Our team has grown!
We’ve been a little quiet since the beginning of the year… but we are back with a vengeance!
In March we welcomed Maxie Juang as Community & Marketing Associate as well as James Demetriou, in the position of Director of Partnerships and Growth. We put a few questions to them as they settle in to the agtech life….
Tell us about your new role at SproutX?
James, “My main role will be to build the profile of the accelerator by deepening partnerships with current and new partners within the agriculture sector to ensure SproutX continues to be the leader of Ag innovation in Australia.”
Maxie: “I look after all marketing/comms, together with fostering community between alumni, mentors and players in the wider agtech ecosystem. I joined the team one month prior to the applications opening for our 2021 Accelerator. It was a fantastic way to start my journey, getting into the behind-the-scenes planning from the get-go. I’m also getting to build something completely new this year with the Accelerator adopting an Export Readiness module.”
What have been your impressions so far?
James: “SproutX have a great team with great pedigree and track record. I have also realised how fragmented the Ag sector is. SproutX can take a lead role in building the ecosystem. It is a truly national player and hope to be able to bring my years of learning in the tech space to SproutX. I also believe there is scope to offer more commercialisation programs, to ensure our startup are not only investment ready but also export ready to tackle offshore markets.
Maxie: ”The people at SproutX are incredibly passionate about what they do and they definitely know what they are doing. Behind the acumen, SproutX is also a group with great personalities who are capable of having authentic conversations. There is a "100 Questions" card pack from School of Life smack in the middle of the workspace, which we draw from in between working projects..”
What were you up to prior to joining SproutX?
Maxie: ”I came from a FMCG/corporate background, so this is a huge career shift for me: industry sector and company structure-wise. I love being among the SproutX community, there is always a story being told and new faces to meet. It feels like very meaningful work and above all, a solution-oriented attitude in both founders and the staff team. Can't ask for a better work vibe!”
James: I am still the non executive Chair of the Australian Sports Tech Network which over the past 8 years has seen the sector build into one of the Top 6 sports tech ecosystems in the world. My last job was as a Director, Research Innovation and commercialisation at the University of Melbourne. I have a strong background in entrepreneurship and in have been involved in many start ups as an investor, and or advisor over the past 20 years and mentored well over 100+ sport, agri and fintech companies. I was also a Non Executive Director at Australian Independent Rural Retailers from 2012 to 2017, which is now part of Elders.
What excites you most about working with founders in agrifoodtech?
Maxie: “I’ve been impressed by the resilience of the founders I’ve met in my first few weeks. I also love the focus on purposeful work to make future of food production more sustainable.”
James: “The agtech sector is the next great wave. Like sport tech, it is one of Australia’s great sectors that we have a major competitive advantage in. I look forward to making my contribution to ensure we have a great playbook for growth.”
Favourite fruit and vegetable (This is agriculture, after all…)
James: “Bananas / strawberries and for vegetable… pumpkin. I have a sweet tooth.”
Maxie: ”Java apples, red guava, and white water snowflake stem.”
Julia: “That sounds magical, please explain?”
Maxie: ”Lol, white water snowflake stem is the long stem of an aquatic plant that is native to tropical Asia, it is commonly grown in the southern parts of Taiwan. They’re sold in coils in Taiwanese markets and have a very nice crunch to it, definitely superior to your kang kong (water spinach)!”
