Radicle Growth, a company-building platform for early-stage ag and food technologies, recently partnered with Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services, to launch “The Radicle Inclusion Challenge Presented by Nutrien” to invest US$500k in early-stage companies that are committed to driving goals of diversity and inclusion, while also advancing a sustainable food value chain.
The Challenge provides a platform for AgTech entrepreneurs from around the world who are committed to supporting Women and Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) internally and through their business. The Challenge aims to provide assistance to these historically underrepresented groups in agriculture when attaining venture capital and access to resources that could help them bring their technologies to market.
Two winners will be awarded a US$250,000 investment each and will gain access to Radicle’s company-building platform that will be used to accelerate their growth.
Register now for the early application.
Candace Laing, Nutrien Vice President, Sustainability & Stakeholder Relations, said, “As an industry leader, Nutrien is committed to using its global network to help increase participation of historically underrepresented groups in agriculture. We’re excited to learn more about the fantastic and innovative organizations this grassroots challenge will seek to uncover. We also intend for this effort to shed light on the many organizations led by women and BIPOC entrepreneurs who are needed now more than ever to help transform agriculture.”
Kirk Haney, Managing Partner, Radicle Growth, said: “At Radicle, we recognize talent no matter what it looks like. As a result, 50% of our Fund I portfolio CEOs are women. This Challenge is for any entrepreneur embracing the value of inclusion to help build a successful company. We’re thrilled to partner with Nutrien, a company that is committed to innovating and improving to create long-term value with measurable impacts and outcomes.”
Investment decisions will be made at a “Pitch Day” during the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa in October of 2022. A judging panel of industry experts, soon to be announced, will hear from 4-6 finalists who will be chosen from the global applicant pool. In addition to the funding, the winners will also benefit from exposure to senior executives at Radicle Growth and Nutrien, to help accelerate their roadmaps towards success.
