What is the Asia Food Bowl™?
Looking to test your startup’s ability to grow? The Asia Food Bowl™ is a regional accelerator designed specifically for early-stage, innovative agrifood startups based in Singapore. This program, powered by GROW Ventures and supported by Enterprise Singapore, aims to shape the food bowl of Asia by helping startups grow faster and capture new markets across the region. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, the Asia Food Bowl offers a tailored pathway to boost your agrifoodtech venture’s growth and impact.
Main Benefits of Joining the Asia Food Bowl™
Why jump on board? Here’s what makes this program a game-changer:
- Inspire: Gain fresh perspectives to refine your solution and conquer regional markets.
- Ignite: Sharpen your pitch narrative so it truly resonates with investors and brings people along your vision.
- Immerse: Connect with key local ecosystem players and build a supportive community around you.
Startup Programmes Tailored to Every Stage
The Asia Food Bowl™ is part of a broader suite of startup programmes by GROW Ventures, designed to support ventures at different stages:
- Idea Stage: Kickstart your entrepreneurial journey in agrifoodtech through the GROW Ventures Studio.
- Early Stage: Scale your business across Asia with the regional Food Bowl accelerator programme.
- Scale-up Stage: Take your impactful tech venture global via the flagship accelerator, backed by upfront investment from AgFunder.
- Late Stage: Internationalise your business through the Land x Launch™ market expansion platform.
Two-Phase Programme Structure
The Asia Food Bowl™ runs a dynamic two-phase programme to maximize startup growth:
- Phase 1: Start-up Bootcamp (5 Days) – Open to all Singapore-registered ventures, this FREE bootcamp helps startups learn proven methodologies, refine their go-to-market strategy, and craft compelling pitches through expert guidance.
- Phase 2: Investment-Readiness Advisory (6 Months) – Select startups from Phase 1 get 1:1 advisory sessions, office hours with VC partners like AgFunder, mentorship matching, and access to expert advice on legal, finance, marketing, and more.
Who Should Apply?
If you’re a Singapore-registered, early-stage startup working in agri, food, fibre, or aqua, this is your moment. Got the next “big thing”? Whether it’s a new technology, a business model innovation, or a novel process, product, or service, the Asia Food Bowl wants to hear from you. Just have a prototype or minimum viable product with some customer validation, and the program will help you scale from there.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Supporting innovations that improve food security and sustainable agriculture.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Empowering startups to create jobs and drive economic development.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Fostering technological advancements in agrifoodtech.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Encouraging sustainable production methods and reducing waste.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Building strong networks between startups, investors, and ecosystem players.
Application Timeline and What to Expect
Applications open in December 2023 and close on 17 May 2024. Between February and May 2024, selections and interviews will take place. The 5-day Start-up Bootcamp kicks off in June 2024. This timeline gives startups ample time to prepare and get ready for an intense, rewarding experience that could transform their growth trajectory. So, if you’re ready to dive in, mark those dates and get your application in!
