Agri-food tech accelerator SparkLabs Cultiv8 has opened applications for its sixth accelerator program, consisting of 10 companies ranging from early-stage founders to growth and commercialisation companies.
SparkLabs Cultiv8 has supported 50 companies since 2017, with more than 85 per cent of its accelerator start ups still growing today, with a combined value of more than $1.7 billion and subsequent raisings of over $600 million.
Having successfully run the first cleantech program this year, SparkLabs Cultiv8 will focus again on cleantech agri-food companies in 2024.
Co-founder Malcolm Nutt said the momentum for the sector was increasing rapidly, not just in Australia, but globally.
“There are strong tailwinds behind cleantech in agrifood.
“Regulation around carbon; increasing corporate participation, and increasing urgency around climate change, are driving this sector and those factors are only going to intensify,” said Nutt
Packamama founder and CEO, Santiago Navarro, said the program had turbocharged Packamama’s Australian launch, which has seen its flat, eco-friendly recycled wine bottles taken up by iconic Australian brands including Accolade Wines, Banrock Station and Taylors, and sold in more than 600 stores including Liquorland and First Choice.
“You get access to an unbeatable ecosystem for Australia, and you’ll be part of a wider ecosystem internationally – the SparkLabs brand is globally respected from the Valley into Asia and Australia,” said Navarro.
The GATE, located at the NSW DPI Orange Agricultural Institute, is home to the accelerator program’s Week Zero and Showcase finale, where companies participating can access a global network of mentors and experts as well as local customers, from farmers to supply chain participants to consumer outlets.
Companies from anywhere in the world can apply to join the program here.
