Helping Australian businesses access growing ASEAN markets
An exclusive program developed by leading agrifood innovation systems design firm Food Futures Company in partnership with global agrifood tech impact accelerator GROW to help Australian scale-up ventures capture the opportunity in Asia by landing and launching in Singapore.
The ASEAN region is emerging as a major hub for agrifood and aquaculture innovation and there are significant opportunities for Australian entrepreneurs to be successful exporters of advanced agrifood tech and innovative food solutions. However, due to issues of fragmentation and complexity combined with the impact of COVID, Australian businesses are looking for support to gain traction and scale.
The GROW2Asia program has been designed to provide targeted and bespoke support for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business in Asia by first validating their fit for the market and secondly co-developing a roadmap to establish their in-market presence.
Open your business to Asia
MEET THE COHORT
Learn all about the teams taking part in the
2020 ideas to business program
Program Overview
This world-class program will provide access to Food Futures and GROW’S extensive network of mentors and experts; research partners; and corporate customers both locally and across the globe. The program is divided into 4 Phases to allow ventures to assess their readiness and then manage their global expansion. The program kicks off on the 18th of October 2021 and ends in mid-April 2022.
Phase 1
2 WEEKS
Why Asia?
Why Singapore?
Phase 2
6 WEEKS
Goal Setting &
Testing Opportunity
A series of virtual workshops to elaborate on the benefits and opportunities of trading in the region using Singapore as a gateway. Participants will be provided with tools to assess their readiness to launch into the region.
Masterclasses, interactive workshops, on-line resources and one-on-one coaching focused on building roadmaps for product development & adaptation to Asian market; in-market customer validation; legal and regulatory requirements to establish a business in the region.
Phase 3
10 WEEKS
Scaling in Asia and
Securing Opportunity
One-on-one coaching, mentoring and expert sessions focused on: go-to-market strategy; value chain optimisation; customer acquisition; local partnerships; and raising capital. Includes introductions to investors, and service providers; participation in pitch events.
Phase 4
10 WEEKS
Launching
into Asia
Individual, tailored support to build a local team and establish business structures. It is anticipated that this phase will include in-person visits by the founders. However, if this is not possible, the Food Futures-GROW team can provide appropriate in-country support.
By 2050 the population of Asia will be 5 billion, accounting for 60% of global consumption
Unlocking Asia
Asia represents one of the fastest growing markets in the world, with 66% of the global middle class expected to reside in the region and a population expected to reach 5 billion in 2050 that will account for 60% of global consumption. To meet this demand, governments across the region are aggressively pursuing strategies to ensure greater food security and this includes actively encouraging agrifood tech and innovative food entrepreneurs to help grow the local ecosystem by establishing themselves in the region.
Who Should Apply?
The GROW2Asia program will officially kick-off on the 18th of October 2021 and is a 6-month program finishing in mid-April 2022. We welcome applications from agrifood tech and innovative food and beverage businesses involved in (but not limited to) the following areas:
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Plant-based foods
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Alternative proteins
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Functional ingredients
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Health & wellness products & services (eg personalised nutrition; bioceuticals)
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Food traceability and provenance
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Food waste
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Sustainable food production systems
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Controlled environment agriculture
We also encourage entrepreneurs in the Australian Native Ag+Food sector to apply.
We will be hosting information sessions throughout the recruitment period. Register your interest to join an information session today.
Application Key Dates
12 July 2021
22 Aug 2021
23 Aug-17 Sep 2021
17 Sep-24 Sep 2021
18 Oct 2021
Applications Open
Applications Close
Selection Process
Letters of Offer
Program Launch
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS