Applications now open for Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme 2022

Supporting and building the AgriFoodTech investment community in the UK has been a priority for the Innovate UK KTN’s AgriFood team over recent years. This is because private investment is often essential to help fast track innovative projects, in its own right or in tandem with funding from organisations like Innovate UK.

The scope of the Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme includes:

• AgriTech (defined as the use of technology for farming that is developed to improve efficiency and profitability. While most commonly used in horticulture and agriculture, AgriTech is also found in forestry, aquaculture and viticulture.)
• Sustainable protein
• Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
• Low emission food production systems

The Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme is funded by Innovate UK and delivered by Innovate UK KTN.

About the Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme

Successful applicants of the Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme will receive online and in-person investment pitch training and mentorship from Innovate UK KTN.

The aim of the Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme is to prepare SMEs to successfully and succinctly communicate their investment opportunity to investors, and improve their chances of securing private funding for their innovation.

After the Investment Readiness training is complete, all participants will present their final pitch to an internal Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN selection panel. Only some (up to 14) participants from the training cohort will then be selected to present their investment pitch to a pool of private sector-relevant investors in the ‘Sustainable Food Investment Showcase Event’.

All training will take place at the Innovate UK KTN London office unless otherwise stated. Please note the programme timeline for the investment pitch training, mentorship and showcase event before you apply (see below).

Over 70% of the companies who provided feedback on previous year’s programme indicated that it significantly raised their profile and investor readiness.

A short video on the 2019 programme can be found here.

About the Investment Showcase Event

Innovate UK KTN’s Sustainable Food Investment Showcase Event, will take place on 1 day in the week commencing the 20th February 2023 in person at the Innovate UK KTN London Office.

The Sustainable Food Investment Showcase Event will enable up to 14 companies, selected from the Sustainable Food Investment Readiness Programme cohort, to present their investment opportunity to an audience of investors who are particularly interested in investing in AgriFoodTech innovation.

We will be working with a selected pool of investors who have demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity, and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses to align with our objectives in this challenge.

In addition, networking with the investors at the event will provide you with access to commercial acumen like leadership, market understanding, skills and resources.

Investment Readiness Programme Timeline

This programme will develop your skills and confidence in presenting your proposition to an established pool of AgriFoodTech investors. Training will take place between November 2022 and January 2023 in person and online and a certain level of attendance will be required (mandatory items are indicated with *).

All training will take place at the Innovate UK KTN London office unless otherwise stated. All events are expected to be full days, from 9:00 – 17:00 or less, lunch & refreshments included. Key programme training dates are:

In-person training dates (all mandatory as part of the programme):

• 18 November 2022* In-person Training Part 1 – Pitch expectations and Storytelling
• 6 December 2022* In-person Training Part 2 – Pitch Training
• 10-11 January 2023* In-person Training Part 3 – Pitch Filming & Critique
• 2 February 2023* – Pitch Selection Day with Selection Panel
• 1 day in week commencing 20 February 2023* (TBC) – Investment Showcase Day

Online training dates:

• 14 November 2022 – 31 January 2023
  Online mentorship from member of the Innovate UK KTN AgriFood Team as needed
• November 2022 – December 2022

Weekly ‘lunch and learn’ online sessions to compliment in-person training.

How to Apply

Complete the application form by 12:00 (midday) on Wednesday 2nd November. It will take you between 30 and 45 minutes.

Please contact Simon Baty or Jo Gosling for further details.

This opportunity is open to all companies seeking private investment, including those who have presented in only one of our previous showcase events. Terms and Conditions will need to be accepted before participation in the programme, if selected, and are available on request.