Grow Your Business IN the UK

Give your business all the benefits of the UK's thriving entrepreneurial scene

Our goal is to support the ambitions of international Agri-FoodTech entrepreneurs. We provide mentoring, business development and introduction to our investor network.

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Why the UK?

  1. The UK is Europe’s leading agrifoodtech startup nation, attracting $1.1 billion investment in 2020 (after US, China and India)
  2. UK Tech companies attracted a record of $15 billion VC investment in 2020, more than the rest of Europe combined
  3. The UK is 3rd in the world for tech unicorns behind only the US and China, with 7 new unicorn firms in 2020 alone
  4. The UK is placed at the centre of the world with its unique time zone to serve East and West markets
  5. Being in the UK puts you in the centre of a forward-thinking country that is at the forefront of sustainability and innovation, targeting Carbon Zero by 2050

The need for agrifood-tech innovation is greater than ever

The UK saw a 21% increase in investment

for climate tech and agriculture companies, reaching a record $798m in 2020

Leading Agri-FoodTech companies choose the UK

JCB, Denso, Syngenta, Elanco, Merck and Zoetis have all chosen the UK as their home

UK FoodTech companies accelerated investment

to $968m in 2020 compared to $315m in 2019

Join a strong and diverse network

The UK offers a wide University and institutional networks to provide support and to work with high-potential agri-foodtech businesses.

UK Agri-FoodTech Ecosystem:

100+

designated resource and innovation centres form the UK AgriTech ecosystem

2800

Innovate UK funded projects in 2019/20

£3.3bn

granted by UK Research & Innovation in 2019/20

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About the dealmaker

Rob Ward

CEO, ForwardFood.Tech

About Rob Ward

Rob focuses on assisting businesses to develop the next generation of innovations in AgriFoodTech, sustainably transforming the future for the farming and food industry from farm to plate.

Rob has a wide experience that spans from running one of the largest commercial soft fruit farms in the UK to product design and innovation (patenting the first commercially available hydroponics field scale strawberry growing system) to creating, building and selling businesses all ranging from grocery retail and wholesale distribution; food and drink CPG  and FoodTech.  

He co-founded the world’s first CPG Seed investment Accelerator for the food industry.  Exiting this business in 2019 he created ForwardFood.Tech using his experience of working with early-stage tech applications to ensure that businesses have fully developed their commercial proposition and are investor-ready. ​

Having undertaken a world study tour researching innovation in grocery retail and food and beverage as a Nuffield Farming Research Scholar in 2009, Rob has continued to develop an extensive international network of international business and trade contacts.

What can we do for your business?

We help up-skill and support founders by providing hands-on strategic/tactical assistance, mentoring, coaching, and introductions to the UK’s world-class ecosystem.

Being part of our support process, you will benefit from:
  1. Mentoring from Rob Ward - an experienced entrepreneur in the AgTech/ FoodTech sector
  2. Help to develop business plans
  3. Assistance with relocating to the UK (including Visa, setting up a bank account in the UK, up to date information on tax system)
  4. Introductions to key networks including investors
  5. Guidance on how to scale internationally
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UK Tax Incentives

The UK has significant tax incentives for entrepreneurs (e.g. EIS investor tax relief, Patent Box, Research & Development cost rebate incentives, Innovate UK Grants).

About Tax Incentives

Who this support is for

As an overseas-based entrepreneur and founder of an innovative agri-food technology brand, you could be considered to join our support process and grow your business in the UK.

This support is tailored for international brands who want to be at the forefront of technology, sustainability and innovation.

In order to qualify, you must:

  • Have a customer-validated product either already in the market or ready to launch
  • Be willing to relocate and establish the company’s global headquarters in the UK
  • Have a desire to grow globally with a clear commercial proposition
  • Anticipate employing over 10 people in the UK within 3 years

Apply here

Please fill in the form below to apply and we will follow up with next steps.

If you have any questions, use the live chat to talk to us or to request a callback.

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