How Amol Deshpande Raised $900 Million to Build a Business in Agtech

Oct 1, 2024

Neil Devani

About
this Podcast

Want to know how this entrepreneur disrupted agriculture and built a successful business?In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani interviews Amol Deshpande, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who co-founded Farmer's Business Network (FBN) and was the first investor in Beyond Meat. They discuss Amol's experiences raising $900 million for FBN, his early involvement with Beyond Meat, and insights on investing and scaling companies.Highlighted

Topics:

  • Investing in Breakthrough Ideas: Amol discusses his investment in Beyond Meat when it was just an idea in a lab. He emphasizes the importance of betting on breakthrough technologies and the flexibility required in investment strategies.

  • Shifting Venture Capital Models: The episode explores how venture capital has evolved, with a shift from risk-taking on early-stage, high-potential ideas to a more conservative, "venture analyst" model.

  • Disrupting Traditional Industries: Amol shares his experience disrupting agriculture through FBN, discussing the challenges of breaking into an industry dominated by monopolies and entrenched players.

  • Challenges in AgTech and Beyond Meat: Amol reflects on the promise of plant-based and cellular meats, expressing skepticism about their long-term impact and viability despite Beyond Meat's initial success.- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Practical tips on raising funds, emphasizing the importance of waiting until you have customers and metrics before pitching to investors.


Want to know how this entrepreneur disrupted agriculture and built a successful business?In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani interviews Amol Deshpande, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who co-founded Farmer's Business Network (FBN) and was the first investor in Beyond Meat. They discuss Amol's experiences raising $900 million for FBN, his early involvement with Beyond Meat, and insights on investing and scaling companies.Highlighted

Topics:

  • Investing in Breakthrough Ideas: Amol discusses his investment in Beyond Meat when it was just an idea in a lab. He emphasizes the importance of betting on breakthrough technologies and the flexibility required in investment strategies.

  • Shifting Venture Capital Models: The episode explores how venture capital has evolved, with a shift from risk-taking on early-stage, high-potential ideas to a more conservative, "venture analyst" model.

  • Disrupting Traditional Industries: Amol shares his experience disrupting agriculture through FBN, discussing the challenges of breaking into an industry dominated by monopolies and entrenched players.

  • Challenges in AgTech and Beyond Meat: Amol reflects on the promise of plant-based and cellular meats, expressing skepticism about their long-term impact and viability despite Beyond Meat's initial success.- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Practical tips on raising funds, emphasizing the importance of waiting until you have customers and metrics before pitching to investors.


Want to know how this entrepreneur disrupted agriculture and built a successful business?In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani interviews Amol Deshpande, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who co-founded Farmer's Business Network (FBN) and was the first investor in Beyond Meat. They discuss Amol's experiences raising $900 million for FBN, his early involvement with Beyond Meat, and insights on investing and scaling companies.Highlighted

Topics:

  • Investing in Breakthrough Ideas: Amol discusses his investment in Beyond Meat when it was just an idea in a lab. He emphasizes the importance of betting on breakthrough technologies and the flexibility required in investment strategies.

  • Shifting Venture Capital Models: The episode explores how venture capital has evolved, with a shift from risk-taking on early-stage, high-potential ideas to a more conservative, "venture analyst" model.

  • Disrupting Traditional Industries: Amol shares his experience disrupting agriculture through FBN, discussing the challenges of breaking into an industry dominated by monopolies and entrenched players.

  • Challenges in AgTech and Beyond Meat: Amol reflects on the promise of plant-based and cellular meats, expressing skepticism about their long-term impact and viability despite Beyond Meat's initial success.- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Practical tips on raising funds, emphasizing the importance of waiting until you have customers and metrics before pitching to investors.


Neil Devani

I’m here to learn about our world and find ways to make it better. Most of my time and energy is invested in working with startups that are building and commercializing technologies to improve our world. I also spend time with certain nonprofits and political campaigns and organizations as drivers of change.

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©Necessary Ventures 2024