Chris Tolles

Science commercializer and founder: Chris combines a design background (RISD) and an MBA with hands‑on product and company building to move research‑grade science into commercial products and services. He has repeatedly co‑founded companies that translate academic or lab discoveries into real‑world offerings (Sundaily in ingestible sun protection; Yard Stick in soil carbon measurement). futurefarmermag+1

Soil carbon measurement & scientific rigor is core to his current work: At Yard Stick he has oriented the company around credibility — academic publication, participation in professional soil‑science communities, ARPA‑E project work, and transparent field validation — to build trust in a skeptical carbon measurement market. useyardstick+2

Mission‑oriented climate entrepreneur and operator: Tolles frames his work as climate impact via enabling measurement and markets for soil carbon, favoring collaboration and market‑building (a “big‑tent” approach) over narrow competition; this approach shows up in Yard Stick's partnerships with institutions like the Soil Health Institute and public‑funded programs (ARPA‑E). useyardstick+1

Consumer‑product founding experience and exit: As Sundaily's founding CEO he led product development and commercialization of a science‑backed consumer supplement and completed a sale to Grove Collaborative, giving him operator experience across science, brand, and DTC channels. venturecafecambridge+1