Nurturing AgTech Innovators: Mark Cohen, Justine Cohen & Rebecca Screnci’s Journey
Mark, Justine and Rebecca, co-founders of Project Olea. Onsite at Northern Vic Olive groves during harvest.
Introducing Justine Cohen, Mark Cohen, and Rebecca Screnci, Co-founders of Project Olea. Their transformative journey began with SproutX's Autumn 2023 Pre-Accelerator Program. Welcome to the third installment of our “Nurturing AgTech Innovators“ series where Justine shares their inspiring story.
From Wine TRADE to AGTECH EntrepreneurSHIP: The Birth of PROJECT OLEA
Driven by a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and innovation, Justine Cohen's entrance into the AgTech world was fueled by a strong desire to make a positive impact on the environment. With a background in wine/viticulture and three decades of experience running a wine-trade company, Justine's passion for the dynamic AgTech space flourished while pursuing her Masters of Agribusiness in 2021.
Justine’s story
Reflecting on her journey, Justine shares, "While pursuing my Masters of Agribusiness in 2021, I became captivated by the possibilities of sustainability and the agtech space. As I immersed myself in this realm, I realised the potential to change the way we address agricultural wastage and its environmental impact. This realisation ignited the spark that led me, along with Rebecca and my partner Mark, to co-found Project Olea”.
Embarking on the Agtech Future Founder Journey
As a co-founder of Project Olea, Justine and her team are on a mission to contribute to the circular economy by harnessing the latest biotechnology to redirect olive waste into the global agrifood system.
Their vision is to develop new technologies that enable agricultural wastage to be repurposed and redirected, minimising waste and maximising its potential as valuable resources for the agrifood industry. At the heart of Project Olea's endeavors lies a commitment to sustainability, biotechnology, and the circular economies of food and agriculture.
Path of uncertainty
“Our decision to go on an agtech future founder journey was very fast. It was a meeting of opportunities. We all had individually been looking for something the past few months when I decided to approach SproutX.”
Team road trip to Northern Vic Olive Groves during harvest.
The SproutX Experience: Nurturing Growth and Connections
“SproutX took us on a thrilling and sometimes challenging journey. With their guidance, we transformed our idea into a fully developed company. We learned at a rapid pace, analyzing our business values, relevance, and approach to achieve our goals. The positive feedback from our agmentor boosted our confidence in our idea's potential."
Most memorable part of the program?
“On the final day of the program, we gathered in person at Stone & Chalk Co-working space, joined by the majority of the cohort. As we listened to all the cohorts pitch their startup ideas, it struck me how far we had come and the sense of achievement we experienced throughout the journey.”
Justine's Advice to Future Founders:
‘I wouldn't say we've reached our destination yet, but we're diligently working towards it. Our idea is gaining significant traction, and my advice to others would be: consider if you can take it all the way and if the possibilities ahead are big enough to pursue with determination.’
Would you have any advice for those that don’t know what they don’t know?
“Yes, get into the program. Our team has a lot of combined knowledge and experience, and we were still beginners in this game.”
Bec at the pomace outlet pipe in the waste evaporation pond.
Join the SproutX Community and Embark on Your AgTech Journey
Justine Cohen's story highlights the power of passion, innovation, and support in the agtech ecosystem.
If you, like Justine, have a desire to bring positive change to the status quo, we invite you to join the SproutX community 🌱
Applications for the upcoming SproutX Pre-Accelerator Program are now open. Don't miss your chance to be part of a vibrant ecosystem of AgTech innovation.
Read more here and apply today!
💬 Note: This blog post is part of a series featuring the stories of our pre-accelerator alumni. Stay tuned for more inspiring founder spotlights in the coming weeks.
