Milo Runkle is one of the most accomplished and widely recognized leaders in the animal protection movement. As the founder of Mercy For Animals, he helped raise more than $130 million to expand farm-animal protection work across the globe, building a data-driven organization known for investigations, corporate engagement, and policy impact.
Milo’s story is proof that one person truly can change the world.
Moby, Grammy Award-Nominated Musician
A Recognized Voice for a Kinder Food System
A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Milo has presented at the headquarters of tech leaders such as Google, and his work has been featured by major outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His efforts have drawn support from influential figures in business, technology, and culture—among them Jack Welch (GE), Dustin Moskovitz (Facebook), Joe Gebbia (Airbnb), Joaquin Phoenix, Greta Thunberg, and Dr. Jane Goodall.
Milo has collaborated with many of the world’s largest food companies—including Walmart, Nestlé, and McDonald’s—to modernize purchasing practices that improve the lives of over two billion animals annually.
Voices of Support
Joaquin Phoenix
Dr. Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall
"Factory farms operate in secrecy… Mercy For Animals deserves our gratitude for exposing their insidious practices."
Dr. Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall
"Mercy For Animals not only exposes the almost unbelievable cruelty suffered by the billions of animals raised in factory farms but explains what can—and must—be done to change things."
Woody Harrelson
Dr. Jane Goodall
Woody Harrelson
"Mercy For Animals educates and enlightens, without being preachy."
Joyful Ventures: Capital with a Conscience
In 2015, Milo helped launch New Crop Capital, a $40 million venture fund that invested in many of the most influential alternative-protein companies of the last decade—backing early leaders including Beyond Meat, Miyoko’s, UPSIDE Foods, BluNalu, and more than 40 other mission-aligned startups.
Milo also co-founded The Good Food Institute (GFI), an international nonprofit advancing alternative proteins through science, policy, and industry engagement. Today, GFI operates across five global offices with 100+ team members and is widely regarded as a field-defining organization helping make animal-free foods the mainstream choice.
As a venture builder, Milo co-founded and served as General Partner of Joyful Ventures, a mission-driven fund focused on reimagining food. Under his leadership, Joyful Ventures raised $23 million to support founders accelerating taste, nutrition, sustainability, and animal-free innovation.
He also works directly with founders: he has served on the boards of Mozza Foods (helped secure $6.5M Seed to grow real dairy proteins in plants), Adamo Foods (UK pioneer of whole-cut mycoprotein meats), and De Novo FoodLabs (building next-gen fermentation for animal-free functional proteins).
Cosmic Campout: Play, Presence, and Purpose
Beyond boardrooms and briefing books, Milo is the creator of Cosmic Campout—intimate, nature-first gatherings that blend music, movement, meditation, and participatory art to inspire community, creativity, and compassionate action.
When he isn’t working to transform the global food system, Milo can be found climbing mountains, exploring rainforests, lifting weights, meditating, and spending time with his rescued mutt, Shiva.
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