CEO & Co-Founder

Benjamin is a Franco-American entrepreneur who blends cinematic storytelling with breakthrough technology. His career spans from the film industry to co-founding Caduceus Media, where he helped revolutionize medical filming inside ICUs and operating rooms. Guided by a Blue Ocean mindset, Ben’s leadership challenges conventional thinking, creates new market space, and fosters the kind of creativity that drives real, transformative change.

Managing Director, Tamil Nadu

With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and industrial operations across South India, Mr. Ponnusamy K oversees ReStalk’s activities in Tamil Nadu. He leads plant operations, quality, and governance, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable production of molded fiber products from local agri-residues. Known for his disciplined approach to management and financial stewardship, Ponnusamy plays a key role in scaling ReStalk’s impact in the region while supporting local employment and long-term development.

President, Vietnam Operations

Tam Sourintha leads ReStalk’s Vietnam operations, bringing deep experience in regional business development and strategic expansion across Southeast Asia. She is responsible for building and managing local partnerships, securing feedstock supply, and guiding project execution from concept to commercial rollout. With a strong track record of working across cultures and sectors, Tam helps align farmers, industry, and government around ReStalk’s vision for circular, plant-based materials in Vietnam.

Co-Founder & CSO

Lucas Hildebrand is an experienced Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer with broad expertise in leading growth initiatives and managing high-impact campaigns for global brands like Walmart, Apple Music, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Heineken, and Monster Energy. Combining his background in large-scale brand strategy with a deep commitment to environmental innovation, Lucas has transitioned his expertise toward building regenerative business models and sustainable manufacturing systems. Through his leadership, Lucas continues to align profitability with purpose, driving initiatives that create lasting value for both businesses and the planet.

Co-Founder & CDO

Kyle is a dynamic serial entrepreneur and brand builder with a track record of turning emerging sectors into scalable businesses. He co-founded GrowLife Inc., helped launch HIVE Ceramics, and developed patented technologies such as Stealth Grow LED and FIELD, building out high-performance products and the sales engines behind them. At ReStalk, Kyle channels this experience into strategic partnerships, market development, and commercial execution–helping transform agricultural residues into a global next-gen materials business.

Director of Operations, Tamil Nadu

As Director of Operations, Mr. Vignesh oversees day-to-day performance and long-term operational strategy across ReStalk’s facilities. He is responsible for aligning production, maintenance, and financial planning to ensure plants run efficiently, safely, and profitably.

Combining hands-on factory experience with a strong grasp of cost management and process improvement, Vignesh helps ReStalk scale responsibly–maintaining high quality standards while optimizing throughput, energy use, and overall operational excellence.

Chief Operating Officer

With over 40 years of leadership in the paper and converting industry, Mike Schock brings unparalleled operational and technical expertise to ReStalk. His distinguished career includes key roles at major corporations such as Westvaco, Weyerhaeuser, and Sonoco, where he oversaw large-scale manufacturing and global supply chain operations. Mike’s experience spans the full spectrum of materials: from linerboard and SBS to molded pulp and innovative non-wood pulps derived from agricultural sources like wheat straw. A proven leader in process optimization, quality control, and Six Sigma methodologies, Mike has driven efficiency and sustainability initiatives that set new industry benchmarks. At ReStalk, he applies this deep expertise to scale production, enhance quality assurance, and implement advanced operational systems that support the company’s mission to create sustainable, high-performance packaging solutions.

Chief Financial Officer

Gregg Bigger is a seasoned financial executive with a distinguished record in corporate finance, banking, and public company leadership. As former CEO and Chairman of QS Energy Inc. and President of Santa Barbara Bancorp, Gregg has guided organizations through complex capitalization strategies, mergers, and regulatory environments. He also founded and led The Bank of Santa Barbara, where his strategic vision and disciplined financial management resulted in strong growth and a successful acquisition. Gregg’s expertise spans corporate governance, capital formation, investor relations, and strategic financial planning. His forward-looking approach and deep understanding of financial markets provide the foundation for ReStalk’s fiscal strength and long-term growth strategy. Gregg plays a critical role in ensuring that ReStalk remains financially agile and well-positioned to expand its leadership in sustainable materials innovation.

ASEAN Lead, Business Development

Shaz is an entrepreneur, strategist, and investor focused on building ventures where impact and profitability move in lockstep. Having founded and exited companies in tech customization and consumer products, and advised startups across India, Singapore, and the U.S., he specializes in turning early-stage potential into scalable, market-ready businesses. His work in education and edtech, combined with executive training in Education Leadership and Management at Harvard, gives him a systems-level lens on how ideas grow into institutions. At ReStalk, Shaz leads ASEAN business development, weaving together circularity, market expansion, and values-driven execution–grounded by years of hands-on work in policy, philanthropy, and community support across Asia.

Business Development, Tamil Nadu

Gokul Anand drives business development for ReStalk in Tamil Nadu, bringing strong experience in sales, partnerships, and supply chain logistics. He focuses on identifying high-value customers, structuring win–win commercial agreements, and building the regional networks needed to scale production and distribution. With a sharp understanding of both local markets and global sustainability demands, Gokul plays a key role in connecting ReStalk’s molded fiber and specialty pulp solutions with brands, distributors, and institutional buyers who are ready to move away from plastics and toward circular, plant-based materials.

Comptroller & Analyst

Daniel is a numbers-first strategist who brings financial rigor and environmental purpose together at ReStalk. With a background spanning small business banking at JPMorgan Chase and consulting roles supporting startups and international entrepreneurs, he’s spent his career decoding complex financial systems into clear, actionable insights. Armed with an MBA in Accounting and deep experience in financial modeling, compliance, and analysis, Daniel ensures ReStalk’s growth is both disciplined and aligned with its mission to protect endangered habitats and build a truly sustainable business.

Plant Manager

Mallikarjun Badiger manages ReStalk’s plant operations with a focus on eco-friendly food service manufacturing. He oversees production planning, team supervision, and on-the-floor quality control to ensure that every molded fiber product meets stringent performance and safety requirements.With a background in running high-volume, sustainable packaging lines, Mallikarjun specializes in streamlining processes, minimizing waste, and maintaining consistent output–making him a critical link between ReStalk’s material innovation and reliable, day-to-day delivery for customers.

Paul Foulkes is a seasoned sustainability and circular-economy leader with more than 37 years of experience in industrial design, sustainable innovation, and strategic growth. His expertise spans NextGen fibre recycling, biomaterials, novel beverages, AI-enabled circularity, and advanced material development—helping companies turn sustainable ambitions into scalable, measurable impact. Paul has worked with major global brands across Europe and the USA, delivering transformational projects in food & beverage, apparel and footwear, and packaging. His approach blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, enabling founder-led organizations to adopt sustainable materials while staying commercially strong. His depth of experience strengthens ReStalk’s mission to scale regenerative, circular materials worldwide.

Mikko Ruuska is a mission-driven industrial strategist focused on scaling pragmatic, cost-effective, and high-impact solutions that defossilize global supply chains. With nearly 20 years of experience across process optimization, industrial technology, and global project sales, he brings a rare combination of engineering clarity, commercial insight, and systems-level thinking to the team. At ReStalk, Mikko advises on technology selection, line design, and performance optimization for each Agri-Hub, ensuring that every system is engineered for both near-term reliability and long-term scale. His emphasis on geographic hotspots: where feedstock, technology, and end-market demand converge, helps transform circular material concepts into bankable, industrial-grade production models. Mikko believes in creating global prosperity while reducing pressure on forests and finite resources. His pragmatic yet inspirational approach strengthens ReStalk’s mission to accelerate a fast, scalable, and transformative shift toward bio-based materials worldwide.

Frank Klemens brings deep venture and technology-commercialization expertise to ReStalk. He is the Managing Director of the Generation Food Rural Partners Fund (GFRP) at Big Idea Ventures, where he leads the evaluation of university-developed IP and builds new companies in the Food, Protein, and Agriculture sectors—anchored in rural communities to drive job creation and economic growth. Frank previously served as Managing Director of DuPont Ventures and Director of Licensing at DuPont, overseeing strategic investments, technology sourcing, and licensing across biotech, food ingredients, nutrition, electronics, IoT, machine learning, and advanced materials.Frank’s blend of scientific depth and venture leadership strengthens ReStalk’s strategic path as it scales circular, bio-based materials globally.