SVG Ventures|THRIVE, a global Agrifood Venture and Innovation Platform based in Silicon Valley, has signed a three-year strategic partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
The partnership acknowledges FCC as a Founding Partner of “THRIVE Canada” and signifies SVG’s continued commitment to advancing the future of the global food and agriculture industries.
“We are delighted to partner with Farm Credit Canada to expand our THRIVE Innovation & Investment Platform. This partnership exemplifies our focus on global entrepreneurs and continued commitment to solving the critical challenges facing the global Agrifood sector,” says John Hartnett, CEO and founder, SVG Ventures.
The development of this partnership will catalyze the Canadian Agrifood ecosystem, accelerate Canada’s AgTech and FoodTech innovations and solve some of the critical challenges facing the agriculture industry and food supply chain.
THRIVE Canada is part of SVG Ventures long-term strategic plan to create a bridge with Silicon Valley investors, startups, and corporate partners to bolster innovation and development in Canada’s AgTech sector. Crunchbase recently recognized SVG Ventures|THRIVE as the most active Agtech investor in the world with over 40 investments to date in the sector.
SVG’s existing global partners include media partner Forbes and leading agriculture and technology corporations such as Corteva, Driscoll berries, Kubota, Land O”Lakes, Trimble, Taylor Farms, Valmont, Yamaha Motor Ventures & Wilbur Ellis who’s focus is on finding solutions and potential investment opportunities.
SVG Ventures has Invested in five Canadian startups through its partnership with the Canadian Global Affairs Technology Accelerator and recently announced a partnership with Olds College & University of Guelph. Three Canadian start ups Milk Moovement, Spornado and StreamML are part of the current THRIVE VI 2020 program and they will pitch live at the THRIVE/Forbes demo day on September 24.
To launch this strategic partnership, SVG Ventures announced that they will host the inaugural THRIVE Canada Challenge, a pitch event for AgTech & FoodTech startups. The winning Canadian startups will advance to the finals of the award winning THRIVE Accelerator Program in Silicon Valley & have a chance to compete for a coveted spot in the THRIVE VII Accelerator Cohort which kicks off in March 2021.
“This exciting partnership gives us another important avenue for investment into Canada’s agriculture tech sector.” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Our government continues to advance the cutting-edge innovations within the agriculture and food systems, because it helps to create jobs and strengthen food security for all Canadians.”
“SVG Ventures is a global leader in supporting ag tech companies and our partnership in THRIVE Canada will provide Canadian companies with additional access to mentorship, business knowledge and industry connections, as well as a global network necessary for developing new and growing companies,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. “This will undoubtedly be an exciting addition to the Canadian innovation landscape for agriculture and food.”
About SVG Ventures|THRIVE
SVG Ventures|THRIVE is the leading global AgriFood investment and innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, and comprised of top agriculture, food & technology corporations, universities, and investors.
With a community of over 5,000 startups from 100 countries, the THRIVE platform invests, accelerates and creates unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries.
