GroundUp
Venture Overview
GroundUp is an early-stage materials venture producing plant-based wall panels designed to replace conventional plywood in interior construction. Made from reclaimed coffee grounds and fruit rinds, GroundUp supplies builders with an install-ready, lower-carbon alternative to traditional sheet goods that fits standard durability and installation requirements while diverting organic waste from landfills and reducing reliance on virgin materials. Founder Elvina Beck is a licensed General Contractor and longtime hospitality operator whose insight came from witnessing massive café waste streams firsthand. GroundUp has tested injection-molded products made from recycled plastic blended with coffee waste and is advancing toward MVP wall panels for real-world construction use, experimenting with coffee grounds, passion fruit rinds, and other organics. Born in the former USSR and raised in Brooklyn, Elvina brings a practitioner-led, systems-oriented approach to sustainable construction materials.
Website: https://coffeegroundup.com/
Venture Issue Area: Sustainable Materials
Venture Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Venture Founder
Elvina Beck is the Founder of GroundUp. A licensed General Contractor and former hospitality operator, her work is shaped by hands-on experience managing operations, materials, and waste in real-world environments.
Elvina brings a practitioner-led approach to innovation, with the ability to test and apply ideas directly in active build settings. Born in the former USSR and raised in Brooklyn, she approaches her work with a systems-oriented mindset and a focus on practical execution.
