Mandalay partners with Hatcher+ to drive agrifood innovation

Australian agrifood tech investment firm Mandalay Venture Partners has entered into a partnership with Singapore-based venture capital firm Hatcher+ to drive innovation in the agriculture and food industries. The collaboration aims to identify and support startups that are developing technologies to enhance the processes of food production, distribution, and consumption.

By leveraging Hatcher+'s AI-powered investment platform alongside Mandalay's extensive knowledge and connections within the agrifood sector, the partnership is poised to accelerate the growth of promising startups. This initiative encompasses a broad range of focal areas, including on-farm technologies, farm gate solutions, supply chain innovations, and point-of-sale advancements.

The first joint investment under this collaboration is in Cropify, an Australian company specialising in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy and efficiency of grain grading. Cropify's technology allows growers, grain bulk handlers, and marketers to grade pulse samples with objective and repeatable precision, which boosts efficiency across the entire category. The company’s system also promotes sustainability by reducing CO2 emissions and plastic usage, delivering substantial financial savings to the sector.

The partnership between Hatcher+ and Mandalay Venture Partners is regarded as a significant stride towards addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change, and resource scarcity. By fostering innovation and excellence within the agrifood sector, both firms aim to create transformative changes that will benefit communities worldwide.

Mark Gustowski, Managing Partner at Mandalay Venture Partners, noted, "Our mission at Mandalay Venture Partners is to sustainably feed the world's growing population by supporting the most promising agrifood tech startups. Partnering with Hatcher+ allows us to leverage their AI-driven platform to ensure we’re backing the best innovators with the potential to transform the global food system. We are committed to providing these startups with the global capital, expertise, and networks they need to succeed, and this partnership amplifies our ability to do so."

Additionally, John Sharp, Managing Partner at Hatcher+, remarked, "This partnership with Mandalay aligns perfectly with our vision of using advanced technology to drive impactful investments. By integrating our FAAST platform with Mandalay’s sector-specific expertise, we can offer unparalleled support to startups, ensuring they have the resources, knowledge, and network to succeed. We aim to create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system. Our goal is to transform groundbreaking ideas into thriving businesses that can significantly impact the environment and society as a whole."

The firms are actively seeking opportunities to invest in startups across the agrifood tech spectrum. Cropify is expected to be the first of many investments aimed at revolutionising the industry and contributing to a more sustainable and effective global food system.