University College Dublin Launches Inside AgTech Webinar Series with SVG Ventures | THRIVE Founder as Inaugural Guest Speaker
AgTechUCD, University College Dublin’s (UCD) AgTech Innovation Centre, today announced the launch of 'Inside AgTech' a new monthly webinar series focused on the latest trends in the AgTech, FoodTech and Bioeconomy sectors.
AgTechUCD also announced John Hartnett, the founder and CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE, as the guest speaker in the inaugural webinar entitled, 'Agri-Food underground trends and tips for start-ups', which will be held on 3 June.
John Hartnett is also the founder of the leading global Forbes AgTech Summit, a joint venture he created with Forbes Media, and he has partnered with the USDA on the National Innovation Imperative working with the US Secretary of Agriculture.
AgTechUCD, based at UCD Lyons Farm and part of NovaUCD, is focused on accelerating the launch and scaling of AgTech and FoodTech start-ups. AgTechUCD supports such start-ups as they build their innovative businesses into leading enterprises, by providing a 12-week pre-acceleration programme, access to venture capital and business angels networks, mentoring, incubation space and access to on-farm testing for new products and services at UCD Lyons Farm.
SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a leading global Agrifood investment and innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, and comprises of top agriculture, food and technology corporations, universities, and investors. With a community of over 5,000 start-ups from 100 countries, the THRIVE platform invests, accelerates, and creates unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries.
Antoine Pajot, Director, AgTechUCD said, “Our main goal is to support new ventures in the AgTech and FoodTech sectors on their start-up journeys. At UCD such start-ups will find in one location the much-needed services and supports to be successful, from on-farm testing facilities to access to experienced mentors and investors. We will also introduce Ag and Food professionals to new ways of thinking or breakthrough technologies by featuring interviews with experts and thought leaders on the latest trends and current topics of interest in our new Inside AgTech webinar series.”
He added, “In addition, AgTechUCD's ambition is to be a natural transatlantic bridge between the EU and the US and we are delighted to be organising our first Inside AgTech webinar with our US partner THRIVE and we look forward to hearing John Hartnett’s insights on agri-food ‘underground’ trends.”
SVG Ventures | THRIVE, recently announced the launch of the THRIVE Europe Challenge programme aimed at innovative Agri-Food tech start-ups across the continent who are solving some of the critical challenges facing the global agriculture industry. AgTechUCD is a partner in this programme and is helping to drive awareness among the Irish and European AgTech community.
“Our partnership with AgTechUCD for our THRIVE Europe Challenge signifies our continued commitment to elevating the next-generation of entrepreneurs with the resources, expertise, and support to address the critical challenges facing the global Agri-food sector,” said John Hartnett, CEO and Founder, SVG Ventures|THRIVE.
“We look forward to expanding our reach within the European ecosystem and I am honoured to be the inaugural guest speaker at the Inside AgTech webinar series.”
The inaugural Inside AgTech webinar entitled ‘Agri-food underground trends and tips for start-ups' takes place at 4 pm on 3 June and registration is open via: https://insideagtechwebinar-johnhartnett.eventbrite.ie.
ENDS
13 May 2021
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712.
Editors Notes
SVG Ventures | THRIVE existing global partners include Media Partner Forbes and leading government, agriculture, and technology corporations such as Corteva, Driscoll’s, FCC, Kubota, Land O’Lakes, Trimble, Taylor Farms, Valmont, Yamaha Motor Ventures and Wilbur-Ellis. Crunchbase recognises SVG Ventures as the most active AgTech investor in the world with a portfolio count of 40 investments in the space. https://thriveagrifood.com
The goal of the AgTechUCD is to bring together the Ag & FoodTech ecosystem in Ireland to accelerate the launch and scaling of Ag & FoodTech companies. AgTechUCD, led by NovaUCD, and funded through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, is a collaboration with AIB, Kildare County Council, and Kildare LEO; agri-companies including, Devenish, Dairymaster, and Glanbia; investors Finistere, The Yield Lab, and Atlantic Bridge, and leading AgTech researchers and innovators at UCD, in Ireland and internationally. @AgTechUCD