Hawaii and the continental United States, as well as through online platforms like Amazon. The company was created by Bella Hughes and her husband Harrison Rice, who aimed to honor Hawaiian culture by providing an authentically local and healthy beverage option.

Node, recently acquired by SugarCRM, fuels Sugar's time-aware CX platform to help businesses by automatically forecasting expected outcomes and highlighting previously unforeseen challenges and opportunities. Extending Sugar’s time-aware CX platform, Node’s AI technology adds the most coveted element of time—the future. The combined solution offers wide-ranging capabilities for sales, marketing, and service teams. Node enables users of business applications to see into the future. Powered by Artificial Intuition™ technology, Node is the first turnkey AI-as-a-service platform focused on powering predictable business outcomes, which enterprises can use to quickly and seamlessly build advanced AI into both customer-facing and internal applications without investing years and millions of dollars on risky AI experiments. Applications powered by Node can deliver predictions that enable users to make smarter connections and decisions about how to engage with customers, employees, investors, and partners. Node was founded by Google's youngest employee, Falon Fatemi, and it's renowned technology team includes the Godfather of Search, Louis Monier who created Alta Vista, and Michael Radovancevich former CTO of Taleo and OpenX. Node is backed by Mark Cuban, NEA, Avalon Ventures, and JetBlue Technology Ventures.

Rockets of Awesome is a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in children's apparel. The company offers a subscription model that delivers curated boxes of clothing to parents, allowing them to personalize selections based on their children's preferences. By utilizing technology and data, Rockets of Awesome aims to streamline the shopping experience, enabling parents to provide their children with the freedom to choose from a variety of styles, patterns, and colors. This innovative approach seeks to transform the way parents shop for kids' clothing, emphasizing personalization and exceptional merchandise.

Primary makes clothes for kids and builds a better experience for busy parents to shop for them. It aims to be the most inclusive kid's clothing brand, offering high-quality essentials at affordable prices. Rather than chasing the trend, Primary offers thoughtfully designed clothing without logos, slogans, or sequins. They take a gender-neutral approach, with a broad range of colors available for babies and kids 0-12, without prescribing what is for girls or boys. It was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Phylagen, Inc. is a data analytics company based in San Francisco that specializes in microbiome data analytics. Founded in 2014, the company employs DNA sequencing and machine learning to analyze complex genetic signatures within the environmental microbiome, transforming this extensive dataset into actionable insights for various industries. Phylagen also develops automated biosensors for indoor microbiome monitoring, which aim to enhance human health and safety by enabling early detection of pathogens, including COVID-19. Additionally, the company's solutions help manage allergy and asthma triggers, ensuring a healthier indoor environment for users.

Tala is a global financial technology company focused on delivering accessible financial services to underserved populations in emerging markets, including Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India. The company operates a mobile application that provides users with instant access to a range of financial services, such as credit, payments, savings, and transfers, effectively integrating digital and cash economies. Tala employs advanced data science and machine learning techniques to evaluate creditworthiness in real-time, allowing individuals without formal credit histories to receive personalized credit lines. This innovative approach helps bridge the financial inclusion gap for those in need of essential financial resources.