[WEBINAR] Why the AgTech Boom Isn’t Your Typical Tech Disruption
Details
WEBINAR URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_btRkOVp1SFm0cYfaNfheUA
ABSTRACT:
It’s official - the agtech sector is booming. In both 2018 and 19, agtech startups received over $4B in venture capital funding, and 2020 is on track to be another banner investment year. Multiple agtech startups are reaching unicorn status. With the pandemic driving our first-time experience with empty grocery shelves and supply chain panic, Silicon Valley has wasted no time in accelerating its investment pace in this critical space. But farmers are inundated with solutions that promise to dramatically reduce costs and increase yields. The abundance of promises coupled with the shortage of proof makes farmers reluctant to adopt the next new thing.
On this agtech panel - composed of three female repeat entrepreneurs - we will discuss three main challenges facing the agriculture industry - (1) meeting the growing demand for high-quality food, (2) protecting the environment, and (3) providing a meaningful livelihood for its farmers. We will also explore why Silicon Valley may have a few more rows to hoe before their technology takes root.
SPEAKERS:
Pam Marrone - Executive Chair and Partner, Primary BioAg Innovations™
Dr. Pamela G. Marrone is currently Executive Chairperson and Partner of Primary BioAg Innovations and Global BioAg Linkages, a pair of companies founded to help sincere innovators scale their bioag and agtech businesses and gain market adoption. She also advises six startups (biocontrol, precision ag, ag AI, consumer lawn & garden, plant nutraceutical, and healthcare; five founded and led by women). In 2020, Marrone was awarded “The Most Admired CEO, Distinguished Career Award” by the Sacramento Business Journal. She founded Marrone Bio Innovation (MBII) and AgraQuest, which was sold to Bayer for $475M in 2012. Marrone has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a doctorate degree from North Carolina State University, both in entomology.
Miku Jha - Founder and CEO, Agshift
Miku Jha is the founder and chief executive of AgShift; a Silicon Valley-based agriculture technology startup, with a mission to design a fully transparent & digitized food system. Miku has created large-scale technology solutions from scratch at multiple successful startups and well known global companies such as VMware and IBM. She was instrumental in growing the storage business as a founding engineer at Ariodata, which was acquired by Xyratex Inc. Miku has an MBA from Cornell University and a BS (Hons.) in computer science from University of Mumbai.
Shely Aronov - Co-Founder and CEO, InnerPlant
Shely is an Israeli transplant in the US. InnerPlant is her third startup and has over 15 years of experience working in traditional industries including construction and food. She received an undergrad degree in Industrial Engineering from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from Stanford. She is passionate about food and cooking, and her aspiration is to create a lasting company that drives positive change in the world.
Marta Bulaich - VP, Enterprise Strategy, VSC [MODERATOR]
Marta carries with her more than two decades of working in the trenches with venture capital firms, incubators and startups focused on information technology, insurtech, deeptech, and healthcare. She has collaborated with startups, Fortune 500 companies and seed/early-stage venture funds, including Ridge Ventures, Crane Venture Partners, Merian Ventures, Canaan Partners, DFJ, and UpWest Labs. Marta graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Delta Pi with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Scripps College with a major in Classics and minors in Chemistry and Latin American studies.