Tera Johnson

Innovative Finance Expert

Tera Johnson is a serial entrepreneur and innovator focused on building the next generation of environmentally and economically resilient food and farming businesses. As the founder of teraswhey®, the Food Finance Institute, and the Edible-Alpha® podcast, she brings firsthand experience in starting, scaling, and exiting a nationally recognized food brand and translating those lessons into tools and insights for other entrepreneurs. 

Tera founded Wisconsin Specialty Protein and launched the teraswhey® brand, growing it into a leading national natural foods product line. She raised $14 million in capital prior to generating revenue, built a complex and diversified capital stack, and ultimately sold her company to a publicly traded firm. Her experience navigating early-stage financing, rapid growth, and exit strategy informs her work supporting entrepreneurs across the food and agriculture sectors. 

Through the Food Finance Institute, Tera has developed frameworks, tools, and educational programming that help food and farm businesses understand financial strategy, align capital with growth, and make informed decisions. Her work focuses on demystifying business growth and capital access by translating financial complexity into practical, actionable guidance grounded in real-world experience. 

Tera works extensively with entrepreneurs, economic development organizations, and investors to strengthen regional food systems and support business viability and scalability. She is a frequent speaker, educator, and advisor, contributing to national conversations on food systems, finance, and rural economic development. 

She is the recipient of the UW–Extension Chancellor’s 2017 Wisconsin Idea Award in recognition of her contributions to advancing community and economic development through innovative finance. 

• Master of Science, Applied Economics – University of Wisconsin–Madison