10 practical tips for agri-tech start-ups in 2025

Starting up is exhilarating – and exhausting. Whether you’re pitching to investors, building your first team, or just trying to stay afloat, the early days are full of decisions that shape your future.

In agri-tech, those decisions are magnified by a sector in flux. With venture capital caution rising, big traditional ag players under pressure, and climate-focused funds stepping in with new priorities, start-ups need to adapt – not just to secure funding, but to build meaningful partnerships and scale effectively.

Drawing on insights from investor Mark Brooks, Chair of Niab David Buckeridge, and the Agri-TechE  network, here are 10 practical tips to help agri-tech founders navigate the road ahead.

1. Show a clear path to your vision

“Have an ambitious vision,” says David Buckeridge – “but more importantly, show the path to achieving it.” Investors want to see maturity in your thinking, not just big ideas, but a roadmap with milestones, risks, and inflection points that add value to their capital.

Your next stage is likely to be scaling with follow-on funding, not exiting. Make sure your pitch reflects that.

2. Spend time on your pitch deck – and test it

3. Consider bringing in an advisor

“Many early-stage fundings try to operate without an advisor,” says Buckeridge. “There’s a huge amount of detail to deal with, and it may be where you lack experience.”

A trusted advisor, someone who understands the detail, can help navigate investor conversations, manage due diligence, and keep you focused on running your company.

4. Get your unit economics right

Margins in agriculture are tight, and investors know it. Your customer acquisition cost (CAC) must be well below your lifetime value (LTV).

As Mark Brooks, a venture investor and former head of FMC Ventures and Syngenta Group Ventures, puts it: “Unit economics have to take top priority, regardless of what you’re building.” If your model doesn’t scale profitably, funding will be hard to secure.

5. Build a resilient capital stack

With some agri-tech-specific funds pulling back, it’s more important than ever to diversify your funding sources. Explore non-dilutive options like grants, competitions, and philanthropic support — many of which are listed on our Funder Finder page. It’s regularly updated with opportunities relevant to start-ups, researchers, and SMEs.

Brooks also recommends engaging with funds focused on climate, planetary health, and sustainability – even if agriculture isn’t their sole focus. These funds bring cross-disciplinary thinking and broader networks, which can be valuable in shaping your growth.

6. Expect fundraising to be a full-time job

Fundraising can take a CEO out of the business for months. “You’ll kiss a lot of frogs,” says Buckeridge.

Stay positive, ask for feedback after every meeting, and use it to refine your approach.

7. Partner with mid-tier ag companies

8. Rethink the route to market

Distribution in agriculture is dominated by legacy players, but start-ups are reshaping the channel. Look at Farmers Business Network, Agriconomie in France and Grão Directo in Brazil – they’re building new models for farmer engagement.

Think creatively about how you reach your end user.

9. Embrace cross-sector collaboration

Some new funds may lack deep agri-tech expertise, but they bring fresh thinking from adjacent sectors. The best returns often come from the intersection of disciplines, from sectors not traditionally associated with agriculture, but ones with a clear role to play – climate, data, and biotech.

These “collision spaces” can unlock new value across the supply chain.

10. Be reliable – reputation matters

Start-ups can sometimes get a reputation for being flaky. Investors and partners notice when founders drop out of events or miss deadlines. If you commit, follow through. Reliability builds trust, and trust builds traction.

Some of the insights in this article were drawn from AgFunder’s recent feature The Do’s and Don’ts of Raising Capital in 2025. Read the full story.