evokeAG, a startup showcase for the agricultural industry, will give agtech startups a rare opportunity to showcase their ideas to an international audience, build their customer base and help solve pressing global agricultural challenges.

George Peppou, a member of the program’s steering committee and founder and CEO of VOW, whose purpose is to “create nutritious and delicious food without consuming further resources”, says startups will need to be innovative to capture attention at the big event.

“We will be looking for products that solve big problems in the agrifood sector to produce food or fibre far better than current best practices or anything else on the market,” he says.

“Big ambitions and focusing on global problems is also a huge draw card for the selection panel.”

AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey describes the event as a “melting pot” of everyone needed to deliver true agriculture innovation for the immediate and long-term future.

“This year we had 1,100 delegates at our event representing a cross-section of industries. Corporates, investors, government and other key stakeholders from all over the world – it’s a melting pot for budding businesses,” he says.

“The 2020 event will showcase startups, both domestic and international within the agrifood tech ecosystem.

“This showcase will complement the wider event program and has a renewed focus on exposing startups to an international audience. This is an opportunity to network, build relationships and take your business to the next level.”

Part of the event will be domestic and international showcases, in which Australian startups can pitch their ideas to international audiences and vice versa.

There will also be a ‘startup alley’, with place for 40 businesses to exhibit, as well as an investor pitch on the eve of the event.

Dan Winson, founder of Agrinet, Matthew Jones, CEO of CertusBio and Darryl Lyons, co-founder of escaVOX, all took part in the 2019 event and say it was a huge boost for their businesses.

“After the two days, I had 50 leads and I had lost my voice from talking to so many of the delegates,” Winson says. “The event has accelerated my startups’ progress.”

Applications for evokeAG, taking place on February 18th and 19th next year, have just opened, and close on September 13th.

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