L1A Leadership:

Michael Locatis

Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer

Michael Locatis is a veteran entrepreneur and national security expert with extensive experience in startup development, venture capital, and critical infrastructure risk management and protection. As Co-Founder and CEO of Layer 1 Agriculture, Michael brings his extensive experience to advancing solutions in sectors vital to global food security and sustainability.

In the public sector Michael served in two successive roles in the Obama Administration: as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for protecting national critical infrastructure, and as Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Michael’s leadership combines a deep understanding of technology, policy, and entrepreneurship, making him a driving force in advancing sustainable, resilient, and secure solutions for global challenges. Through Layer 1 Agriculture, he continues to bridge the gap between innovation and impact.

Roberta Leão

Co-founder & Chief Product Officer

Roberta Leão is a growth strategist and technology-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in food tech, agtech, and cleantech. With a background in computer science and big data, Roberta is leading the identification of data sources, data ingestion, harmonization, machine learning and AI training to support the development of analytic modeling underlying the L1A AgRisk Platform. Her experience spans all phases of product development, from go-to-market strategy and new launches to pricing, road mapping, and long-term strategic planning.

With a proven track record of launching startups and pioneering transformative advancements, Roberta has successfully opened new markets, driven product innovation, and fostered global business growth. Her deep expertise in sustainable technologies and data-driven solutions underpins her commitment to tackling critical challenges in food security and climate adaptation.