Matt Grocoff is a nationally recognized developer, decarbonization and sustainability leader, and advocate for regenerative design and net zero communities. He is the founder of THRIVE Collaborative and FEW Nexus (Food, Energy & Water), where his work focuses on creating buildings and communities that generate their own energy, minimize waste, strengthen resilience, and improve quality of life.

Matt is the developer of Veridian at County Farm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, one of North America’s most ambitious regenerative residential communities. Designed using the framework of the Living Community Challenge, Veridian is Michigan’s first ever Virtual Power Plant. It is a 100% electric, net zero energy, mixed-income neighborhood demonstrating how deeply sustainable development can be delivered at market scale.

His commitment to demonstrating what is possible began at home. Matt transformed his 1901 Ann Arbor house into Michigan’s first net zero energy building, using solar, geothermal, and other high-performance systems to produce more energy annually than his family consumes. The project has been widely recognized as a model for sustainable residential design, with The Atlantic calling the home “sustainable perfection.”

Matt’s work spans regenerative development, Living Buildings and communities, biomimicry, biophilia, resilience, and the interconnected food, energy, and water systems that shape the built environment. He has spoken internationally and has been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, USA Today, PBS, and numerous other media outlets. His work has also been featured in books including The Power of Zero, Building for People and People Habitat.

In 2026, the International Living Future Institute named Matt a Living Future Hero in recognition of his contributions to regenerative design, resilience, climate action, and social equity in the built environment. His additional recognition includes being named a Crain’s Notable Leader in Sustainability and one of Proptech Capital’s Top 10 Sustainable Real Estate Influencers. 

As an Advisor to the Global Network for Zero, Matt will draw on his experience in regenerative development, net zero energy, and market transformation to help advance scalable approaches to decarbonization, demonstrate what is possible in the built environment, and inspire broader action toward a zero-emissions future.