Keynote Speaker  • Food Tech Pioneer • CEO

Timothy Childs is a serial entrepreneur who sparked the food tech industry in 2003

He bridges Silicon Valley innovation with food manufacturing, transforming how we grow, process, and preserve food. From NASA Space Shuttle technology to chocolate factories controlled by iPhones, he's spent two decades building companies that solve real food challenges.

Timothy has engaged audiences across five continents at premier events including Milken Global, Milken Asia, Milken Abu Dhabi, Milken UK, ReFED, Seeds & Chips, Google, Stanford University, Citibank, and USDA conferences.

20+ Years of Building Solutions

Timothy’s work has been featured in:

Timothy’s work has been featured in ads:

Timothy founded TCHO Chocolate, revolutionizing the cacao industry with remote fermentation monitoring and AR/VR visualization. He currently leads Nutri8, addressing global food waste through proprietary preservation systems, and co-founded Nourish, advancing regenerative agriculture research.

Timothy Childs is the founder and co-CEO of Nutri8, a pioneering food technology company that addresses global food waste and nutrition insecurity through its proprietary preservation systems. Recognized as an early pioneer bridging Silicon Valley innovation with food manufacturing, Timothy launched the food-tech category in 2003, transitioning from NASA technology to chocolate production.

His groundbreaking work at TCHO Chocolate revolutionized the cacao industry with innovations such as remote fermentation monitoring, iPhone-based factory control, AR/VR visualization, and portable flavor labs. Through TCHOSource, a flavor-driven supply chain model implemented with USAID, he significantly improved product quality and livelihoods across South America and Africa.

Timothy previously developed machine vision systems for NASA’s Space Shuttle, ran SIGGRAPH’s influential Web3D RoundUP, and co-founded early virtual reality ventures.

A certified supertaster, Timothy continues to innovate at the intersection of food technology and sustainability as co-founder of Nourish, a nonprofit that advances regenerative agriculture research.

Timothy is a founding member of the board of Illuminate— presenting organization of The Bay Lights— and a founding member of other CEO boards, such as OSC2. He is an internationally sought-after speaker and has been featured in hundreds of print, broadcast and online stories by major media outlets, including:

What Timothy Delivers

  • Food Systems Architect

    Timothy architects breakthrough solutions for complex food challenges. From NASA-grade precision to scalable processing systems, he designs integrated approaches that improve quality, reduce waste, and increase access to nutritious food.

  • Innovation Strategy

    Timothy connects technology, sustainability, and nutrition to create measurable impact. His strategies turn complex challenges into actionable roadmaps, helping organizations build food systems that benefit both people and planet.

  • AI-Powered Agriculture

    Timothy deploys proven AI systems that increase yields, reduce costs, and support regenerative farming. Real applications, real results—no hype, just practical tools that help farmers, food companies, and communities thrive.

  • Scaling Regeneration

    Timothy shows how to scale regenerative practices while maintaining quality and profitability. His approach combines cutting-edge technology with time-tested principles, creating systems that restore ecosystems and empower communities.

Timothy Childs is the Founder and Co-CEO of Nutri8 (formerly Treasure8), an innovative food technology company headquartered in Richmond, California. Widely recognized as the first technologist to transition from Silicon Valley into food innovation, Timothy pioneered the food tech movement in 2003, years before it became an established sector. Under his leadership, Nutri8 has developed advanced food energy preservation systems that simultaneously address global food waste and nutrition insecurity—twin challenges at the heart of sustainable food systems.

With over 25 years of experience, Timothy brings a unique systems architect approach to complex problems. A gifted machine designer and process engineer with multiple food processing patent filings, he has led the development and deployment of commercial-scale food stabilization technologies across multiple countries, resulting in transformative industry partnerships.

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Location:

Napa, CA
Richmond, CA