Trailblazing Innovations Run Deep in the Sprout Accelerator Autumn24 Cohort
Introducing the Sprout Accelerator Autumn24 Cohort. Sprout is proud to announce an exciting group of founders, who are collectively forging new paths to revolutionise the agri and food value chains.Themes such as novel food technologies, sector-disrupting autonomous solutions, and animal health innovations enamouring pet lovers everywhere emerge as we introduce our newest cohort. The selection process for this cohort was one of the toughest yet, reflecting both the cutting-edge technologies pres...
March 20, 2024Meet the Founder: Dairy Smart
Making scientifically informed decisions, instead of educated guesswork, could save farmers time and money when it comes to their approach to mastitis. At least if one NZ startup has anything to do with it.Meet the founder Chris Brook of DairySmart. They are one of the ventures taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort XI intake....
November 23, 2023Meet the Founders: Digital Diets
What if the key to improving people’s health sat in the application of AI and big data?Not much is known about the function of compounds found in natural products – known as the ‘dark matter’ of nutrition. But with a burgeoning natural products industry, it’s perhaps more important than ever to harness this knowledge.Meet the co-founders Dr John Ingram and Blake List of Digital Diets by Plant & Food Research. They are one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 ...
October 30, 2023Meet the Founder: Tonalli Moana
Toxins from harmful algal blooms can cost billions of dollars in losses to the aquaculture industry. They present a significant health risk to consumers, with the health sector forking out further billions of dollars in treating people who have become ill after eating contaminated seafood. It’s pretty clear it’s a problem - but what can be done about it?That's where Balam Jimenez comes in - Meet the Founder of Tonalli Moana, one of the companies taking part in the 2023 Sprout Accelerator as ...
October 24, 2023Meet the Founders: Barley Milk by Plant & Food Research
There’s no doubt about it, plant milks are here to stay on our supermarket shelves. But which option is best? Well move over oats and almonds and say hello to Barley Milk. There’s a new player in town - and it’s a healthier alternative that generates zero waste.Meet Irene Ho and Carl Massarotto, two of the founding team members developing Barley Milk at Plant & Food Research. They are one of the teams taking part in the Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort XI intake....
October 19, 2023Meet the Founders: Fleecegrow
The appetite to become sustainable is at an all-time high. Growers, consumers and farmers alike are feeling the pressure to up the ante without putting too big a dent in their back pockets. Coupled with a wool industry that's crying out for more innovative uses for its product, there’s opportunity abound.One Kiwi start-up is taking that opportunity and running with it.Meet the founders Jacinta and Greg Penn of Fleecegrow. They are one of the ventures taking part in our three-month Sprout...
October 15, 2023Meet the Founders: Feed Finder
Do you know how many decisions a farmer has to make each day? The answer: the limit does not exist. But one Kiwi start-up is looking to support farmers with some of those decisions. Meet the founders Greg Johnston and Dave Meaney of Future Farm Systems. They are one of the ventures taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort XI intake....
October 12, 2023Meet the Founders: Agri AI
Mastitis costs the New Zealand dairy industry millions of dollars in losses each year. Teat spraying after milking has been proven to reduce the incidence of new mastitis infections by 50%. But if done incorrectly that impact is decreased.Through the power of AI one New Zealand start-up is looking to change the automatic teat spraying game for good. Meet Benedict Johnson and Chris Scherman, co-founders of AgriAI. They are one of the ventures taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accele...
October 9, 2023Meet the Founders: Tiaki Aquafeeds
Almost 60% of the fish meal produced globally is used in aquaculture feeds. It’s a market on the rise but relies on finite wild-marine resources and is considered by many as unsustainable.One start-up company has its sights set on changing this with the help of insect meal and grape marc to create a more circular system.Meet Natalia Bullon and Ben Pierce, co-founders of Tiaki Aquafeeds. They are one of the ventures taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort XI intake....
September 29, 2023Sprouting up in the City of Sails
Sprout is expanding! We're delighted to share that we have staked our claim on some Auckland real estate and have just opened the doors to our Auckland office. At Sprout, we're all about fostering growth and collaboration. With our Auckland office, we're taking a stride toward cultivating and growing stronger connections, and establishing a robust presence in the agrifoodtech ecosystem. While Sprout HQ remains firmly embedded within the mighty Manawatu, we’re aware of keeping our finger on the...
September 24, 2023Sprouting Novel Innovations - this is Cohort XI
Sprout is excited to introduce the eleventh cohort entering the Sprout Accelerator, where innovation meets sustainability to shape the future of Agrifoodtech. This diverse group of entrepreneurs is collectively forging new paths to revolutionise various aspects of farming, animal health, waste management, and food.From utilising cutting-edge food technologies to introducing novel software platforms and AI, this cohort is redefining the way we approach agriculture and food technologies, and its c...
August 23, 2023Food in a Changing World: Insights from the 2023 NZIFST conference, Dunedin
Marie, our venture analyst, recently joined the food science community for the annual New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) conference in early July 2023. The theme of this year's conference, "Food in a Changing World," resonated deeply with the attendees as they exchanged knowledge, innovations, and ideas on the evolving global food landscape....
August 3, 2023Energising through Innovation - Reflections on the 2023 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda
Sprout Venture Analyst Crispin Dye had the privilege of being part of the Emerging Leaders panel, which helps shape the contents of the annual KPMG Agribusiness Agenda. Here he reviews the agenda and gives his thoughts on how this will shape the future of the agrifoodtech industry....
July 12, 2023Meet the Founders: CarbonZ
Not all carbon credits are equal. In fact, some are likely to be phantom credits and don’t represent genuine emissions reductions. It’s a huge problem as businesses around the world are attempting to get to carbon zero and might well find themselves in a sticky situation in the years to come with low quality credits.It’s a complicated industry, but one Kiwi start-up is aiming to demystify the world of carbon removal by providing authentic credits to everyday Kiwis and businesses alike.Meet...
June 14, 2023Meet the Founders: eNZyma
In 2022, the export value of wine traded by New Zealand within the international market stood at around 1.9 billion New Zealand dollars. Like all industries, there are areas where efficiencies can be made, particularly for the winemakers. This is where new Kiwi start-up eNZyma (formerly Enzyme Biosensors) enters the chat.Meet the founders Associate Professor Wayne Patrick, Dr Lee Tejada and Dr Matthew Nicholson. They are one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator...
June 7, 2023Scratching beyond the surface - the reality of Agrifoodtech Investment in 2023
Recently, AgFunder released their annual report on the state of global Agrifoodtech investment for 2023. The 90 page report is well worth a read in full, but just in case you’re short on time heres our take on their key messages, along with how this fits in with what we’re seeing in the marketplace. The year-on-year change in investment paints a grim picture of the state of Agrifoodtech investment in 2022, diving 44% to $29.6 billion. Ouch. However, there is more to this story than meet...
June 5, 2023Meet the Founder: Ruminexus
Methane belched out by ruminant animals is responsible for 71% of our total agricultural emissions. While there are a number of potential actions to reduce methane emissions, simple and effective solutions are still in high demand.Meet the founder of Ruminexus, Dr Ghader Bashiri. He is one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator Cohort X intake....
May 30, 2023Meet the Founders: H2Ortigator
Many young trees in the horticultural industry fail to survive and thrive causing huge losses in orchards and vineyards. A new business is seeking to solve that problem with their precision irrigation and nutrition device that brings trees up to commercial standard at least a year earlier while using fewer resources.“In my previous job as a consultant in the horticultural space, I was seeing across the board young trees dying at a rapid rate. Those that were surviving were only producing about...
May 24, 2023Meet the Founders: Jooules
It is estimated that by 2030, humanity will be consuming 800 million tonnes of protein each year, that figure is set to double by 2050 where current population estimates we’ll be feeding a population of 10 billion. That’s a lot of protein. Coupled with a capped capacity for growing crops, which is the main way in which we produce protein (crops are used to feed animals which then produce protein), there are some big issues ahead.This is where Jooules comes in. A Kiwi start-up focused on sust...
May 17, 2023Meet the Founder - Espy Earth
What do dark ships and methane have in common? The answer, they can both be found using Espy Earth technology. Derived from the nautical term ‘Espy’ meaning to see something from a long way away, and a clever play on electronic spying, Espy Earth is a satellite data intelligence business that can document the state of carbon (CO2 and methane) as well as biodiversity on land.Meet the Founder's Jill and Ian Dewey. He is one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 ...
May 9, 2023Meet the Founders: CiRCLR
New Zealand sends approximately 12.5 million tonnes to landfills each year. We have some of the highest waste figures in the OECD. 10% of that waste is organic household waste and an increasing percentage is from horticultural food loss and waste, which globally is a $600 million problem per annum.It’s a global problem, that requires a global solution. Enter CiRCLR. A matchmaking platform that removes the friction from creating circular networks by connecting waste makers with waste takers and...
May 3, 2023Meet the Founder: Metrovate
With an increasing number of the population opting to reside in cities around the globe, urban farming has become increasingly popular as people seek to provide their own form of food security. But growing plants outside of their normal environments can be challenging for many staple crops we rely on.Meet the founder, Nikolai Macnee of Metrovate. He is one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort X intake....
April 24, 2023Meet the Founder: Herdsman SCC
Losses from mastitis, especially subclinical, cost farmers around the country thousands of dollars in lost production and vet bills each year. It’s one of the most common issues on dairy farms across the globe and is something that Kiwi start-up, Herdsman SCC, is tackling with their sensor technology.Meet the founder Paul Johnstone. He is one of the start-ups taking part in our three-month Sprout 2023 Accelerator in the Cohort X intake....
April 18, 2023A review: New Zealand Agricultural Climate Change Conference 2023
Crispin Dye, our Venture Analyst, attended the NZAGRC New Zealand Agricultural Climate Change Conference on 28 February. The two-day conference covered the latest policy, science and implementation actions being undertaken to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases in New Zealand. He shares his key takeaways in our latest blog....
March 29, 2023Revolutionising Agrifoodtech
An impressive list makes up the companies selected to take part in the 2023 Sprout Accelerator. Cohort X includes ten companies, each with a unique solution to address some of the biggest challenges facing the agriculture industry today.From solutions for Greenhouse Gas Emission monitoring to automated weighing and health monitoring devices for livestock this cohort is nothing if not diverse. The cohort represents innovative technologies that have the potential to drive significant improve...
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