Brechtje Vreenegoor, Sebastiaan Berendse: In agriculture, spinouts need to reform the whole system

Wageningen University & Research is a truly unique organisation combining a higher education institution with an applied research institute. This dual nature makes commercialising research an interesting challenge, particularly with Wageningen’s focus on agtech and food tech, where, for decades, each component in the supply chain has been optimised for cost. So, how do you give spinouts a fighting chance? We also look at the Netherlands’ recent update to its national deal term principles, which Brechtje Vreenegoor was involved in creating, and we analyse how these principles strike a balance between the university’s interests and those of founders and investors. Then, we consider how Wageningen University & Research operates a unique pre-incubation programme designed to support researchers and students developing agricultural and food technology startups. This model focuses on validating ideas through a multi-stage process, including feasibility studies and proof-of-concept funding, rather than immediately seeking venture capital. And finally, Sebastiaan Berendse looks at Wageningen’s approach to venture capital funds, why its LP commitments are not just about capital but also drawing investors to campus, and why Graduate Ventures – which currently covers Delft and Rotterdam – is an enticing proposition for Wageningen’s ecosystem, which desperately needs more pre-seed cash. Read the transcript.