Open Prairie

Open Prairie is a multi-faceted private equity fund management firm with headquarters in Effingham, Illinois, deeply rooted in agriculture and rural America. The firm focuses on facilitating capital accessibility in underserved markets, managing investment portfolios that span from technology-based venture capital to farmland. Open Prairie aims to build collaborative partnerships with its portfolio companies to accelerate growth and deliver strong returns to its investors.

Founded in 1997, Open Prairie has consistently focused on providing capital to growth and later-stage companies, particularly within the agribusiness sector and rural America. The firm's founder and managing partner is J.M. “Jim” Schultz. Open Prairie manages several funds, including the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, which is an $81 million private equity fund licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC), and Open Prairie Ventures II, an early and growth-stage fund.

Open Prairie has made notable investments in companies that align with its focus on agriculture, rural development, and technology. Portfolio companies include RealmFive, a provider of agricultural connectivity solutions; Vytelle, a precision livestock company; Comet Bio, a manufacturer of healthy and sustainable ingredients; Agrivida, an animal health and nutrition company; Northern Feed and Bean, a provider of premium beans; Green Dot Bioplastics, a bioplastics and biocomposites manufacturer; and Market Wagon, an online marketplace connecting local food producers with consumers. The firm also invests in disruptive innovations across industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and technology through its Special Purpose Fund, with holdings like CommoditAg, ConsortiEx, and Sight Supply.

The Open Prairie team brings diverse expertise across various functional business disciplines and leverages a global network of professionals. Key team members include J.M. “Jim” Schultz (Founder and Managing Partner), Dennis Beard (Partner and Chief Financial Officer), Jason Wrone (Vice President and Fund Manager), Patrick Morand, Matt McKenna, Lee Strom, Rajiv Singh, Ryan Dammeyer, Michael Peck, Hayli Anderson, and Tom Doxsie (Partner). This collective experience enables Open Prairie to identify unique investment opportunities and provide strategic support to its portfolio companies, fostering growth and innovation in their target markets.