OUR BOARD
We are currently seeking new board members! If you are interested in applying, please reach out to info@slowmoneynyc.org with any questions.
Claude Arpels
After spending 20 years in fashion and luxury businesses, Claude chose to dedicate himself to his interests in food, the environment, social enterprise, and the arts. He has become an avid impact angel investor, particularly in businesses with a sustainable food and agriculture mission. Claude is the Co-Chair of Slow Money NYC and a founding member of Foodshed Investors New York, which recently merged with Investors Circle. He also serves as Board President of International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the nation’s pre-eminent contemporary music ensemble.
HANS BLACK
Hans Black is an entrepreneur, investor and advisor in the food, consumer and tech industries. He has served in executive and board roles at numerous private companies throughout his career. Hans has had a particular interest in mentoring and supporting start-ups and early-stage businesses, including through a variety of platforms such as Food-X / SOSV and Brooklyn FoodWorks. Hans has also been a strong proponent for leveraging technology to build more resilient and collaborative food systems.
Sarah Zilinski
Sarah Zilinski spent the first decade of her career doing fundraising for art museums, before attending business school to pivot into a career in her passion - sustainable food businesses. After Columbia Business School, she spent four years working in business development and customer service at an online farmers market. As the Co-Chair of Slow Money NYC, Sarah is thrilled to support entrepreneurs, farmers, and everyone in between making a difference in the "fields" of sustainable and impact food and agriculture.
KOBLA ASAMOAH
Kobla Asamoah has over 15 years of experience supporting entrepreneurs and the startup community. Much of his work has been specifically focused on helping founders operationalize, scale and fund their food-related ventures. In addition to his work within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, Kobla serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at multiple universities on the topic of Social Entrepreneurship. Kobla also serves on the board of The Bread Bakers Guild of America as well as the Advisory Board for Tufts University’s Derby Entrepreneurship Center.
Kobla holds an MBA from NYU as well as a BA from Tufts University.
SURESH SHANMUGAM
Suresh Shanmugam has over two decades of experience in real estate private equity, specializing in investments in commercial properties. Raised in India, he witnessed firsthand how food influences local communities and businesses, sparking a lifelong passion for food rescue and sustainability. He has volunteered with City Harvest for several years in various capacities, including fundraising, rescuing food from farmers’ markets and restaurants, and repackaging food donations for distribution. Suresh holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and enjoys investing, weight training, playing pickleball, and spending quality time with his family.
arion thiboumery
Arion Thiboumery is an entrepreneur and investor working in food, agriculture, and renewable energy. He spent over a decade working in meat processing and manufacturing. He holds a doctorate from Iowa State University.
Doron Goldstein
Doron Goldstein is a partner at Withers and pro bono counsel to SMNYC. He has provided legal advice to innovative startups and entrepreneurs across various industries for over 25 years. As an impact angel investor and advisor for well over a decade, he focuses primarily on local food and food systems.
