Professional Overview
Julia Collins is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Planet FWD, a technology company specializing in carbon management solutions designed primarily for the food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods sectors. Operating at the intersection of food technology and sustainability, Collins leads a company focused on enabling consumer brands to accurately measure, manage, and decarbonize their supply chains, particularly addressing complex Scope 3 emissions.
Company and Role
Planet FWD, founded by Collins in 2019, provides an industry-leading AI-powered carbon management platform that unlocks granular, ingredient-specific carbon footprint data across extensive product portfolios. The platform leverages machine learning and a proprietary database combining detailed lifecycle assessments of raw materials, processing methods, packaging, and transportation vectors to empower food companies with precise carbon profiling that surpasses traditional global average metrics. This enables clients to identify emission “hot spots” and prioritize actionable carbon reduction opportunities with validated scientific support.
Planet FWD supports major consumer brands such as Clif Bar, Blue Apron, Just Salad, Kashi, and Numi Organic Tea, while also offering scalable solutions tailored to smaller companies. Beyond software, the company has developed Moonshot Snacks, the first climate-friendly snack brand emphasizing regenerative agriculture, local supplier relationships, and recycled packaging.
A recent highlight is Planet FWD’s inclusion in Mastercard’s Start Path In Solidarity program (2024), reflecting its position as a high-growth startup at the forefront of commerce and fintech innovation focused on sustainability.
Key Achievements and Recognition
- Julia Collins became the first Black woman to co-found a unicorn company with her prior venture, Zume Pizza, an automated robot-powered pizza brand valued at approximately $2.25 billion following a $375 million investment in 2018.
- Planet FWD raised funding exceeding $2.5 million as of 2022-2023, supporting its expansion in climate-focused product offerings.
- In 2025, Collins was awarded the Food Changemaker Prize in the Climate Impact category by the global think tank KM Zero Food Innovation Hub, acknowledging her leadership and innovation in climate-smart food technologies.
- Recognized as a serial entrepreneur and sustainability leader, Collins actively advocates for equitable innovation and inclusion within the food tech industry.
Educational Background
Collins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biomedical Engineering from Harvard University (2001) and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2009). Her education underpins her expertise in technology and business strategy applied to complex environmental challenges.
Industry Insights and Leadership
Julia Collins has spent over 17 years building businesses at the nexus of food, technology, and sustainability. She has firsthand experience in launching food brands and integrating technology with regenerative agriculture principles. Collins frequently speaks on the challenges of decarbonizing supply chains and the need for high-resolution data tools to meet the 2050 net-zero climate targets stipulated by the Paris Agreement.
Her vision for Planet FWD centers on democratizing access to carbon accounting tools so both large and small companies can integrate climate priorities into their product development and sourcing strategies with measurable impact.
Recent Public Engagements and Media
- Featured in multiple industry podcasts and media outlets, including Forbes, Mastercard Newsroom, and The New York Times, Collins discusses the importance of accurate carbon tracking and scalable sustainability.
- Participated in interviews and speaking engagements such as the Masters of Scale podcast and SuperVenture sessions focused on venture capital and pioneering entrepreneurship.
- Active on LinkedIn ([linkedin.com/in/julia-collins-8b0a909](http://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-collins-8b0a909)), where she shares insights on Planet FWD’s mission to accelerate supply chain decarbonization with integrity and transparency.
- Planet FWD’s proprietary platform was publicly launched in October 2023, emphasizing its ability to handle customers with extensive and diverse product lines.
Summary of Actionable Insights
Julia Collins brings seasoned entrepreneurial leadership, deep technical knowledge, and a proven track record in scaling disruptive food tech ventures. Her current focus is on empowering consumer brands with data-driven solutions for real-time carbon footprint measurement and emission reduction recommendations. Planet FWD’s differentiation lies in its ingredient-level, region-specific lifecycle carbon assessments, supported by AI, to meet the growing regulatory and market demand for sustainability transparency.
Given the company’s strategic partnerships and recent recognition, Planet FWD is positioned as an innovator enabling brands to convert sustainability commitments into quantifiable business results, particularly targeting Scope 3 emissions across complex product ecosystems.
Julia Collins — CEO, Planet FWD
LinkedIn: [http://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-collins-8b0a909](http://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-collins-8b0a909)
Education: Harvard University (Biomedical Engineering, BA), Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)
Notable Past Venture: Co-Founder of Zume Pizza (First Black woman unicorn co-founder)
Recent Recognition: 2025 Food Changemaker Prize - Climate Impact (KM Zero)
