UVC: Brian Frank from FTW Ventures on tech's impact on the food system, assessing the market potential & customer interest in a startup's product, the dual benefits of addressing climate change, and upcoming consumer food trends
In this episode, I explore various aspects of the food and agriculture industry with Brian Frank, the Founder and General Partner of FTW Ventures. Throughout the episode, we learn about Brian's learnings from his internship at Intel and how they have influenced his entrepreneurial journey. We also delve into the issues he sees in the current food system and why he believes that science and technology can revolutionize it.
Brian explains why FTW Ventures adopts a highly focused and concentrated investment approach and discusses the value they aim to create for founders. We also explore the reasons behind the scarcity of venture capitalists investing in the food and agriculture market. Additionally, Brian provides indicators of successful teams that can navigate the stages of product development effectively. He shares his approach to assessing market potential and customer interest in a startup's product.
We discuss how the transportation of food affects its quality and nutrition, as well as how the current food system contributes to health crises. Brian highlights the purpose-driven and profit-driven benefits of addressing climate change in the food system. Entrepreneurs entering the food and Agritech space can gain valuable insights from Brian's advice on the approach they should take. We also explore potential future developments and investments in cell culturing and synthetic biology.
Brian predicts consumer behavior in food that will become mainstream in the next five to ten years. Furthermore, we address the challenges faced by farmers today and how technology, including AI, can help address these issues and augment human labor in agriculture.
In this episode you will learn:
- What did Brian learn from his internship at Intel that has helped him as an entrepreneur?
- What issues does Brian see in the current food system? Why does Brian believe that science and technology can uplevel the food system?
- Why does FTW Ventures have a highly focused and concentrated investment approach? What value does FTW Ventures aim to create for founders?
- Why are there not many VCs investing in the food and agriculture market?
- What are the indicators of a team that can successfully navigate the stages of product development according to Brian?
- How do Brian assess the market potential and customer interest in a startup's product?
- How does the focus on transportation affect the quality and nutrition of food? How does the current food system contribute to health crises?
- How does addressing climate change in the food system have both purpose-driven and profit-driven benefits?
- What approach should entrepreneurs take when entering the food and Agritech space?
- What are the potential future developments and investments in cell culturing and synthetic biology?
- What consumer behaviour in food according to Brian will become mainstream in the next five to ten years?
- What are the challenges faced by farmers today, and how can technology help address them? How can AI and technology help address labor shortages and augment human labor in agriculture?
About:
Brian is the Founder and General Partner of FTW Ventures. He is experienced in both Technology & Food, and understands the complexity of running startups at the intersection of these two, challenging spaces.
Prior to founding FTW, Brian led 3 venture-backed businesses to successful exits and directed innovative products in communication, mobile, social & AI/ML for both startups & Fortune 500 Companies over his 20+ year career.
Brian Frank
Founder & General Partner at FTW Ventures
Brian is the Founder and General Partner of FTW Ventures. He is experienced in both Technology & Food, and understands the complexity of running startups at the intersection of these two, challenging spaces.
Prior to founding FTW, Brian led 3 venture-backed businesses to successful exits and directed innovative products in communication, mobile, social & AI/ML for both startups & Fortune 500 Companies over his 20+ year career.
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