Bangalore, India, September 14, 2017- Mistletoe, the Japanese investor and incubator founded by Taizo Son,
and partners, GSF- India’s leading tech accelerator founded by Rajesh Sawhney
and Infobridge – Indo-Japan business consultancy, announced the launch of “Gastrotope”,
a new Agrifood tech accelerator in India.
and partners, GSF- India’s leading tech accelerator founded by Rajesh Sawhney
and Infobridge – Indo-Japan business consultancy, announced the launch of “Gastrotope”,
a new Agrifood tech accelerator in India.
Gastrotope is a
focused accelerator with the vision to catalyze the creation of a new
agriculture and FoodTech enabled industry ecosystem that builds upon India’s
rich food diversity and focuses on sustainability throughout the ‘farm to fork’
value chain. The accelerator aims to invest in startups that can add value at
various parts of the value chain, starting with farmers and moving to food
transportation, processing and delivery to and consumption by customers.
focused accelerator with the vision to catalyze the creation of a new
agriculture and FoodTech enabled industry ecosystem that builds upon India’s
rich food diversity and focuses on sustainability throughout the ‘farm to fork’
value chain. The accelerator aims to invest in startups that can add value at
various parts of the value chain, starting with farmers and moving to food
transportation, processing and delivery to and consumption by customers.
Taizo Son, CEO and founder of Mistletoe said, “I truly believe India will be the center of AgriFood tech
innovation, and am very excited. India has amazing talents and engineers, and a
vast land and population, and in addition, India has a long and rich food
culture.”
innovation, and am very excited. India has amazing talents and engineers, and a
vast land and population, and in addition, India has a long and rich food
culture.”
He added, “Japan is
also a country with deep agriculture technologies and food culture as well. I
have always believed that innovation comes from the connecting of diverse dots,
and this time, with the bridge between India and Japan, new and unique
solutions to the fundamental questions of food and agriculture will arise. We
hope, while working with our great partners here, we will become a catalyst for
this new movement of ‘farm to fork’ permaculture.”
also a country with deep agriculture technologies and food culture as well. I
have always believed that innovation comes from the connecting of diverse dots,
and this time, with the bridge between India and Japan, new and unique
solutions to the fundamental questions of food and agriculture will arise. We
hope, while working with our great partners here, we will become a catalyst for
this new movement of ‘farm to fork’ permaculture.”
Rajesh Sawhney, CEO and founder of GSF India said, “Gastrotope is borne out of a new world vision of
democratizing healthy gastronomy experiences for millions. The food consumption
habits are changing globally with a focus on nutrition and wellness and instead
of food industrialization; the new goal is all about ‘what we grow’. Gastrotope
seeks to play a vital role in catalyzing India’s adoption of these trends
through the birth of a completely new agriculture and FoodTech ecosystem.”
democratizing healthy gastronomy experiences for millions. The food consumption
habits are changing globally with a focus on nutrition and wellness and instead
of food industrialization; the new goal is all about ‘what we grow’. Gastrotope
seeks to play a vital role in catalyzing India’s adoption of these trends
through the birth of a completely new agriculture and FoodTech ecosystem.”
“We are in talks with
various government entities including government of Andhra Pradesh and are
hopeful of creating meaningful partnership to strengthen India’s farm economy
in a few months from now,” Rajesh added.
various government entities including government of Andhra Pradesh and are
hopeful of creating meaningful partnership to strengthen India’s farm economy
in a few months from now,” Rajesh added.
Naho Shigeta, CEO of Infobridge Holdings said,
“We recognize that India’s amazing food and cuisine diversity must be respected
and nurtured for sustainable growth of India’s farm economy. At Gastrotope, our
focus will be to completely reverse the western world’s pursuit of food
standardization and instead create locally relevant and sustainable businesses
that truly benefit the two most important stakeholders: farmers and consumers.”
“We recognize that India’s amazing food and cuisine diversity must be respected
and nurtured for sustainable growth of India’s farm economy. At Gastrotope, our
focus will be to completely reverse the western world’s pursuit of food
standardization and instead create locally relevant and sustainable businesses
that truly benefit the two most important stakeholders: farmers and consumers.”
Mistletoe is already
present in India and has made investments in multiple agritech and foodtech
startups including Innerchef, Ninjacart and Kisan Network. Rajesh Sawhney is
also a cofounder of Innerchef.
present in India and has made investments in multiple agritech and foodtech
startups including Innerchef, Ninjacart and Kisan Network. Rajesh Sawhney is
also a cofounder of Innerchef.
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| Gastrotope team |
