Following on from the success of last year's Bootcamp, we're thrilled to announce the 10 producer-led companies selected for this year's program.
The Bootcamp is a 6-month program helping producer-led businesses grow rapidly by providing access to relevant expertise, training and funding. Teams from last year's Bootcamp achieved outcomes such as doubling revenue, raising capital, and expanding to international markets.
The Bootcamp supports businesses building agtech such as software, hardware, or IoT, as well as businesses value-adding to their production to create new food products and experiences.
Meet the five 2020 Bootcamp agtech businesses below, and jump over here to meet the five value-adding businesses.
1. Optiweigh - Guyra NSW
Bill Mitchell, Anthony Chick , Max Laurie
Optiweigh is a patented in-paddock automated weighing system that allows farmers to understand the weight trends of their animals easily. It saves farmers time and money by providing weight data and analysis that helps improve stock management and identify the best time to sell stock.
Optiweigh has joined the Bootcamp to gain support expanding their sales and marketing, with the goal to sell several hundred units around Australia over the next 12 months.
Anthony Chick, Commercial Manager and Bill Mitchell, Founder OptiWeigh
2. EarTrumpet - Malvern VIC
Daniel Fischl
EarTrumpet has developed an automated sensor-based irrigation platform for grapegrowers, based on proven viticultural practices, that reduces water usage while maintaining the yield and quality of production.
EarTrumpet has joined the Bootcamp to get support taking the sensor platform to market, particularly refining their product positioning, and developing international distribution channels.
3. Yacker - Griffith NSW
Heath McWhirter and Emma Ayliffe
Yacker is a social network app for the ag industry, bringing people together through good old-fashioned conversations. Yacker came about from Heath and Emma's experience as agronomists at Summit Ag, seeing the potential for knowledge transfer and connection amongst their own clients and networks.
Their goal is for Yacker to become the ag industry's “phone directory". Yacker's goals in the Bootcamp are to refine their strategies to get new customers and continue developing the product to be easy to use and to drive valuable conversations.
Emma Ayliffe and Heath McWhirter, Yacker
4. Knowby - Hobart, TAS
Grant Rogers and Derek Mansur
Knowby is a cloud-based platform that revolutionises how instructions are built, shared and followed. Knowby’s technology replaces uncomfortable instruction videos and lengthy manuals so businesses can work more efficiently.
Knowby's goals in the Bootcamp are to identify their key launch markets and customers then develop digital acquisition channels for the business to achieve ambitious growth targets.
5. AusCrimper - Dalby NSW
Charlie and Amie Lange Auscrimper has developed a unique Cover Crop Roller to physically knock down cover crops before planting, rather than using chemicals or other intrusive techniques. Their locally manufactured cover crop rollers are in use on regenerative ag farms around the country.
AusCrimper joined the Bootcamp to learn how to scale up their manufacturing to meet demand and to develop new sales and marketing strategies to build awareness of their product.
We're so excited to have these brilliant producer-led businesses in the Bootcamp, and look forward to sharing more on their stories and businesses over the coming 6 months! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter here and follow Farmers2Founders on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Thanks to the RDCs supporting the teams in this year's program: AgriFutures, AWI, MLA, Wine Australia, and GRDC.
Check out the 5 value-added teams in the 2020 cohort over here and read more about the Bootcamp here. Bootcamp 2021 expressions of interest will open in January, as well as EOIs for our program for new business ideas, the Ideas Program.
Get in touch at claire@farmers2founders.com or book an office hours session to learn more about the F2F programs.