How will NAFI Operate?

NAFI will draw on its existing innovation-ecosystem stakeholders including; corporations, universities, research institutes, Research & Development Corporations, and its entrepreneur- and SME-networks, (including unincorporated commercial opportunities) along with established early-stage companies, to create a pipeline of potential participant companies.

Each company will be invited to make an application to participate in one of the two intakes NAFI will run over the year (in March and August).

Applicants whose application satisfies NAFI core criteria will be invited to pitch to the NAFI Mentor Panel where you will be matched with a mentor to assist you move through the 10-week process.

Core to your company’s journey will be your participation (either virtually or optionally, face to face) in four workshops presented over 8 weeks on the following topics:

• Week 3: Articulating Your Business,

• Week 6: Sources of Funding

• Week 9: Making intellectual property (IP) work for your business

• Week 12: Understanding early-stage investing

• Week 15: Pitching for Investment

At the intervening weeks companies will either submit work online or come together to present material on what you gleaned from the previous workshop to the NAFI management team and a selection of seasoned Ag- & Food tech professionals and to receive their feedback.

Thus the program for your presentations / feedback will be:

• Week 5: Your company’s business model canvas

• Week 8: Your target sources of funding

• Week 11: How your company is creating, protecting, and commercialising its IP

• Week 14: For an equity investment what is your company’s preferred deal structure and how will you deal with counter offers?

• Week 18: Your company’s investment Pitch

Ahead of week 18 NAFI will assemble a range of potential investors, and those companies wishing to do so, can formally pitch to those investors.