The recent SXSW international startup competition had for the first time award under the Food+City Challenge Prize. This category pit agri-tech startups from around the world against each other for the top prize. The category was looking for the most promising startup(s) with a product that encourages innovation in the urban food system.
The competition received about 100 application from across 14 countries, but only 14 startups made it to the finalists. The 14 got to pitch their food logistics solutions at an event held in Austin, TX and before a panel of judges recognized as Food+City coaches. Other than giving the startups their judgments, the judges also shared knowledge on how the startup can fine tune their products and ideas.
However, at the end of the day, there had to be a winner and a loser; it was a competition after all. Three startups were announced the overall winner, with each taking home $10,000 funding. These startups were:
| Taimba | A Kenya-based agri-tech startup working on a business-to-business (B2B) model and provides mobile and cashless platform linking the retailers directly to the farmers. Thereby creating a supply chain devoid of the exploitative middlemen, with the end consumer getting the right product at the right price. |
| Aggressively Organic | A U.S.-based agricultural systems designer |
| UAV-IQ | Also from U.S. and deals with remote sensing solutions |
“Although only three companies could take home the prize, the real value of the competition lies in the connections made among their peers, mentors, judges, and investors. We look forward to keeping up with the progress of each company and supporting them in any way possible,” said the SXSW organizers.