Growing the Future

The Alfreds' of Canadian Ag Tech

Episode Summary

Sean O’Conner and Kyle Scott of Emmertech are the self described “Alfreds'” of the Canadian Ag Tech world. This $60 million dollar fund has thrown out the Canadian playbook when it comes to venture capital. They have reinvented it and rebuilt a new investment approach to fit the world of ag tech. Dan, Sean, and Kyle discuss closing the venture capital gap between the massive investment in the US and Canada.

Episode Notes

In a world where founders of agtech companies are the superheroes of the story….

Sean O’Conner and Kyle Scott of Emmertech are the self described “Alfreds'” of the Canadian Ag Tech world.

Kyle Scott is the Managing Director at Conexus Venture Capital and Emmertech.

Sean O’Conner is the head of Conexus Venture Capital who runs the VC fund on behalf of Conexus and Emmertech.

This $60 million dollar fund has thrown out the Canadian playbook when it comes to venture capital.

They have reinvented it and rebuilt a new investment approach to fit the world of ag tech.

Dan, Sean, and Kyle discuss closing the venture capital gap between the massive investment in the US and Canada.
 

This episode is an eye opening conversation on Canadian Ag Tech and funds.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Who is Emmertech?
• Who is Conexus?
• Sean’s role
• Kyle’s role
• How to become a Venture Capital Manager
• What it’s like spending other peoples money
• What ag tech in the prairies looks like today
• What comic book heroes Kyle and Sean relate to
• The work dynamic between Kyle and Sean
• What it’s like to receive money to invest
• Core values of Emmertech
• How hard it is to raise funds
• What Kyle and Sean have to say to investors that have not put their money into the fund
• What do the funds currently look like for ag tech?
• Who are the investors?
• What does the role of an investor look like
• Can investors lend anything other then money
• Why don’t companies just bootstrap?
• How Kyle and Sean handle the different personalities of investors
• The top question Sean and Kyle ask new companies
• What is different about AgTech from a conventional fund?
• Some of the exciting companies Sean and Kyle are working with
• Who is Emmertech currently investing in
• What’s next for Emmertech?

Connect Sean:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seantoconnor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-o-connor-73310b46/

Connect with Kyle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleascott/

Connect with Conexus Venture Capital and Emmertech:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Conexus_VC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/conexusventurecapital/
 

Aberhart Family of Companies:

https://aberhartagsolutions.ca

https://aberhartfarms.com

https://suregrowth.ca

https://www.convergencegrowth.com

Connect with us on AGvisorPro: https://link-app.agvisorpro.com/aberhart-dan

If you want to be part of the Growing the Future community, make sure to say hi on social at: https://linktr.ee/Growingthefuturepodcast