Supporting the AgriFood community in the UK when it comes to securing private investment is a priority for the Innovate UK Business Connect AgriFood team. 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.
Details
Our AgriFood Investment Readiness Programme supports UK SMEs who want to secure private investment to boost their AgriFood innovation.
The programme includes:
- In-person and online investment pitch training
- Mentorship from the Innovate UK Business Connect AgriFood team
- An opportunity to pitch to selected investors.
The AgriFood Investment Readiness Programme is funded by Innovate UK and delivered by Innovate UK Business Connect.
The AgriFood Investment Showcase
After a number of training activities over the course of a few weeks, the cohort goes through a ‘Pitch Selection Day’ where a panel of investment experts decide which companies are ready to pitch to investors at our Investment Showcase Event.
The Investment Showcase is the final step in the Programme – an important opportunity for SMEs to gain investor interest and start building investor relationships. The event also benefits investors as they are presented with a curated and well-prepared pool of investment pitches from companies who understand investor needs and the investment environment. Those invited are selected from Innovate UK Business Connect’s community of over 100 investors who have demonstrated the credibility, capability, capacity, and appetite to invest in innovative, technology led AgriFood businesses.
In addition to pitching their investment proposition to a curated audience, networking with the investors at the showcase provides participants access to commercial acumen like leadership, market understanding, skills and resources.
