About the Program
Green Agri-Tech Startup Incubator 2021 is an effective way to develop new solutions for the Agroindustry with extensive application of the latest technology in a fast, simple, and convenient way, as well as attract talents to unleash their creativity.
The program is carried out in the framework of the EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The implementing partners of the project are the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia. The main counterpart of the project is the Ministry of Economy of Armenia (MoEc).
Objectives
- Give startups an opportunity to meet new people, get in touch with influencers from tech and agro fields, and gain new opportunities for partnership
- Provide incubation to up to 10 teams
- Attract potential investments through creating top-level startup event
- Create a social impact and foster the sustainable and green development of the Armenian Economy
- Develop a future pipeline for the ANAU Agri-tech incubator. The participating teams will get access to ANAU Smart-centre and other facilities
Organizers
Nation 2.0 NGO
A non-formal educational, entrepreneurship and professional development platform for the youth aimed to support its stakeholders and become a change agent on the national and local economic levels
ANAU
The only higher education institute in the agrarian sphere in Armenia. According to the RA Government decision made in 1994, the Armenian Agricultural Academy was formed on the basis of the Armenian Agricultural and Yerevan Zoo Veterinary Institute.
Who Can Apply
- Startup Incubator targets only science and technology-backed startups (pre-seed and seed stage)
- Teams with female founders and co-founders are encouraged to apply
- Teams and registered entities (CSO/NGO, LLC, LTD, etc.) only from Armenia are eligible to apply if they offer solutions to tackle the following challenges in the agricultural sector:
DATA-DRIVEN AGRICULTURE
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Automation of skills and workforce
- Data-driven farming
- Chatbots
- Drones
ONLINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS & E-COMMERCE
- Easy to use digital platforms for accounting and financial reporting
- Payment and optimization systems for agriculture services
- Land modeling and sales
- Training and advisory services in rural areas
- Sustainable pasture management systems
FOOD PRODUCTION VALUE CHAIN
- Vertical and urban farming
- Applying 3D printing technology to food
- Sustainable packaging: bioplastics
The solutions that target responding urgent challenges in the scope of COVID-19 and UN Sustainable Development Goals such as Gender Equality, Reduced inequality, Decent Work, and Economic growth and social inclusiveness will be considered of higher priority.
TIMELINE
Call for applications
-Jul-Aug 2021-
Call for pre-seed and seed-stage startups are opened
Timeline
Application: 15/Jul – 25/Aug-2021
Pre-Selection: 31/Aug – 05/Sep-2021
Interviews: 06/Sep – 10/Sep-2021
Invitation to Demo Day: by 15/Sep
Demo Day
-Sep 2021-
20 shortlisted teams will pitch for the final selection
- Format: Participants are free to pitch using slide presentations, videos, and audio
- Timing: 3 minutes pitching + 3 minutes Q&A/Feedback
- Language: The teams must pitch in Armenian. However, English is an option, if the team is represented by Repats.
- Acceptance: Up to 10 teams will be selected for the incubation cycle
Meet our finalists
Based on the results of the pre-incubation demo-day 8 teams are selected to pass the 4-months incubation program
Parsl.ai
Computer vision solutions to help agro stakeholders, farmers, equipment, and software vendors enable a cost-effective, fast, and accurate visual intelligence.
FUNGIMATE
Fungimate aims to research and design eco-friendly alternatives for packaging, construction materials, healthy food alternatives, and growing kits of fungi.
GeoGeeks
GeoGeeks is a newly established company with the vision of GIS integration in agriculture, forestry, water resources management, and spatial planning.
NU FarmTech
Nu FarmTech develops 5th generation greenhouse technologies, smart farming techniques, with AI-powered prediction models for small/medium-sized farmers.
Gyumri AeroLab
Gyumri AeroLab creates a new type of flying system for agro stakeholders and farmers, which will be more cost-effective
Green Graund
An agro-intelligent complex system designed to measure the composition of the soil parameters, including fertilizers, electrical conductivity, fragility, etc
Traps Analytics
Traps Analytics develops a mobile application to be used for automated pest counting on indoor and outdoor traps
HoneyMany
HonayMany carries out remote beekeeping. Customer has the opportunity to buy bees remotely and get the harvest in a convenient location
Incubation stage
-October - January 2021-
Teams will be coached by individual mentors and will get access to professional trainers
Meet our mentors
During the 4-months long incubation program teams will work with top-level mentors
Anna Khachatryan
Operations and Community Manager at EPIC
Arsen Chilingaryan
Commercial Manager at Link Tour Air
Vardan Arzumanyan
Sales Team Supervisor
Ashot Farsyan
Senior Economist at Vallex Group
Nejdeh Hovhanessian
Assistant Director of the EPIC
While the main part of the learning process will be covered by the mentors, the incubator will provide training sessions for the participants. 5 to 6 workshops per month will be conducted. The workshops will be open mainly to the participants and ONLY 5 seats will be opened for the general audience (prior registration will be required).
Artavazd Sokhikyan
CTO & Co-Founder at Buymie
“Why to Start a Startup and its influence on your personal and professional life. How to be a great founder?”
Alberto Levy
International MBA Professor and Startup Mentor at IE Business School
“Problem-Solution Fit (Idea Validation and Development)”
Anna Aria Harutyunyan
Sr. Manager of Lifecycle Marketing at Picsart
“Market Research | Types. Methods. Where to start?”
Ayk Badalyan
Founder & Executive Officer at Garoon Tech
“Mentorship session”
Rafayel Ghasabyan
CEO at RAFA Solutions
“Mentorship session”
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Chief agronomist at Healthy Garden
“Mentorship session”
Sargis Karapetyan
CEO & Co-Founder at Embry Tech
“Prototyping and solution validation”
Vahe Ghazaryan
Co-Founder & CMO at Globbing
“Go to Market Strategy: Customer engagement tactics and MVP Launch”
Roman Daneghayn
Senior Marketing Manager at Idera Inc. – apilayer
“Marketing Strategy Development & Marketing Tools”
Vahagn Sarksyan
Senior Director, Acquisition Marketing at Krisp
“Top marketing lessons learned in KRISP over 3 years”
Ara Khzmalyan
Partner at ADWISE
“IP Fundamentals, Protection Strategy, and other legal aspects”
Liana Karapetyan
Director at Hero House Angels, Associate at SmartGateVC
“Startup Financial Planning & Budgeting”
Arshak Karapetyan
Founding Director at Nation 2.0 NGO
“Mentorship session”
Gevorg Baghdasaryan
CEO at Revalcon
“Mentorship session”
Hovhannes Yeritsyan
Task lead at UNDP Kolba Lab “Future Today” Project
“Mentorship session”
Luiza Avetisyan
Co-founder, COO at HireBee.ai
“Building a Startup Team. Company Culture. Elements of high-performing teams. Hiring Process, Stock Options.”
Karen Vardanyan
Partner at Formula VC, Fund Manager at Sprint Crowdfunders’ Fund
“Understanding Startup Investments”
Samson Avetian
VP and Cofounder of Angel Investor Club of Armenia
“Funding Alternatives for Startups: Funding Strategy & Startup Valuation”
Chus Lozano
IT Entrepreneur – Senior Expert on Innovation
“Master Class with Chus”
Gevorg Safaryan
Serial entrepreneur, Founder of Earlyone and Limetech
“Master Class with Gevorg Safaryan”
Arthur Mikaelyan
President & Co-Founder, Member at Angel Investor Club of Armenia
“How to Pitch Investors: Tips for Pitching Your Business Idea”
Startup Clash
-Feb 2022-
All the teams that have successfully passed the incubation cycle, will participate in the clash
Pitching Battle
- Format: Participants are free to pitch using slide presentations, videos, and audio
- Timing: 5 minutes pitching + 5 minutes Q&A/Feedback
- Language: The teams must pitch in Armenian. However, English is an option, if the team is represented by Repats.
Awards
Award of EUR 37,000: (max amount of one award is EUR 12,500)
- support will be provided in the form of fixed assets
- winners will sign award winning agreements with the EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia
- Awards will be provided in predefined portions, based on specific milestones settled by the winners
Speakers
10-12 minutes of individual talk, then 7-8 minutes of Q&A with the audience ending with a summary.
Arman Khojoyan
Deputy Minister of Economy of RA
“The future of Agriculture in Armenia: Government’s Vision”
Armen Khachikyan
Director of Engineering at IntelinAir, makers of AgMRI
“The role of tech in Agriculture: Story of IntelinAir”
Liana Vanyan
Co-Founder at MiCoFe, AgriTech Startup Clash 2021 awardee
“One year after the AgriTect: Story of MiCoFe”
Mr. Frank Hess
Head of Cooperation Section
Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Armenia
Mr. Klaus Kapper
Counselor, Head of Coordination Office for the Technical Cooperation of the
Austrian Embassy, Yerevan
Mr. Pascal Bokkers
Team Leader, European Union GAIA Project, Austrian Development Agency
Jury
The jury consists of 7 members from partner organizations, the private sector, as well as tech and agro experts
Arman Khojoyan
Deputy Minister of Economy of RA
Arthur Mikaelyan
President & Co-Founder, Member at Angel Investor Club of Armenia
ASHOT HOVANESIAN
CEO at Synergy International Systems
Harutyun Pakhchanyan
General Director at ARMBERRY CJSC
KAREN VARDANYAN
Partner at Formula VC, Fund Manager at Sprint Crowdfunders’ Fund
VARDAN URUTYAN
ANAU Rector
VARDAN TORCHYAN
Green Agriculture Expert at EU-GAIA
Check out our livestreaming
Meet our winners
Based on the results of the demo-day 4 teams are selected as winners
Parsl.ai
Computer vision solutions to help agro stakeholders, farmers, equipment, and software vendors enable a cost-effective, fast, and accurate visual intelligence.
Traps Analytics
Traps Analytics develops a mobile application to be used for automated pest counting on indoor and outdoor traps
Green Ground
An agro-intelligent complex system designed to measure the composition of the soil parameters, including fertilizers, electrical conductivity, fragility, etc
NU FarmTech
Nu FarmTech develops 5th generation greenhouse technologies, smart farming techniques, with AI-powered prediction models for small/medium-sized farmers.
The event is carried out in the framework of the EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The implementing partners of the project are the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia. The main counterpart of the project is the Ministry of Economy of Armenia (MoEc).