Barclays Black Founder Accelerator 2022 member
Future Greens
Future Greens is a vertical farming and agritech company that grows flavourful, pesticide-free salad.
Why did you join the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator?
To learn from experienced mentors, gain access a network of investors, and get to know like-minded entrepreneurs that are on a similar journey.
Why did you want to start your business?
I realised that our planet is headed towards an agricultural crisis. In the next 50 years, experts predict water scarcity, loss of arable land, and increasingly more extreme weather. All of this is putting a serious strain on conventional field farming, while food demand is set to grow by 60% due to a growing population. I wanted to contribute to solving the problem through indoor farming.
What would be your desired outcome from this programme?
To have gained new skills, insights, and contacts that will help me grow and scale the business.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
Jack Cohen, the founder of Tesco. He came back from World War 1 with essentially nothing, started a market stall with £30 worth of goods, and through hard work and business acumen grew that into UK's biggest supermarket chain.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
Getting our first customers. It took us a while to get to a point at which we could grow leafy greens commercially, without knowing if people would even care about indoor farmed produce. Getting that initial validation from retailers and consumers felt really rewarding.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Not delegating enough and juggling too many things as the business develops. Running a farm, supplying customers and raising funds at the same time can really put a strain on performance.
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
I got a lot of support from a local accelerator. Conversations with a dedicated mentor really helped me take a step back and take a birds eye view at the business, which provided plenty of new insights.
What drives you to make your business a success?
Food security and water scarcity are shaping up to be some of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Knowing that my business can play a real part in tackling these issues is my main motivator.
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
I know it can be daunting, but try to make an in-depth financial forecast as soon as you can. Putting it all in number really helps you see whether you've got a viable business in the long term.