NextBillion - A WDI Publication

​Agriculture remains the economic backbone of Southeast and South Asia, contributing nearly 15% of GDP and employing up to 40% of the workforce. Digitalisation and AgriTech adoption could unlock more than US$90 billion in additional annual GDP in Southeast Asia by 2033, with significant productivity gains possible across key commodities that still lag leading global producers by 2-6×.​At the same time, AgriTech investment in the region has undergone a sharp correction in recent years, as investors reassess the structural realities of agricultural markets, fragmented value chains, and venture scaling across Southeast and South Asia. Understanding where the next wave of innovation and investment opportunities will emerge is therefore increasingly important for founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.​To explore these dynamics, Beanstalk and Briter, in partnership with Omnivore, and supported by FMO Ventures (the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank), IFC (International Finance Corporation), and Rabo Foundation, have conducted a comprehensive study: The Opportunity for AgriTech Investment in Southeast and South Asia.​Join us on March 31st for the public launch of the report, where the study’s authors will present the key insights and findings from the research.​The session will begin with introduction from Mark Kahn (Managing Partner, Omnivore) on the purpose of the report, followed by a presentation from Justin Ahmed (Director, Beanstalk) and David Saunders (Director, Briter). They will walk through the report’s core insights, including the structural realities shaping AgriTech across the region, lessons from the past funding cycle, and the sectors showing renewed momentum for investment.​The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring leading venture investors active in the region’s AgriTech and climate innovation ecosystem, moderated by Maurice Scheepens (Senior Investment Officer, FMO Ventures).​Panelists include:

• ​Vicknesh Pillay, Founding Partner, TNB Aura
• ​Yash Sankrityayan, Managing Partner, Jungle Ventures
• ​Marie Cheong, Founding Partner, Wavemaker Impact
• ​Ziv Ragowsky, Founding Partner, Wright Partners

​The webinar will conclude with an open Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers and panelists on the future of AgriTech innovation and investment across Southeast and South Asia.