Newsletter ➢ ᴀFKAғ•2018#06

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

9 March 2018#06

Next Week ⇰  Wed 18:00 Velocity 2018 Launch, Auckland Uni ☆ Thu 16:00,  ADI.Clinic Auckland Beyond ⇰ 20 Mar, FKA Pitch Night #038, Spoke confirmed so far. This should remind us at FKA that our female angels make up just over 10%. Therefore, let's acknowledge Angela, Claudia, Katheren, Jackie, Jenene and Marisa, Diverse groups produce better outcomes, make better investments! Thank you, Greg Young! Greg has served as our independent director on the FKA board since the first hour. His reason and humour have been invaluable in helping FKA find its form. "Jobby done, time to move on!" he says, but not without making sure his wife Jackie (truly) Young is investing as an FKAngel.  Little known fact: Greg and Rudi were co-investors in a toilet business and the above footage was taken from their rigorous product testing series.  2018 Launch of Velocity, the business competition has produced many interesting startups including our portfolio companies StretchSense and Kami. Soul Machines is pretty exciting stuff, see the video. It would be good to see some FKAngles join the ranks of judges and mentors in this year's competition. RSVP for the launch! ADI.Clinic - Serendipity John from BoatSecure called in this week, just when we had the CEO of McMullen & Wing attended as visiting mentor. Interesting tech, Uli will follow this one Agritech New Zealand will describe its mission to work with key stakeholders across the Wellington region to realise this opportunity. Examples of initiatives already underway include: Increasing investment into the sector e.g. visit of Finistere Ventures and Yamaha Motor Ventures in May 2018 Developing a more consistent and powerful export story similar to Ireland Origin Green or the Dutch Food Valley e.g. crafting the NZ Agritech story with NZTE and NZ Story Driving international partnerships e.g. cross-seasonal collaboration proposal from Western Growers (USA) Increasing innovation/technology collaboration across the wider NZ Agriculture sector e.g. joint initiatives with farmer/grower organisations (like Zespri, Fonterra, Federated Farmers) and agritech companies Check out the roadshow dates here, 22 March in Auckland. Microsoft has revamped its startup program. The BizSpark program with its traditional focus on Azure credits is making room for Microsoft for Startups with reduced credits and more emphasis on co-selling. Co-selling means leveraging the MS distribution network and market reach to help startups sell. James from FileInvite is already talking to Lochana @ MS. Worth checking out if this could help any of the startups you're working with. a-lowije@microsoft.com