Founded in 2018 by Walmart heir Lukas Walton, the Chicago-based organization operates as a unique hybrid platform that allocates capital through a combination of philanthropic grants, direct investments, and fund investments across both public and private markets. The overarching mission of Builders Vision is to scale sustainable solutions and accelerate market adoption to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. With a robust portfolio spanning multiple sectors, the firm currently manages more than $20 billion in assets. Its core investment focus areas include sustainable food and agriculture, healthy oceans, and clean energy, positioning the platform as a major institutional player in the global sustainability movement.
Matt Knott steps into the permanent CEO role after serving as interim CEO for the past year. His tenure with Builders Vision dates back to 2019 when he joined the organization as President and Chief Operating Officer. In those foundational years, Knott played a critical role in helping to design, develop, and scale the organization from its inception. Before entering the impact investing and sustainability sector, Knott served as President of Feeding America, one of the nation’s largest hunger-relief organizations, where he honed his extensive leadership experience in operational strategy and large-scale organizational management.
With Knott’s permanent appointment, Lukas Walton—who had served as CEO since the founding of Builders Vision in 2018—will transition to a new leadership role as Executive Chairman. In this capacity, Walton will continue to guide the overarching vision and strategic direction of the platform while handing over day-to-day executive leadership to Knott.
Alongside Knott’s appointment, Builders Vision also confirmed Lisa Forbes as its permanent Chief Strategy Officer. Forbes has been deeply integrated into the firm’s leadership structure, having served as General Counsel while also holding the interim Chief Strategy Officer position for the past several months. Prior to joining Builders Vision, Forbes built a distinguished legal and strategic career, working as Senior Corporate Counsel at industrial software company Uptake and as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Sheffield Asset Management. Her combined legal acumen and strategic insight have made her a vital component of the executive leadership team as the firm continues to navigate complex regulatory and investment landscapes.
The leadership transition comes at a time of significant growth and financial momentum for Builders Vision. Reflecting on the milestone and the organization’s future trajectory, Matt Knott emphasized the vast opportunities ahead for the multi-billion-dollar platform.
What excites me most is the opportunity ahead, Knott said in a post announcing the leadership updates. Builders Vision now has more than $20 billion in assets under management, driven in part by the strong performance of our portfolios. We have a talented team, a powerful network of partners, and the unique ability to deploy investment and philanthropic capital to scale promising solutions in food and agriculture, energy, and oceans.
By combining traditional philanthropic grant-making with aggressive market-rate investing, Builders Vision aims to bridge the gap between non-profit impact and commercial viability. The dual approach allows the Chicago-based platform to support early-stage innovations through charitable giving while simultaneously deploying institutional capital into scalable market solutions that can drive systemic environmental change. With its newly formalized executive team at the helm, the firm is poised to continue expanding its footprint across its primary focus sectors, reinforcing its position as a leading force in modern impact investing.
