What It Really Means to Be a Venture Builder at Fresh

Reflections from Brad Vanstone, Venture Builder at Fresh Ventures‍

Building new ventures is rarely about having the perfect idea. In my experience, it’s far more about staying with uncertainty long enough to uncover what truly matters.

At Fresh, the Venture Builder role exists for exactly that reason: to go deeper than surface-level solutions and help founding teams build ventures capable of reshaping the food system from the inside out.

As I wrap up my time as Venture Builder at Fresh, here’s my reflection on what the role truly entails, and share some insights my potential successors to succeed in this role.

How would I describe the essence of the Venture Builder role at Fresh?

At its core, the Venture Builder role at Fresh is not an advisory one.

It’s not about sitting on the sidelines, offering frameworks, or reviewing decks. For me, it has always been about acting as an additional co-founder and co-creator within each venture — building alongside founders, challenging assumptions early, and helping turn conviction into real momentum.

You are close to the work, close to the people, and close to the decisions that matter most — especially in the earliest, most fragile, and exploratory stages of a venture.

What does a typical week look like as a Venture Builder?

No two weeks look the same  and that’s very much by design. One of the defining characteristics of the role is its variability. Each venture is at a different stage, facing different constraints, and requiring a different balance of support.

That said, there is a clear throughline to the work.

In practice, I spend my time:

• Keeping teams on track through clear sprint structures
• Acting as a sparring partner on live strategic and operational challenges
• Opening up the Fresh ecosystem through high-quality, relevant connections
• Actively building alongside teams rather than advising from a distance

This work takes shape through weekly venture sessions, hands-on working blocks, and deep dives with subject-matter experts. Along the way, Fresh’s wider network - including experts and program alumni - plays a key role in sharing insights, lessons, and perspective as founders work towards key milestones.

The role constantly shifts between coach, challenger, connector, and co-builder, depending on what each team needs from week to week.

What principles guide how I should approach the role?

I don’t see success in this role as following a strict playbook. Instead, it’s about holding a set of principles — some intentionally in tension — and applying them with care and judgment.

The ones that have mattered most to me are:

• Show, don’t tell
• Challenge teams when it counts
• Move fast and break things
• Use existing tools, but don’t be constrained by them
• Address team dynamics early and often
• Secure runway early, without compromising ownership, mission, or the ability to pivot

Taken together, these principles create a way of working that is demanding but deeply supportive — one that prioritises progress, integrity, and long-term impact over comfort.

What am I most proud of achieving in this role?

When I reflect on what I’m most proud of, I don’t point to a single venture or milestone.

What stands out most is a shared commitment: staying focused on solving the problem behind the problem, rather than settling for surface-level solutions.

At Fresh, both founders and Venture Builders are expected to resist quick fixes and stay with complexity long enough to uncover the real constraints within the system. That depth is essential when building ventures designed to address some of the most systemic challenges in the food system.

It’s not always the fastest path - but it’s the one that creates ventures capable of lasting change.

What advice would I give to future Venture Builders at Fresh?

My advice is simple, and not always easy to follow:

Don’t play advisor. Play co-founder.

Move fast, challenge hard, build alongside the team, and protect the mission while securing the runway. This role is for people who are comfortable being close to ambiguity, who care deeply about both people and outcomes, and who are motivated by the opportunity to build something that genuinely matters.

Ready to build?

Fresh is now hiring a new Venture Builder to continue this work: supporting founders, shaping ventures, and helping build a regenerative food system from the ground up.

If you’re driven by building deeply and regeneratively, taking ownership, and creating real-world impact, this role might be for you.

👉 Explore the Venture Builder role at Fresh:
https://freshventureseu.notion.site/Venture-Builder-295821a6ff7b802485c5c89538baf390

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