October 7th - 8th, 2024

Summit Vision

Innovation in the agriculture and food sectors in Africa is key to driving economic development, climate goals, job creation, human health, resilience, and emission reductions in the region and globally. This unique 2-day event, co-hosted by Delta40, the Novo Nordisk Foundation & the BioInnovation Institute, will bring together a curated group of leading entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and other key ecosystem leaders to catalyze ag- and food-tech innovation, investment, and scale across the continent. This is not a conference, but rather an invite-only event that aims to bring active, senior leaders in this ecosystem together to create value and new partnerships.

We are not just here to talk - we are here to drive real action and commitment. Participants will be asked to share their ambitions for driving more scale and impact, and what they need to achieve that.

Goals

Identify Innovation: Identify & spotlight the most innovative Ag- and Food-Tech companies in Africa

Catalyze New Investment: Connect active investors directly with early and growth stage entrepreneurs to catalyze new investment into the ecosystem

Create Corporate Partnerships: Learn from corporate leaders and corporate VCs on their commercial, investment and M&A goals in Africa & forge win-win business relationships

Accelerate Impact: Identify creative ways catalytic Impact Investors & Foundations can enable inclusivity and impact

Scale Proven Solutions: Create new strategic partnership opportunities to drive more scale, exits and impact in the Ag and Food Ecosystem across Africa

Agenda

Monday, October 7th
Innovation: New Ag-Tech and Food-Tech Products & Business Models in the African Landscape

8:30am - 9:30am

Networking Coffee & Croissants

9:30am - 9:45am

Welcome Remarks

Speakers: Lyndsay Handler (Delta40), Mikkel Skovberg (Novo Nordisk Foundation), Jens Nielsen (BioInnovation Institute)

9:45am - 11:15am

Opening Plenary & Featured Panels

Innovation in Ag- and Food-Tech Across Africa
- Moderator: Lyndsay Handler (Delta40)
- Panelists: Uka Eje (ThriveAgric), Eli Pollak (Apollo Agriculture)
Corporate Partnerships to Scale Innovation
- Moderator: Omid Kassiri (McKinsey & Co.)
- Panelists: Everlyn Musyoka (Bayer), Carol Koech (Schneider Electric), Mark Brooks (FMC Ventures)

11:25am - 12pm

Fireside Chat: Ambassador Whitman and Lyndsay Handler discuss "Unorthodox Partnerships to take Ag & Food Innovations to Scale"

12pm - 1pm

Lunch + Curated Connections

1pm - 2:30pm

Break-Out Workshops

How Start-Ups Can Partner with Corporates
- Moderator: Matt Foley (FMC Ventures)
Commercialization of Research-Backed Innovations
- Moderator: Emmalee Knape (WFP)
Key Gaps for Venture Building in Ag- and Food-Tech
- Moderator: Tyler Karahalios (Delta40)
Innovation at the Ag/Energy Nexus
- Moderator: Carol Koech (Schneider Electric)

2:30pm - 3pm

Coffee Break

3pm - 4:30pm

Break-Out Workshops

Designing Products & Services for Smallholder Farmers
- Moderator: Patrick Bell (One Acre Fund)
Working with USAID and DFC
- Moderator: Moses Sitayi (USAID)
Lessons Learned from Scale-Stage Ventures
- Moderator: Nick Handler (Delta40)
Leveraging Data/AI in Ag Ventures
- Moderator: Simon Woodland (Sand Technologies)

4:30pm - 7pm

Ecosystem Networking & Innovation Expo

Tuesday, October 8th
Investment: Catalyzing Capital into the Ag-Tech and Food-Tech Ecosystem

8:30am - 9:30am

Networking Coffee & Croissants

9:30am - 10:15am

Equity & Debt Investment Opportunities in the Ag- and Food-Tech Space

Moderator: Lyndsay Handler
Panelists: Rebecca Mincy (ARAF), Rebecca Sankar (AgDevCo), Rosanne Whalley (AHL Venture Partners), Susan Tissiman (BII)
Location: Main Tent

10:15am - 10:45am

Networking Break

10:45am - 11:45am

How Philanthropy can Catalyze More Innovation & Scale of Proven Solutions

Moderator: Jay Ireland (Former President & CEO of GE Africa)
Panelists: Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah (AGRA), David Kamau (Fortified Wholegrain Alliance), Rachel E. Macauley (Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation) Anthony Farr (Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies)
Location: Main Tent

12pm - 1pm

Lunch + Curated Connections

Pitch Session (Garden Tent)

1pm - 2pm

Break-Out Workshops

First Checks for Big Ideas - What Early Ag Investors Look For
- Moderator: Bankole Cardoso (Delta40)
- Location: Main Tent
Debt for Ag & Food-Tech Ventures
- Moderator: Micheline Ntiru (Delta40)
- Location: AgTech Innovation Room
Corporate M&A Workshop: How to Prepare for an Exit that Creates Impact
- Moderator: Juliana Green (FMC Ventures)
- Location: Delta40 Boardroom

Pitch Session (Garden Tent)

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Targeted Networking

Speed-Dating: Corporates and Growth-Stage Companies (must apply to participate)
- Location: AgTech Innovation Room
Deal Room: Investors and Early-Stage Ventures
- Location: Garden Tent