Who: Sprout
What: Accelerator & Investment
HQ: Palmerston North

INTRODUCTION

Sprout builds agtech and foodtech entrepreneurs and companies, by allowing them to break new ground through our Accelerator and Investment offerings.

WHO DO YOU WORK WITH AND WHAT KEY CHALLENGES DO YOU HELP THEM SOLVE?

1) New Zealanders who are in the process of researching and planning for a new business in AgTech and FoodTech

2) People who have started a business and are looking for help, inspiration and support to grow their business in AgTech and FoodTech

We help entrepreneurs accelerate their company growth to become an investable opportunity, appealing to investors looking for companies solving some of the planet’s biggest problems in the agrifood value chain. We provide them with:

  • Connections to an expansive, sophisticated global network so you can engage with the market and find customers and business partners
  • Extensive domain knowledge to help you develop innovation that actually contributes to the resourcing, feeding and health of the planet
  • Capital raising preparation through business plan development and investment pitch practice.
Sprout NZ cohort
Sprout team with recently graduated cohort 2021

SPROUT’S SERVICES

Overview:

  • Startup incubation programme/s
  • Accelerator programme
  • Startup or entrepreneur related events eg speaker nights, networking
  • Mentoring
  • Seed investment
  • Connection to investment group

Description:

As an AgTech or FoodTech innovator all you really want is to get your idea or product “out there,” no matter what, and to make your mark – leave your footprints (tapuwae) on the future health of the planet and its people.

We can enable that growth by building your business through the Sprout Accelerator!

The Accelerator is tailor-made for each company selected, and focuses on three core areas that enable scalable growth.

    • Connections to an expansive, sophisticated global network so you can engage with the market and find customers and business partners
    • Extensive domain knowledge to help you develop innovation that actually contributes to the resourcing, feeding and health of the planet
    • Capital raising preparation through business plan development and investment pitch practice.

We know our Herefords from our heme’s. We’ve founded, built, funded and run start-up companies so we know a good one when we see one. Our investment team is willing to back ambitious companies, with strong value propositions and global aspirations and that is why we’re putting $1m on the dining room table for Ag & FoodTech companies to pitch for.

We offer up to NZD$1m of seed-stage funding for the right companies emerging from our Accelerator*. 

However, our team doesn’t just stop fertilising your growth there. After we make an investment we continue to work alongside you to help you build your company. We do this by offering:

    • Global connections to our international partner network that can change the trajectory of your company
    • A strong pathway for future capital needs, including assisting with capital raising up to Series A (Venture Capital – first $10m)
    • Capital partners that can lead investment for future growth
    • Continued assistance with building a world-class team
    • Mentoring from entrepreneurs with company building and exit experience
    • A long term partnership.

Partnering with Sprout offers you the perfect recipe for success.

Sprout Massey
Sprout Selection Event – Rob Heebink, Gallagher (left) and Andrew Watene – KPMG Sprout Partners (far right).

HIGHLIGHTS

See more in the article above.

WHAT EXCITES YOUR TEAM ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO?

Our team is full of experts who live and breathe agriculture and food. If that’s who you’re looking for, then you’ve come to the right place. 

We know the difference between a microbe and microbiome, so whether you’re working on the next automated soil testing robot or producing a positive gut health food, the Sprout team can help.

We are anchored by a culture of ‘going to the trenches’ with early-stage companies. Everyone on the team has real company start-up & growth experience and is focused on putting founders first.

The team acts as your personal advisors to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey so your company and product gets noticed by Investors who ‘get it’ and want to see you grow a global innovation.

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE NZ ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITY?

The problem of resourcing, feeding and improving the health of our people and the planet is global headlines, not just headlines in New Zealand. It’s a planetary problem.

Feeding more than 10 billion people sustainably by 2050 is anchored in transforming food and agriculture on a global scale.

New Zealand innovators are outstanding at ag and foodtech solutions. The reality is however, that there’s a fast, global race at play, where a collective effort is happening to develop these solutions. It’s been going on for several years, and the scale of that effort is huge.

Very large companies and investors are chasing big innovation in ag and foodtech. In agtech alone, USD8.6 Billion has been invested between 2015 and 2019. In 2014 global investment in agtech was a mere $2 Billion a year. In foodtech USD23.6 Billion has been invested globally since 2015. 23.6 Billion! And all this is set to double again.

It is the only ecosystem capable of scaling innovation that actually changes the world. Being part of that is a big step up and the opportunity to win is massive.

Sprout’s entire mission is to get you into that global game and that much closer to making this happen – for you and for the world. Partner with Sprout and you are guaranteed to have a recipe for success.


GET IN TOUCH

Sprout Logo

Web: https://www.sproutagritech.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SproutAgritech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sproutagritech
LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/company/sprout-agritech


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