Tuesday 20 September, 2022
Agri-EPI Centre has launched Agritech Investment Advisory Ltd (“AIA”), a new advisory service to bridge the gap between investors and innovative agri-food start-ups.
AIA combines deep expertise in capital raising transactions with the sector expertise, asset base and network of its parent, Agri-EPI Centre.
AIA aims to serve both start-ups seeking funding and investors looking for attractive opportunities in the sector. For start-ups, AIA offers capital raising and strategic advice, and focuses on early stage (predominantly Seed & Series A) agri-food businesses based in the UK, or with significant UK presence. For investors, AIA offers both deal sourcing and due diligence support, and seeks to support a combination of venture capital firms, family offices and high net worth individuals.
John Grealish, Head of Advisory at AIA, said:
“It’s widely acknowledged that global food production systems need to change fundamentally if they’re to feed a growing population whilst also supporting efforts to avert cataclysmic climate change. This ‘fourth agricultural revolution’ will be driven by the development and adoption of new technology, and many of the critical innovations will come from start-ups. This creates a unique opportunity for investors to back the businesses that will shape the future of our agri-food systems.
“We saw an opportunity to contribute to this critical transition by creating a new specialist capital-raising advisory service, leveraging Agri-EPI Centre’s deep sector expertise and network. We’re phenomenally excited at the prospect of supporting innovative early stage businesses and founders, as well as the investors whose backing will help them grow into the leaders of the future of food.”
Dave Ross, CEO Agri-EPI Centre said:
“In recent years Agri EPI-Centre has had many contacts from investment houses looking to invest in the agri-tech sector as well as from SMEs struggling to find the financial stability they need to grow. Our response has been to create a business model to accommodate this lack in the market and the result is AIA.
“Agri-EPI Centre has a successful track-record of bringing innovative theory to practice via our in-house technical expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and strong network of industry contacts.”
Agri-tech Investment Advisory Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Sapia Partners LLP, an entity which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
NOTES TO EDITORS
AIA services include:
For early stage (predominantly Seed & Series A) agri-food businesses that are based in the UK, or have/are building significant UK presence. AIA provides capital-raising and strategic advice, including: a review of business plans and financial models; access to specific technical market expertise; advice on capital-raising strategy; and development of pitch materials.
For investors (VCs, family offices, HNWIs) that are seeking investment opportunities in the markets AIA serve, i.e. early stage agri-food businesses primarily in the UK, AIA can share targeted opportunities based on a detailed understanding of investors’ specific areas of interest, as well as provide technical and commercial due diligence support, drawing on the deep expertise of its in-house team and sector network.
About Agri-EPI Centre
Agri-EPI Centre was established as part of the UK Government’s 2013 agricultural technologies strategy. The company supports and delivers research, development, demonstration and training in precision agriculture and engineering to maximise the agri-tech sector’s contribution to sustainable food production and supply. Agri-EPI Centre’svision is to support the development and growth of innovative with scientifically robust and commercially viable solutions to help farmers and agri-food businesses become more sustainable and profitable. Agri-EPI Centre is funded by Innovate UK.
About John Grealish
AIA senior investment advisor John Grealish’s 18-year career in venture capital and private equity includes direct investment and advisory work; he has advised on over 100 transactions. Prior to Agri-EPI Centre/AIA, John held leadership roles in the private equity practices of Bain and McKinsey as well as investment roles with several PE/VC funds. John holds a BA in History from the University of Oxford.
