Brandon Welch of Mad Capital on Financing Farmers, Redefining Risk, and The Regenerative Revolution

Oct 31, 2024

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Agriculture is poised for a regenerative revolution, and Mad Capital wants to finance it. Led by co-founder and CEO Brandon Welch, the firm provides customized, long-term financing for farmers transitioning to regenerative practices, bridging a gap that traditional banks have been hesitant to meet and accelerating the next generation of land stewardship and ecological restoration.

Prior to Mad Capital, Brandon studied Environmental Science at the University of Vermont. An avid outdoorsman, cyclist, and backcountry hiker, Brandon’s adventures, including a coast-to-coast bike ride from Massachusetts to Oregon, have taken him all over the country and instilled a deep appreciation for Americans’ connection to their land. After landing in Colorado in 2017, Brandon helped launch Mad Agriculture to provide resources and support for farmers interested in transitioning to regenerative agriculture, and later joined the organization as Director of Capital.

Brandon and Mad Executive Director Philip Taylor consistently heard regenerative farmers talk about how difficult it was to secure loans from traditional agricultural lenders, so the two co-founded Mad Capital to solve that problem. Since taking over as CEO of Mad Capital in 2022, Brandon has overseen the launch of the Perennial Fund II and is focused on making long-term impact at scale, deploying over $25 million to farmers on over 79,000 acres of land across 15 states.

Hear Brandon talk about developing a passion for outdoor adventures, his mission to create a regenerative revolution in agriculture, and why Mad Capital’s radical approach to financing is so impactful for farmers, the environment, and our future.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Brandon Welch on the benefits of regenerative agriculture
00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Brandon and Mad Capital
05:18 Gateway to the outdoors, environmental studies, and economics
11:12 An impact-driven career, biking America, and traveling the country
23:03 Founding Mad Capital, carbon sequestration, and financing farmers
28:39 The regenerative revolution, the average process, and scaling strategically
35:45 Mad’s approach as a lender, raising capital, and structural innovation
45:01 Transforming food systems, benefiting the environment, and finding optimism
52:02 Where to learn more about Mad Capital and connect with Brandon
52:54 Conclusion and end credits

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