Press Kit
Riana Lynn is an entrepreneur, creative scientist, speaker, and cultural explorer. She is the founder and CEO of Journey Foods.
Everything you need to write about or book Riana Lynn: bios, photos, logos, selected press and booking details.
Bio
Short bio
Riana Lynn is an entrepreneur, creative scientist, speaker, and cultural explorer. She is the founder and CEO of Journey Foods.
Long bio
Riana Lynn is an award-winning scientist and creative whose work sits at the intersection of food, technology and culture. She is the founder and CEO of Journey Foods, which builds AI and data tools that help food companies design better products and manage nutrition, supply chain and sustainability decisions.
A biologist turned serial entrepreneur with a background in public health, AI and Black studies, Riana has worked in the Obama White House, at Google and in venture capital. Before Journey Foods she founded FoodTrace, a food sourcing platform. She was named to MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35 in 2019, Journey Foods was a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer in 2022, and StartOut presented her with its 2023 Innovator Award.
Riana is also a filmmaker and a longtime supporter of artists and underrepresented founders. Based in Atlanta, she is finishing her book, coming in 2027. When she is not building, she grows fruit trees and explores culinary and architectural heritage around the world.
Headshots and stage photos
Free to use for press and event promotion. Please keep the photo credit where one is listed.
Logos
Booking
Riana is available for:
Topics include food innovation and supply chains, AI in everyday business, technology and entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture and food justice, and women's leadership in STEM.
Please share the event name, date, location, format and audience.
Selected press
See also Riana's Fast Company author page.
2026
- CNBCAI startups want to crack open the recipe book in Big Food's test kitchensFeb 2026
- The AdvocateHave the gay tech titans turned their backs on us? (cover story)Mar 2026
- Black ElitesHow Riana Lynn Turned Doubt Into an AI Platform Powering Food Innovation Across 122 CountriesJul 2026
- OECD CogitoGoals, grills and growth: What the World Cup meant for local business (co-written with Riana Lynn)Sep 2026
2025
2024
- Masters of Scale: Pioneers of AIWhy AI is the key to improving our food, with Riana Lynn (podcast)Dec 2024
- New Food MagazineNew AI-powered nutrition scoring system aims to improve health equity across the USDec 2024
- Austin Business JournalHow Journey Foods is leveraging AI to streamline the CPG industryNov 2024
- Fast CompanyHarnessing AI to transform the food industry: The role of business leaders (byline)Nov 2024
- Tufts Food and Nutrition Innovation InstituteJourney Foods: Fueling the next generation of Food Founders with AI2024
2023
2022
- World Economic ForumTechnology Pioneers 2022: Journey Foods2022
- HanselminutesJourney Foods makes Tech with Biologist and Entrepreneur Riana Lynn (podcast)Jul 2022
- Ingredients InsightOptimising ingredient manufacturing through data modelingMay 2022
- Austin Business JournalJournal Profile: Riana Lynn shares journey from football field to White House to entrepreneurshipJan 2022
- Eat For The PlanetJourney Foods: Supply Chain and Food Science Meets Data (podcast)Jan 2022
2021
- Food TankNew Initiative Aims to Improve Transparency and Inclusivity in the Food SystemOct 2021
- CultureMap Austin4 Black-led Austin startups awarded $400,000 in funding from GoogleSep 2021
- FOX 7 AustinGoogle awards $100K each to five Black-led Austin startup companiesSep 2021
- MongoDBBuilt With MongoDB: Journey FoodsMar 2021
2020
2019
- MIT Technology ReviewInnovators Under 35: Riana LynnJun 2019
- Food TankRiana Lynn: Partner Across the World, Across Genders for Food ChangeMay 2019
- ForbesThe Potential Of Micro Foods: Interview With Riana Lynn Of Journey FoodsJan 2019
- The SpoonJourney Foods Leverages A.I. to Make Healthy GummiesJan 2019
- FoodNavigator-USANext generation snacks, aka 'micro foods', will pack a stronger nutritional punch, says Journey FoodsJan 2019
Earlier
- Chicago Sun-TimesSunday Sitdown with Riana Lynn: Tilling a more diverse farm-to-table networkJun 2016
- Carolina Arts and Sciences MagazineThree Food Tech Startups, No Stopping, for AlumnaMar 2016
- Crain's Chicago Business20 in Their 20s (2015): Riana Lynn, CEO, FoodTrace2015
- Chicago TribuneGoogle-backed entrepreneur program chooses FoodTrace founder Riana LynnApr 2015
- USA TodayGoogle backs 3-city program for black, Latino techiesMar 2015
- Chicago TribuneHow she's applying lessons from her role with CNBC's 'The Profit'Jul 2014
The book
Riana's book is coming in 2027. It explores food, culture and innovation through emerging trends, personal experiences and lessons learned. The title and cover will be announced soon.
Media and early copies
For review copies, excerpts or interviews about the book, email hi@rianalynn.com.