GROW is an agrifoodtech ecosystem catalyst based in Singapore. It runs the GROW Impact Accelerator in partnership with AFN’s parent company, AgFunder. AFN is GROW’s official media partner.
GROW has introduced its latest effort to help global scale-ups expand into Asia with the official unveiling of its Land x Launch platform.
The platform is designed to help innovative agrifood ventures “land” in Singapore, an emerging hub for agrifood innovation, and “launch” into Asia. It offers a range of support and assistance to help these companies navigate local complexities and engage with the right stakeholders. Having delivered bespoke Land x Launch programs for UK and Australian companies in 2021, GROW is now opening the platform to global scale-ups from across the agrifood value chain.
Mondelēz International and Thai Wah, through Thai Wah Ventures, are among the initial corporate partners joining Land x Launch. With their support, GROW is inviting applications from late-stage ventures with proven product-market fit and early signs of proven revenue channels.
Meet the plant-based pioneers in GROW’s last Impact cohort: ANINA, Green Rebel & Rainfed – read more here
Ho Ren Hua, Group CEO at Thai Wah and Chairman at Thai Wah Ventures, said: “We believe that what we do in the next three years will define the next decade. Innovation starts at ground zero and we call upon creators and trailblazers to join us as the catalyst to drive Southeast Asia’s net-zero journey through agri-bio-tech transformation.”
Applications are open to startups across the agrifood value chain. GROW is particularly interested in receiving applications from companies working in the following areas, among others:
- Alt-protein
- Ground cash crops
- Ingredients tech
- Innovative pet food products
Among successful applicants, those with solutions in the following specific areas will be matched with Mondelēz and Thai Wah:
- Deep tech solutions specific to plant-based agriculture and production of ground cash crops such as mungbean, tapioca, sweet potato, and hemp – for example:
- Farm and agriculture innovations
- B2B supply chain and analytics tech
- Bioplastics and waste upcycling
- Novel ingredients and unique processing technology
- Ingredients innovation, for example:
- Highly available, cost-effective alternatives to lauric oils
- Label-friendly bulking agents
- Cost-effective structured lipids with improved functionality and environmental footprint
Matched applicants in these specific areas will have Mondelēz or Thai Wah as a corporate partner to help them expand regionally. Benefits may include opportunities for commercial trials with funding support, scaling-up of production, and leveraging the corporate partner’s ecosystem and expertise to accelerate go-to-market strategies.
Situn Misra, Open Innovation Lead, AMEA at Mondelēz International, said: “At Mondelēz International, we’re obsessed with understanding consumer needs and delivering snacks with consistent quality and taste. With consumers always top of mind, we focus our time and attention on understanding how they live, shop, and, of course – snack! We believe in the power of collaborative innovation and are excited by the opportunity to partner with GROW on GROW Land x Launch and work with global inventors and innovators.”
On offer is a five-month “pay-to-play” program that helps entrepreneurs establish market presence from a gateway hub and de-risk their expansion plans. Program support will help founders prioritise key markets, deploy their go-to-market strategies, form partnerships across their value chains, and open commercial opportunities.
