Nick Cooney


Nick Cooney is a Managing Partner at Lever VC, an investment fund focused on alternative protein companies.
He co-founded The Good Food Institute, and was co-founder and Managing Trustee of New Crop Capital. He is the author of three books: Change of Heart, Veganomics, and How To Be Great At Doing Good. He previously worked for non-profit organizations Mercy for Animals and Farm Sanctuary and was the founder of non-profit organization The Humane League.

Early life and education

Nick Cooney was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cooney received a bachelor's degree in Non-Violence Studies from Hofstra University in 2003 with a major in Non-Violence Studies.

Policy and Non-Profit Work

Nick Cooney previously served as coordinator and director of the Philadelphia-based group, Hugs for Puppies.,,
In 2005, Nick Cooney founded The Humane League in Philadelphia, a non-profit organization that works to reduce the suffering of farm animals. Cooney is one of several people who provided information used in the writing of the book Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism by Mark Hawthorne.
Since then, Nick Cooney's work promoting alternative proteins and animal protection has been featured in media outlets. He has lectured internationally at conferences and campuses including Harvard, Yale, in Luxembourg, and in Washington, D.C.
Cooney previously worked as campaign coordinator at the non-profit Farm Sanctuary and as executive vice president at non-profit Mercy for Animals.

Work with The Good Food Institute and New Crop Capital

Nick Cooney is former board chairman and co-founder of The Good Food Institute. He is also co-founder and former managing trustee of New Crop Capital, a private venture capital trust that invests in plant-based and cultured meat, dairy, and egg companies. These two organizations collaborate to support the plant-based and cultured food companies.

Work with Lever VC

Nick Cooney is founder and currently Managing Partner at Lever VC, a U.S.-Asian venture capital fund investing in early stage alternative protein companies.

Books

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