Executive Search Success Story:
Tyler Huggins & InventWood
September 10, 2024 | Search Success Stories
We’re excited to announce that InventWood is reimagining the future of wood with their new CEO, Tyler Huggins!
InventWood envisions a world constructed from sustainable, high-performing materials, replacing traditional options like steel and concrete. Their cellulose-based technology aims to reshape industries and create a greener future. To achieve this, they sought a CEO who shared their passion for sustainability.
InventWood’s commitment to innovation and sustainability had attracted significant investment, raising over $30M from the U.S. Department of Energy (Arpa-E), Builders Vision, and other distinguished organizations and individuals. Notably, environmentalist and NYT Bestselling author Paul Hawken has served as an advisor to the company. But they needed a leader to guide their growth and realize their full potential. Our executive search team embarked on a challenging search to find the ideal candidate, someone who possessed the startup expertise to drive their vision forward.
Among the candidates we considered, Tyler Huggins stood out. His journey as the Co-Founder and CEO of Meati Foods, a plant-based protein company, showcased his ability to lead a startup from concept to commercial success. His background in sustainability and his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering made him a compelling candidate for InventWood.
During his interview, Tyler’s enthusiasm for InventWood’s mission was clear. “I’ve spent a lot of time in nature and forests and think there’s a way to develop products of high value that are creating healthy ecosystems,” he shared. “I am very interested in what Inventwood is trying to do.”
When asked what he was looking for in a new role, Tyler emphasized the importance of a great product, great team, and strong mission. His passion lies in land and resource management and how we can convert agriculture and other biomaterials to allow nature to pay its way. Tyler had successfully raised over $300 million in funding for Meati Foods and built a high-performing team of over 300 employees. His experience in commercializing new technology and navigating the complexities of manufacturing made him an ideal candidate to lead InventWood’s expansion.
Beyond his technical expertise, Tyler’s collaborative, humble leadership style resonated with InventWood’s values. “I believe in hiring the best and letting your team tell you what to do.”
We’re delighted to have connected Tyler Huggins with InventWood. His vision, expertise, and dedication make him the perfect leader to drive InventWood’s continued growth and success. We’re excited to see the impact he will undoubtedly make in revolutionizing the materials industry and creating a greener world for all.