About me
Zachary Damato has spent his career on environmental issues, from food waste to healthier CPG products to river conservation. In 2009, Zachary co-founded a specialty and organic food distribution company, Norman Distribution Inc. Afterward, he worked as a mentor for Techstars and as a sous chef in Chicago. In 2016, Zachary became COO & co-founder of Niwa (www.getniwa.com), a company that designs software and smart hardware enabling growers to automate their indoor gardens. In the same year, Zachary co-founded Urban Rivers (www.urbanrivers.org), which transforms urban riverways into wildlife sanctuaries. Their flagship project, the Wild Mile, is the largest floating park in the United States. Zachary is finishing his M.A. at SCAD, focused on circular design with fashion & footwear, while continuing to grow Urban Rivers. Zachary holds a B.S. in Organizational & Leadership Management and a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Purdue University and Tsinghua University, and is currently finishing an M.A. at the Savannah College of Art & Design, focused on circular design with a focus on footwear & products.
