Advocating For

People, Animals,
and the Planet

Our Purpose
At Stray Dog, we...

...believe in creating and choosing kind alternatives that reduce the suffering of animals caused by humans.

...seek to preserve the ecosystems of wild terrestrial and aquatic animals, including mitigating global climate change.

...encourage and respect all thoughtful food choices that are better for people, animals, and the planet.

...extend our compassion for animals to farmers, farm workers, and rural communities and support shifting from harmful and unfair industrial models of agriculture to systems that are humane, regenerative, and resilient.

...celebrate the bond between companion animals and their guardians, and hope that loving a dog, cat, or other animal evolves into care and concern for all animals, as it has for all of us at Stray Dog.

Our Values

Our work is motivated by our concern for animals and guided by our values of inclusivity, integrity, transparency, compassion, and optimism. Centering animals and honoring these values in everything we do—from daily operations to long-term strategies—is the foundation of our organizational culture, our relationship with partners, and our service to the broader mission and movement.

Who We Are

Stray Dog comprises two organizations that advocate for
people, animals, and the planet.

Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative, early-stage companies across the food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors that are driving a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future.

Stray Dog Institute is a private operating foundation that seeks to reduce, reform, and replace the use of animals in the food system through trust-based philanthropy, thought partnership, and collaborative projects.

Our Team
Stray Dog

Stray Dog and its underlying organizations advocate for people, animals, and the planet through impact investing, philanthropy, and nonprofit engagement.

Chuck Laue

Co-Founder

Jennifer Laue

Co-Founder

Brennan Tucker

General Counsel

Kathy Lowery

Executive Assistant

Stray Dog Capital

Stray Dog Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative, early-stage companies across the food, beverage, and biotechnology sectors that are driving a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future.

Lisa Feria

CEO / Managing Partner

Andres Manzanares

Senior Associate

Kelsie Rudolph

Executive Assistant

Stray Dog Institute

Stray Dog Institute is a private operating foundation that seeks to reduce, reform, and replace the use of animals in the food system through trust-based philanthropy, thought partnership, and collaborative projects.

Tom Conger

Executive Director

Lauren Kohler

Philanthropy Director

Laura Driscoll

Research Director

Affilated Organizations
Members of the Stray Dog team are directly involved with several mission-aligned organizations, including a pet insurance company and two private foundations.

Inclusivity

Enriched by Differences

We believe in treating everyone, from our partners to our team members, with respect, consideration, fairness, and equality. We cherish diversity and promote a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity. We believe that differing perspectives and backgrounds strengthen our organization, and we celebrate and welcome these differences.

Integrity

Principles Meet Practice

We pledge to uphold the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. We strive to maintain a high level of skill and knowledge and are committed to continual learning and professional development. We use our values as a touchstone to guide our behaviors.

Transparency

Open Dialogue and Accountability

We commit to open communication, clarity in all our actions, and a culture that welcomes feedback from all stakeholders. This means we provide honest feedback, make our processes and decisions clear, and actively work to eliminate biases.

Compassion

Leading with Empathy

We are driven by a deep sense of empathy and caring. We believe in supporting each other in personal and professional spheres and extend this caring and empathetic approach to all those we interact with.

Optimism

Cultivating Positivity, Embracing Challenges

We foster a culture of positivity and resilience. We face challenges head-on and maintain a hopeful outlook. We believe in celebrating our wins, big and small, and supporting each other in our mission-driven work.

Chuck Laue

Co-Founder

Chuck is the co-founder and board chair of Stray Dog Capital and Stray Dog Institute, a mission-driven venture capital firm and private operating foundation, respectively, that both seek to accelerate the shift toward a more humane and sustainable food system. He also serves on the board of Gathered Foods Corporation and is a board observer at BlueNalu, two companies pioneering alternatives to animal-based food.

Chuck and his wife, Jennifer, are benefactors and board members of Kansas Pet Advocates and co-founded The Quinn Foundation, a private foundation focused on animals, people, and the environment. They also founded Ringo’s Fund, which provides the facilities for Great Plains SPCA, a life-saving animal shelter, where Chuck serves as board chair.

A lifelong advocate for animals, Chuck is board chair of Humane World for Animals and a board member of the Humane World Action Fund.

He is also actively involved in the insurance industry and serves as CEO of Companion Protect, which builds and administers custom pet wellness and insurance solutions. He continues to serve as vice chair at Asurion, a global leader in technology protection and support services.

Jennifer Laue

Co-Founder

Jennifer Laue is a Founder and Vice Chair of Stray Dog Capital and Stray Dog Institute. She has been a board member and co-founder of Companion Protect and GlassWall Syndicate. She has served on numerous non-profit boards such as Humane Society International, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA), All About Autism, Great Plains SPCA, Kansas City Free Health Clinic and Stray Dog Policy. Jennifer is the co-founder of The Quinn Foundation and Ringo’s Fund private foundations that focus on charitable giving and programs for animal, environmental and human welfare causes.

Brennan Tucker

Stray Dog

Brennan is the General Counsel of the Stray Dog companies. He joined the company in July 2021, after having long worked as outside counsel to the companies. Previously, Brennan advised entrepreneurs and investors over 24 years as a corporate attorney in private practice. Brennan is active in the nonprofit community as a Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing and Board Secretary of Great Plains SPCA.

Kathy Lowery

Stray Dog

As Executive Assistant, Kathy assists Chuck Laue and his affiliated entities with operations tasks including scheduling, finance administration, record keeping, and compliance. Prior to the founding of Stray Dog, she supported Chuck at Asurion, and prior to that, worked as a paralegal.

Lisa Feria

Stray Dog Capital

As CEO and Managing Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in food operations and consumer packaged goods, including leadership of billion-dollar brands. She is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 22), a passionate vegan and triathlete, and serves on the boards of Mercy for Animals, the Great Plains SPCA, Miyoko’s Creamery, and Deliciou.

Johnny Ream

Stray Dog Capital

As Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Johnny brings 15+ years of strategy and venture capital experience, with leadership in sourcing, evaluating, and executing a wide range of investment and growth opportunities, as well as driving growth within venture capital fund portfolios. Before Stray Dog Capital, Johnny served in strategy and corporate venturing roles as a generalist focused on disruptive technologies across numerous industries.

Andres Manzanares

Stray Dog Capital

Andres is a Senior Associate at Stray Dog Capital, leveraging over 5 years of diverse investment experience in Latin America and Europe. He brings strong proficiency across private equity and private credit transactions in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, manufacturing, and financial services. Before joining Stray Dog Capital, Andres played a pivotal role in establishing Prudential Private Capital’s presence in Southern Europe, where he led the formation of a new investment team in Madrid. He earned his BSBA with majors in Finance and Economics from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was also a student-athlete on the Track & Field team. Andres holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was a leader of the Food, Environment, Agribusiness, and Development Group.

Kelsie Rudolph

Stray Dog Capital

Kelsie is the Executive Assistant at Stray Dog Capital, assisting Lisa Feria, CEO, and the Stray Dog Capital team. Before joining Stray Dog, Kelsie worked to protect federally managed lands and waters with the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, DC, for more than seven years. In her free time, Kelsie enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with friends and family, and playing frisbee with her dog, Andy.

Tom Conger

Stray Dog Institute

As Executive Director, Tom leads Stray Dog Institute and serves as program officer for the philanthropic work of related entities. To create a more compassionate food system, he leverages decades of experience providing foresight, strategy, and innovation services to global companies contributing to the food and agriculture value chain. Before joining Stray Dog Institute, Tom started and sold two companies: Social Technologies and Give.com.

Lauren Kohler

Stray Dog Institute

As Stray Dog Institute’s Philanthropy Director, Lauren develops and executes food system-related grantmaking, activities, and strategy. Lauren brings an academic and professional background in food systems and environmental studies to her work. Previously, Lauren worked for the Yale Sustainable Food Program as a Senior Advisor, Farm Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator, leading community engagement in food systems learning.

Laura Driscoll

Stray Dog Institute

As Research Director for Stray Dog Institute, Laura acts as staff scientist. She identifies research objectives, produces research publications, and coordinates contributing writers and researchers. She has ten years of experience in food systems science and animal advocacy at the global level. She is a board member for Greenermind, a nonprofit professional network for environmental changemakers.

Lauren Kohler

Stray Dog Institute

As Stray Dog Institute’s Food Systems Program Director, Lauren develops and executes food system-related grantmaking, activities, and strategy. Lauren brings an academic and professional background in food systems and environmental studies to her work. Previously, Lauren worked for the Yale Sustainable Food Program as a Senior Advisor, Farm Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator, leading community engagement in food systems learning.

Lisa Feria

Stray Dog Capital

As CEO and Managing Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in food operations and consumer packaged goods, including leadership of billion-dollar brands. She is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 22), a passionate vegan and triathlete, and serves on the boards of Mercy for Animals, the Great Plains SPCA, Miyoko’s Creamery, and Deliciou.

Laura Driscoll

Stray Dog Institute

As Research Director for Stray Dog Institute, Laura acts as staff scientist. She identifies research objectives, produces research publications, and coordinates contributing writers and researchers. She has ten years of experience in food systems science and animal advocacy at the global level. She is a board member for Greenermind, a nonprofit professional network for environmental changemakers.

Tom Conger

Stray Dog Institute

As Executive Director, Tom leads Stray Dog Institute and serves as program officer for the philanthropic work of related entities. To create a more compassionate food system, he leverages decades of experience providing foresight, strategy, and innovation services to global companies contributing to the food and agriculture value chain. Before joining Stray Dog Institute, Tom started and sold two companies: Social Technologies and Give.com.

Integrity

Principles Meet Practice

We pledge to uphold the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. We strive to maintain a high level of skill and knowledge and are committed to continual learning and professional development. We use our values as a touchstone to guide our behaviors.

Inclusivity

Enriched by Differences

We believe in treating everyone, from our partners to our team members, with respect, consideration, fairness, and equality. We cherish diversity and promote a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity. We believe that differing perspectives and backgrounds strengthen our organization, and we celebrate and welcome these differences.

Andres Manzanares

Stray Dog Capital

Andres is a Senior Associate at Stray Dog Capital, leveraging over 5 years of diverse investment experience in Latin America and Europe. He brings strong proficiency across private equity and private credit transactions in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, manufacturing, and financial services. Before joining Stray Dog Capital, Andres played a pivotal role in establishing Prudential Private Capital’s presence in Southern Europe, where he led the formation of a new investment team in Madrid. He earned his BSBA with majors in Finance and Economics from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was also a student-athlete on the Track & Field team. Andres holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was a leader of the Food, Environment, Agribusiness, and Development Group.

Brennan Tucker

Stray Dog

Brennan is the General Counsel of the Stray Dog companies. He joined the company in July 2021, after having long worked as outside counsel to the companies. Previously, Brennan advised entrepreneurs and investors over 24 years as a corporate attorney in private practice. Brennan is active in the nonprofit community as a Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing and Board Secretary of Great Plains SPCA.

Kelsie Rudolph

Stray Dog Capital

Kelsie is the Executive Assistant at Stray Dog Capital, assisting Lisa Feria, CEO, and the Stray Dog Capital team. Before joining Stray Dog, Kelsie worked to protect federally managed lands and waters with the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, DC, for more than seven years. In her free time, Kelsie enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with friends and family, and playing frisbee with her dog, Andy.

Johnny Ream

Stray Dog Capital

As Partner of Stray Dog Capital, Johnny brings 15+ years of strategy and venture capital experience, with leadership in sourcing, evaluating, and executing a wide range of investment and growth opportunities, as well as driving growth within venture capital fund portfolios. Before Stray Dog Capital, Johnny served in strategy and corporate venturing roles as a generalist focused on disruptive technologies across numerous industries.

Kathy Lowery

Stray Dog

As Executive Assistant, Kathy assists Chuck Laue and his affiliated entities with operations tasks including scheduling, finance administration, record keeping, and compliance. Prior to the founding of Stray Dog, she supported Chuck at Asurion, and prior to that, worked as a paralegal.

Chuck Laue

Co-Founder

Chuck is Co-founder and Chair of Stray Dog Capital, Stray Dog Institute, Stray Dog Policy, and GlassWall Syndicate. He is also Executive Chair at Companion Protect, Vice-chair at Asurion, and board member at Gathered Foods and BlueNalu. Chuck also chairs Great Plains SPCA and the Humane Society Legislative Fund and is a board member at the Humane Society of the United States.

Jennifer Laue

Co-Founder

Jennifer is Co-founder and Vice-chair of Stray Dog Capital, Stray Dog Institute, Stray Dog Policy, and GlassWall Syndicate and is a board member at Companion Protect. She is also on the nonprofit board of Humane Society International.

Optimism

Cultivating Positivity, Embracing Challenges

We foster a culture of positivity and resilience. We face challenges head-on and maintain a hopeful outlook. We believe in celebrating our wins, big and small, and supporting each other in our mission-driven work.

Compassion

Leading with Empathy

We are driven by a deep sense of empathy and caring. We believe in supporting each other in personal and professional spheres and extend this caring and empathetic approach to all those we interact with.

Transparency

Open Dialogue and Accountability

We commit to open communication, clarity in all our actions, and a culture that welcomes feedback from all stakeholders. This means we provide honest feedback, make our processes and decisions clear, and actively work to eliminate biases.