Our Focus
At Trellis Executive Search, we take pride in our distinguished track record, having successfully recruited and retained over 50 roles within food and agriculture technology, including 20+ high-caliber executive roles spanning 3 continents. Specializing in supercharging the growth of the next generation of agriculture and food technology enterprises, our verifiable proficiency includes executive recruitment, employee retention, organizational strategy development, and executive coaching.
What We Offer
HR/TALENT/PEOPLE CONSULTING
At Trellis, we offer a comprehensive range of services to support your organization's success in the dynamic fields of agriculture and food technology. Our expertise spans strategic planning to fuel growth, fostering a high-performance culture within your teams, and coaching leaders to spearhead innovation and achieve excellence. Partner with Trellis to unlock the full potential of your organization and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture and food technology.
Executive search and recruiting
We've meticulously crafted our qualification, search, and selection process with your needs and the distinctive challenges of an evolving industry in mind. Every search is tailor-made for our clients, highlighting the most pertinent information in our shortlists and showcasing your organization effectively. At Trellis, our search philosophy goes beyond just food or agriculture; we also tap into intersecting technology industries to access the widest talent pool possible. Read more about our search philosophy here.
Deep understanding of your organization and space
At Trellis, we understand start ups and the unique challenges they face. That’s why we seek a full understanding of:
The history of your organization
Business and financial strategies
Milestones and fundraising objectives
Product, Competitive Positioning, and Market
Not only do we aim to become an expert in your company, we also strive to position ourselves as a thought leader in your space. Click here to read our Reflections on the Early Stage AgTech Report.
comprehensive qualification
At Trellis, we understand the chaos of a start up environment, and we know that time is a scarce and valuable resource for your team. That’s why we take painstaking measures to thoroughly vet and qualify each candidate before we present them to you. Here are just a few of the screening techniques we use:
In-depth interview to determine aspirations, motivations, and personal circumstances
Technical screening based on in-depth position specification
Competency screening using behavioral interview questions
Leadership ability measured against 8 key leadership competencies which include Strategic Orientation, Market Insight, Collaboration & Influence, etc.
Assessment of their potential to determine their ability and likelihood to evolve with your organization
bespoke search strategy
We know how critical executive hires are for your company’s success. That’s why at Trellis each Executive Search we do is fully customized to your needs as an organization. Once we have a deep understanding of your company’s objectives as a whole, we work with you to develop a comprehensive specification, which includes:
Role and responsibilities
Deliverables & Objectives
Key Stakeholders and reporting relationships
Ideal candidate profile, including experience, technical skills, personal characteristics, competencies, strengths, and leadership ability
Cultural fit
unparalleled communication
We believe an integral part of our success is open, honest, and clear communication. Because information is at the heart of everything we do, integrity and confidentiality are crucial pillars of our approach. We provide regular progress reports to ensure visibility of the activity being conducted, but also to communicate market sentiment towards your organization.
Our Partners
Our Team
Maximillian Cunha (AKA “Agtech Max”) is the owner and Principal of Trellis Executive Search. Impassioned by the UN report on the World Food Crisis, Max decided he wanted to be a part of the solution. He first entered the AgTech space with his second start up, Coalo Valley Farms. Coalo Valley Farms was California’s first urban cricket farm, where he and his co-founder aimed to create a sustainable source of protein for human consumption made from crickets. Max was soon recruited to lead the AgTech Executive Search division of Real Staffing, a global leader in recruitment for the biotech and life sciences industry. Max ultimately decided to leave Real Staffing to found Trellis to allow him the flexibility to work with even earlier stage companies who did not have the level of funding to pay for a corporate executive search service. Max currently lives and works in San Diego, CA with his dog Monty with the goal of helping more world changing companies reach success.
Based in Las Vegas, Mason brings over 5 years of executive search expertise to our team at Trellis. His journey began with a pivotal role in launching Trellis, where he honed his skills in executive search consultancy. Prior to this, Mason dedicated a year and a half at LifeSci Search, a prominent search firm in healthcare and life sciences, refining his craft and delivering successful searches across biotech, from VP to board-level positions.
Before diving into executive search, Mason led a specialized medical device company in the Greater Las Vegas market for two years, showcasing his versatility and business acumen. Today, Mason blends his extensive experience in executive search and sales to offer a unique perspective in retaining, recruiting, and consulting top-tier talent. His strategic approach and track record of success make him an invaluable asset in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition.