HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Our program pathway will teach you the fundamentals of starting, launching and scaling a grains focused agtech startup.
JourneyStarter (Online)
The first step in our program pathways is a self-paced online course that will help you to explore and refine your agrifood tech concept.
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Setting the scene of agriculture, tech and food
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What startup ideas do you have?
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Entrepreneurial mindset
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What makes a successful startup?
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How to start a startup?
Hatch (Online)
A 6 week program where your ideas are hatched and validated with real customers to determine problem-solution fit. Note all Hatch participants will have the opportunity to pitch for a place in the next stage, Hone.
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Understanding of startup best-practices
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Knowing the problem you are solving
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Finding customers who have the problem
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Validated idea with consumers and customers
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Finding problem-solution fit
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3 - 6 month growth plan
Hone (Hybrid)
A 10 week program where you will build and launch your MVP to test product-market fit and establish a viable business model.
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A viable business model and revenue streams
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Go-To-Market strategy
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Expert at pitching your business
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Expanded network of customers, partners and potential investors
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Opportunity to engage with interns to assist you
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6 - 12 months growth plan
Harvest (Hybrid)
A 4 month program designed to equip high potential agtech businesses with the capabilities needed to scale into national and international markets.
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Development of a customised growth plan
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1:1 expert business coaching
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Weekly interactive group sessions
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Expert masterclasses and office hours
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Connections to customers and channel partners
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Investment opportunities
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Extensive resources and tools
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Demo Day
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHEN
JourneyStarter - OPEN
Hatch #1 Program - 4th March - 22nd April 2024
Applications open: 8th January 2024
Applications close: 23rd February 2024
Hatch #2 Program - 22nd April-7th June 2024
Applications open: 26th February 2024
Applications close: 5th April 2024
Hone #1 Program - 8th July-16th September 2024
Harvest Accelerator Program
Applications Open - 4th September 2023
Applications Close - 25th February 2024
Selection- 26th February-27th March 2024
Program Launches - 8th April 2024
COST
FREE - no cost to you. This program has been funded by Grains Research and Development Corporation.
WHERE
A hybrid model of online sessions and in-person events.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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Matched with a business coach to be with you every step of your program journey; providing you with personalised business advice 1:1 throughout the program.
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Practical group sessions and expert masterclasses focused on helping you save time and money by teaching you the fundamentals of lean startup methodology
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Tools and resources to support the development of your startup.
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Networking opportunities at industry events, with industry program partners, Farmers2Founders network and fellow startup peers.
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY GRAINS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (GRDC)
WHO CAN APPLY?
This program is open to any person - or team - in Australia with a tech idea, concept or early stage startup that is looking to solve a problem in the grains industry.
You might be:
A producer/farmer
A student
A tech developer
An aspiring entrepreneur
An individual or team looking to work on a solution with producers
A researcher/research team with an idea ready for commercialisation
TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS COULD BE
There are many areas in the grains sector that could be made more efficient, sustainable and productive. Some tech applications could include:
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Decision making tools which provide crop yield predictions before planting
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Technologies which provide accurate in-field diagnostics of crop health, performance and threats
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Crop phenology decision-support tools during the growing season
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Weed management technologies to assist growers to move to less dependency on chemicals
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Technologies which measure and monitor in-field water use productivity for cereal/pulse crops
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Technologies which optimise the efficiency of nitrogen use in modern farming systems
SKILLS YOU WILL BUILD
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Agtech startup best practice
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How to test your idea with real end-users
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How to build a sustainable business model
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Financing your first venture and MVP
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Value chain design
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Marketing and social media for agribusiness
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How to build a go2market strategy
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Customer acquisition and sales
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Pitching your business
WHY APPLY?
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We are the largest venture creation platform in Australia in the agrifood tech sector
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You will have the opportunity to join our venture studio for ongoing support
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Access to real end users via our huge industry network
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Producer-centric and exclusively agrifood
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Strong industry support from 6 RDCs
