The Agripreneurs Marketplace of the 3rd Future Agro Challenge was held on 14-15 March 2017 at the Sandton Convention Center during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Johannesburg, South Africa. The GEC showcased a diverse mix of South African and international organizations and programs that help strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. SWFF partnered with the Future Agro Challenge (FAC) for the Global Agripreneurs Summit 2017.
Marketplace Hosts World-Class Innovators
The Agripreneurs Marketplace hosted 50 world-class SWFF and FAC innovators in food, agritech and agriculture that are ground-breaking agro-initiatives addressing national, regional and global challenges across the food supply chain. These innovators provide bottom-up approaches to identify new and sustainable solutions to these agro challenges. Innovators showcased their innovations with their stands, banners, pamphlets, product samples and videos to the estimated 8,000+ GEC visitors throughout the 2-day event.
The Agripreneurs Marketplace hosted 50 world-class innovators in food, agritech and agriculture
Conversations with investors, mentors and peers revolved around how to leverage social media platforms to grow their venture, how to sharpen their business marketing to successfully scale their company, potential for future collaboration, and much more. With the backdrop theme of digital disruption of the GEC, they also discussed how technological advances are morphing their own industries and questioned how the innovative new programs and policies around the world are supporting these changes they are experiencing.
SWFF Interfaces with Start-ups, Industry Leaders, and Potential Clients
SWFF innovators met like-minded start-ups, industry leaders, and potential clients at the marketplace. They had discussions around business models and strategies with mentors, as well as participated in meetings with the SWFF Technical Assistance Facility and SWFF founding partners. They also had an opportunity to learn from others and pitch on designated Pitch Corners for entrepreneurs at the exhibition to share their startup’s story and for startup support programs to explain their resources.
SWFF innovators and award nominees at the marketplace included: Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies, aQysta, Aybar Engineering, Central University of Technology, Conservation South Africa, Deltares, FutureWater, Green Heat, Hydroponics Africa Ltd, ICU Jordan, ICU Peru, Ignitia, MetaMeta/Salt Farm Texel, My Rain, Practical Action Bangladesh, Project Alba, Reel Gardening, Si Technologies, SkyFox, University of Malawi, WASTE, Water Governance Institute, and World Hope.
