AgTech 11

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

On May 15 we will host our 11th annual AgTech Workshop at Bonny Doon, and I expect it will be the best yet! 

This year we are splitting out the Ag and Food Tech Workshops into two separate back to back day-long events. You can choose to attend one or both, with a big discount if you come to both.

As you will see, we are organizing a stellar set of startups and speakers for both days -- top startups and 4 discussion panels each day.  Here is a link to the FoodTech Workshop website on May 16, and you will see that we are organizing a set of related and equally compelling sessions on that second day. 

We have lined up a stellar group 11 of AgTech Startup pitches for your viewing pleasure, listed above.

Here is the Discussion Panel agenda. You will see we just added a new panel on AI in AgTech.  

Focusing on Soil Health

Josh Hofheimer, Sidley (moderator)

Brian Dawson, Biome Capital Partners

Vonnie Estes, IFPA 

Chris Tolles, Yard Stick PBC

Digitizing the Supply Chain for Ag and Food

Rob Trice, Mixing Bowl (moderator)

George Easley, Outsiders Fund

Jake Joraanstad, Bushel

Ian Wheal, Breedr

Fireside Chat: Level Set on the Basics of LLM Models for Enterprises

 Howard Chao, Doon Insights (interviewer)

Michael Bommarito, 273 Ventures

AI in AgTech

Sachi Desai, Bayer

Andre Moreira, LyfX.ai

Rhishi Pethe, Metal Dog Labs

Brad Zamft, Google X

Financing the Scaling of Ag/FoodTech (CEA, Fermentation Plants, etc)

David Chen, Equilibrium Capital (moderator)

Adam Bergman, EcoTech Capital

Connie Bowen, Farmhand Ventures

Jake Gonzales, Ajinomoto

SOMM Session

In addition, this year we're adding a "Something On My Mind" (SOMM) Mini-Session to be led by my old friend Ron Meeusen on:

Will Today's Bioethanol Industry Produce Tomorrow's Renewable Chemicals, Or Will the Grain Belt Follow the Rust Belt?

As usual in Bonny Doon, the day will be very convivial and social. The venue is my mountain retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a compound in the beautiful redwood forest. After lunch we will do our traditional walk around the pond and gardens. At the end of the day we will enjoy a fine wine/beer reception, live music, and a hearty dinner together. Plus, we will hold our traditional "best socks" contest where the winners will be awarded .... new socks!

We still have a few seats left -- register at the link below.  

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Bonny Doon!

Regards,

Howard Chao

Doon Insights

** Atomo Coffee is a FoodTech Startup that is unable to attend/present on May 16th. They will be presenting at the end of the day on May 15th. If you are not registered for May 15th, but you don't want to miss Atomo Coffee, you are welcome to join us around 5 pm PT for their presentation. 

The View from the Pond at Bonny Doon