Seeded by a $5, 000 social innovation grant from Cal, they researched and launched a for-profit social venture called BTTR Ventures; BTTR stands for “Back To The Roots.” The goal is to be a sustainable company focused on social responsibility. They’re accomplishing this by diverting one of America’s largest waste streams out of Bay Area landfills.

The mushrooms aren’t caffeinated produce, they just absorb all the coffee grounds’ nutrients. So, why in the world are two new graduates from UC Berkeley’s Business School, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, growing mushrooms for a living?