The future is female: Agtech program for Victorian women

Do you have an idea for the future of agtech? A new accelerator program is focused on funding and supporting women in business.

The future of Australia’s agtech industry could be revolutionised, if only more women’s ideas were funded by investors.

That’s the aim of a new accelerator program TekWomen, run by Farmers2Founders, which will focus on directing funds and support to women-led programs and ideas in the agtech space.

Farmers2Founders co-founder Skye Raward said women were highly-suited to creating solutions in the ag industry, but often accounted for only a small percentage of those who received funding and investment.

“We know that women are under-represented both in technology and farming, which are male-dominated industries in themselves,” Ms Raward said.

“We’re really supporting women to enter the space and help them get the attention that they deserve.”

Co-founders Dr Christine Pitt and Skye Raward are two inspired women on a mission to change the face of agtech.

Data provided by Farmers2Founders showed agrifood tech companies with growth rates exceeding 200 per cent were 75 per cent more likely to have been founded by a woman – but female-founded start-ups received just 17 per cent of investment dollars.

TekWomen Victoria, which launches in February 2024, will focus on identifying women, or at least 50 per cent female-led teams, with innovative solutions in agtech, to support them from conception through to business growth.

Invitations are open to Victorian-based women, spanning all sectors of agriculture including dairy, horticulture, wine, livestock, and grains.

“We work with entrepreneurs at different stages, and we’ve got a number of women that have successfully launched a business. There’s a woman in Victoria who came to us with an idea to change the way young people are recruited into the industry, and the social concept around that,” Ms Raward said.

“Another one is Samantha, she came to us with an idea to convert a waste stream and actually use it as a gardening fertiliser.”

Applications close February 4 2024.

For more information visit farmers2founders.com/tekwomen-vic