​Ripple Hosts

​Harry Briggs

​Astanor

​Anna Ottosson

​Mudcake

​TL;DR

​The coming decade holds extraordinary opportunities for powerful, general-purpose technologies — from AI and synthetic biology to robotics — to find focused and meaningful real-world applications in food and agriculture. This Ripple will be an open discussion on the technology leaps, macro economic trends and industry specific problems that could shape the next generation of founders focused on the food and ag industries.

​Topic overview

​Why is the topic relevant?

​We’re at a pivotal moment where general-purpose technologies like AI, robotics, and biotech are finally mature enough - and cheap enough - to create real-world impact beyond labs and pilot projects. Food and agriculture — sectors critical to both human survival and planetary health — urgently need transformative solutions to address climate change, supply chain vulnerabilities, and nutritional challenges. But because of their vast scale, spread and variability, they are also ideally placed to benefit from the explosion in robotics, and the application of AI to vast datasets.By focusing on how these powerful technologies can be tailored to practical, scalable applications, we open up VC backable opportunities for founders to build resilient, sustainable, and profitable ventures that shape the future of how we grow, distribute, and consume food.

​What’s up for discussion?

• ​Which are the big technology leaps across robotics, sensors, AI, biotech, “climate tech” and more driving the next frontier of startups reshaping the food- and ag industries?

• ​What are the most meaningful problems as well as the biggest commercial opportunities related to food and agriculture where the next generation of founders should spend their time and energy?

• ​Which of these are poised for prime-time now, and which are still several years away? And how quickly can AI accelerate development, deployment and roll-out?

• ​What can founders in this sector learn from generalist VC type startups? And what aspects should they carefully tailor to suit the specific needs and dynamics of food and agriculture?

• ​What belongs in the (small!) intersection of VC backable startups and the food- and ag sector?

​Dream outcome

​The participants leaving with optimism and new inspiration related to the potential of ambitious and smart founders to reshape the food- and ag industries, and to contribute to a healthier planet and humanity in the making.

​Who should attend?

​Anyone interested in discussing how new technology and early stage startups can reshape the food and agricultural industries during the next decade.