Forum of Young Global Leaders
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DATABASE (996)
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ARTICLES (811)
Founded in 2013 and based in Silicon Valley, AgFunder invests in agrifood tech startups globally with the mission of “investing in technologies to rapidly transform our food and agriculture system.” The VC firm has already built a global ecosystem of 85,000+ members and subscribers, which helps grow and scale its portfolio companies. It recently established the New Carnivore fund to invest in startups working to create animal-free protein alternatives including plant-based meat and cultured meat. In 2019, AgFunder and the Australian agrifood accelerator Rocket Seeder co-launched GROW Impact Accelerator in Singapore to accelerate seed and Series A agritech startups from Southeast Asia.
Founded in 2013 and based in Silicon Valley, AgFunder invests in agrifood tech startups globally with the mission of “investing in technologies to rapidly transform our food and agriculture system.” The VC firm has already built a global ecosystem of 85,000+ members and subscribers, which helps grow and scale its portfolio companies. It recently established the New Carnivore fund to invest in startups working to create animal-free protein alternatives including plant-based meat and cultured meat. In 2019, AgFunder and the Australian agrifood accelerator Rocket Seeder co-launched GROW Impact Accelerator in Singapore to accelerate seed and Series A agritech startups from Southeast Asia.
Shell Foundation is the not-for-profit investment arm of the global energy giant Shell. Based in London, the foundation was set up in 2000 to invest in social and environmental impact companies, including startups with the potential to reach out to over 10m low-income consumers and achieve financial viability within 10 years. The foundation mainly invests at the pre-seed and seed funding stage and currently has 77 startups in its portfolio. In January 2021, it joined the $790,000 seed round of African agritech social enterprise AgroCenta and also gave a $350,000 grant to sustainable mobility platform Easy Matatu in Uganda.
Shell Foundation is the not-for-profit investment arm of the global energy giant Shell. Based in London, the foundation was set up in 2000 to invest in social and environmental impact companies, including startups with the potential to reach out to over 10m low-income consumers and achieve financial viability within 10 years. The foundation mainly invests at the pre-seed and seed funding stage and currently has 77 startups in its portfolio. In January 2021, it joined the $790,000 seed round of African agritech social enterprise AgroCenta and also gave a $350,000 grant to sustainable mobility platform Easy Matatu in Uganda.
COO and co-founder of Capaball
Jose Luis Vega de Seoane graduated in 2012 as a software engineer from the Complutense University of Madrid. He has also completed a global management program at IESE Business School.In 2013, he co-founded video games developer Upplication as CEO. The mobile app maker was sold in 2017 to Mobusi, a leading digital marketing company. He left Upplication in 2018 and became a digital strategy advisor at the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX).In 2018, he co-founded Capaball as COO. He is also a mentor at Conector Startup accelerator and a board member of IBECOSOL. In 2020, the serial entrepreneur has founded two new startups: Heris, a platform to cure patients affected by aphasia and a digital marketing agency Trevol.
Jose Luis Vega de Seoane graduated in 2012 as a software engineer from the Complutense University of Madrid. He has also completed a global management program at IESE Business School.In 2013, he co-founded video games developer Upplication as CEO. The mobile app maker was sold in 2017 to Mobusi, a leading digital marketing company. He left Upplication in 2018 and became a digital strategy advisor at the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX).In 2018, he co-founded Capaball as COO. He is also a mentor at Conector Startup accelerator and a board member of IBECOSOL. In 2020, the serial entrepreneur has founded two new startups: Heris, a platform to cure patients affected by aphasia and a digital marketing agency Trevol.
Verlinvest is the investment diversification vehicle of the de Spoelberch family, the Belgian noble house, which founded the AB InBev beverage conglomerate. Founded in 1995, it currently manages over €1.6bn in assets across multiple geographies, including Europe, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Aside from investing in various F&B brands like Vita Coco (coconut water), F&B Asia (which operates various restaurant franchise brands in Southeast Asia) and Glaceau Vitamin Water, it has also backed e-commerce businesses like Global Fashion Group and Lazada, as well as Indian edtech platform Byju’s.
Verlinvest is the investment diversification vehicle of the de Spoelberch family, the Belgian noble house, which founded the AB InBev beverage conglomerate. Founded in 1995, it currently manages over €1.6bn in assets across multiple geographies, including Europe, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Aside from investing in various F&B brands like Vita Coco (coconut water), F&B Asia (which operates various restaurant franchise brands in Southeast Asia) and Glaceau Vitamin Water, it has also backed e-commerce businesses like Global Fashion Group and Lazada, as well as Indian edtech platform Byju’s.
Endeavor Catalyst is part of the global investment company Endeavor. Launched in 2012 and based in New York, it supports the equity funding efforts of Endeavour entrepreneurs with third party investors. Its portfolio investments had a total capital value of over US$100 million and it specializes in mid-stage investments across sectors and different countries, with significant investment in transportation startups to date. In 2020, it participated in the second €12m part of the €23m Series A round of EV charging hardware startup, Wallbox, with an undisclosed investment. Other recent investments in 2020 include in the US$40m Series D round of Egyptian healthtech Vezeeta and in the undisclosed seed round of Turkish fintech Figopara.
Endeavor Catalyst is part of the global investment company Endeavor. Launched in 2012 and based in New York, it supports the equity funding efforts of Endeavour entrepreneurs with third party investors. Its portfolio investments had a total capital value of over US$100 million and it specializes in mid-stage investments across sectors and different countries, with significant investment in transportation startups to date. In 2020, it participated in the second €12m part of the €23m Series A round of EV charging hardware startup, Wallbox, with an undisclosed investment. Other recent investments in 2020 include in the US$40m Series D round of Egyptian healthtech Vezeeta and in the undisclosed seed round of Turkish fintech Figopara.
Co-founder, CEO of SingularCover
González-Montejano is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of AI-enhanced insurtech SingularCover, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to this, he briefly worked as CMO at the US-based Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, an exchange program, and at Madrid-based automotive marketplace startup Autingo. He previously spent five years as Senior Vice-President for Southern Europe of Affinion, a global leader in loyalty and engagement solutions and a provider of insurance to large multinationals. Before that, he had spent almost two decades working in the US, the UK, Spain and Southern Europe in a range of executive posts in large multinationals, incuding Citigroup and BNP Paribas. He holds an MBA in Finance from Carroll School of Management, Boston College, and a Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a professional qualification as a licensed insurance broker in Spain. González-Montejano volunteers frequently for organizations helping the elderly.
González-Montejano is the Spanish CEO and co-founder of AI-enhanced insurtech SingularCover, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to this, he briefly worked as CMO at the US-based Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, an exchange program, and at Madrid-based automotive marketplace startup Autingo. He previously spent five years as Senior Vice-President for Southern Europe of Affinion, a global leader in loyalty and engagement solutions and a provider of insurance to large multinationals. Before that, he had spent almost two decades working in the US, the UK, Spain and Southern Europe in a range of executive posts in large multinationals, incuding Citigroup and BNP Paribas. He holds an MBA in Finance from Carroll School of Management, Boston College, and a Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a professional qualification as a licensed insurance broker in Spain. González-Montejano volunteers frequently for organizations helping the elderly.
Fernando Cabello-Astolfi is a Spanish serial entrepreneur and angel investor in the fintech ecosystem. He has a masters degree in Global Market Economics from the London School of Economics. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ibercheck, a leading company that issues solvency reports for individuals in Spain. In 2014, he founded consumer credit fintech Aplazame, which was sold to WiZink Bank in 2018. Fernando is the CEO of Aplazame, heading the product, risk and finance departments. More recently, he launched Devengo, an innovative payroll model that allows employees to collect their salary when needed, instead of on a fixed date each month, at no extra cost to the company.
Fernando Cabello-Astolfi is a Spanish serial entrepreneur and angel investor in the fintech ecosystem. He has a masters degree in Global Market Economics from the London School of Economics. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ibercheck, a leading company that issues solvency reports for individuals in Spain. In 2014, he founded consumer credit fintech Aplazame, which was sold to WiZink Bank in 2018. Fernando is the CEO of Aplazame, heading the product, risk and finance departments. More recently, he launched Devengo, an innovative payroll model that allows employees to collect their salary when needed, instead of on a fixed date each month, at no extra cost to the company.
Founded in 2012 in Washington DC, Accion Venture Lab is a seed-stage investor in fintech for the underserved. Venture Lab is part of Accion, a not-for-profit global organization that works with financial service providers to deliver affordable solutions for unbanked and underbanked communities worldwide.Its portfolio includes 44 startups from 17 countries, ranging from Chile to Indonesia. Seed-stage startups normally get $500,000 funding per company. Investments in December 2020 included participation in the $1.5m seed round of Argentinian software development tech Henry and a financing round for Indonesian micro-credit fintech Pintech.
Founded in 2012 in Washington DC, Accion Venture Lab is a seed-stage investor in fintech for the underserved. Venture Lab is part of Accion, a not-for-profit global organization that works with financial service providers to deliver affordable solutions for unbanked and underbanked communities worldwide.Its portfolio includes 44 startups from 17 countries, ranging from Chile to Indonesia. Seed-stage startups normally get $500,000 funding per company. Investments in December 2020 included participation in the $1.5m seed round of Argentinian software development tech Henry and a financing round for Indonesian micro-credit fintech Pintech.
An experienced entrepreneur in internet business, Wen Chu founded the online community for media professionals No4media.com in 2001, the Guangzhou-based Click.com.cn in 2003, and the mobile entertainment website Moabc.com in 2005. Click.com.cn was acquired by the NASDAQ-listed company PACT in 2004. In March 2008, he founded the Great Wall Club (GWC), a communication platform for entrepreneurs and startups that has initiated and organized events such as the annual Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) since 2008 and the startup competition G-Startup Worldwide. He currently is the president and CEO of GWC. He invested Xpeng Motors as an angel investor in 2014.
An experienced entrepreneur in internet business, Wen Chu founded the online community for media professionals No4media.com in 2001, the Guangzhou-based Click.com.cn in 2003, and the mobile entertainment website Moabc.com in 2005. Click.com.cn was acquired by the NASDAQ-listed company PACT in 2004. In March 2008, he founded the Great Wall Club (GWC), a communication platform for entrepreneurs and startups that has initiated and organized events such as the annual Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) since 2008 and the startup competition G-Startup Worldwide. He currently is the president and CEO of GWC. He invested Xpeng Motors as an angel investor in 2014.
Based in Seattle, Washington, Pivotal Ventures was founded by Melinda Gates in 2015 as a separate, independent organization from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The VC-arm and incubator aim to foster social innovation in the US, focusing on the social progress of women and families. It has supported diversity & inclusion, healthcare and impact startups by providing early-stage funding to enterprises with philanthropic and scalable goals. In October 2020, Pivotal launched a fund for adolescent mental health in partnership with Panorama Global. In September 2020, it also joined Techstars to create a new accelerator program to find innovative eldercare solutions for seniors and their caregivers.
Based in Seattle, Washington, Pivotal Ventures was founded by Melinda Gates in 2015 as a separate, independent organization from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The VC-arm and incubator aim to foster social innovation in the US, focusing on the social progress of women and families. It has supported diversity & inclusion, healthcare and impact startups by providing early-stage funding to enterprises with philanthropic and scalable goals. In October 2020, Pivotal launched a fund for adolescent mental health in partnership with Panorama Global. In September 2020, it also joined Techstars to create a new accelerator program to find innovative eldercare solutions for seniors and their caregivers.
Concept Investimentos is a Brazilian mid-market private equity investor based in São Paulo. Focusing mainly on medtech, the firm was established in 2016 with its first investment in Maquira, a leading manufacturer of dental products in Brazil. It has invested in three companies so far, including participation in the R$1.7m seed investment round of Brazilian edtech Blox.Founding partner Rafael Pilotto Gonçalez previously worked at Pacific Investimentos’ private equity division and Pacific’s partnership with One Equity Partners, JPM’s former global private equity arm in Brazil. He has also worked for the private equity arm of Banco Votorantim and London-based private equity firm Actis.
Concept Investimentos is a Brazilian mid-market private equity investor based in São Paulo. Focusing mainly on medtech, the firm was established in 2016 with its first investment in Maquira, a leading manufacturer of dental products in Brazil. It has invested in three companies so far, including participation in the R$1.7m seed investment round of Brazilian edtech Blox.Founding partner Rafael Pilotto Gonçalez previously worked at Pacific Investimentos’ private equity division and Pacific’s partnership with One Equity Partners, JPM’s former global private equity arm in Brazil. He has also worked for the private equity arm of Banco Votorantim and London-based private equity firm Actis.
CEO and co-founder of AgroCenta (Holdings)
Francis Obirikorang completed a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering in 2006 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.In 2008, Obirikorang started work as a technical writer at Esoko, a Ghanaian digital development agency in Accra, where he met web developer Michael Ocansey. Obirikorang left Esoko in 2010 and became lead technical writer for Corenett, a transactions processing management company. In 2013, he worked at digital advertising agency TXT Ghana as a business analyst until 2015.In January 2015, Obirikorang and Ocansey established their first startup Swappaholics Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. In 2016, the two friends also co-founded AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius with Obirikorang as CEO and Ocansey as CTO. Ocansey left the Swappaholics in 2016 to focus on building AgroCenta.Obirikorang still runs both companies as CEO and joined the global entrepreneur community Startup Grind in 2016 as chapter director of Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.
Francis Obirikorang completed a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering in 2006 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.In 2008, Obirikorang started work as a technical writer at Esoko, a Ghanaian digital development agency in Accra, where he met web developer Michael Ocansey. Obirikorang left Esoko in 2010 and became lead technical writer for Corenett, a transactions processing management company. In 2013, he worked at digital advertising agency TXT Ghana as a business analyst until 2015.In January 2015, Obirikorang and Ocansey established their first startup Swappaholics Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. In 2016, the two friends also co-founded AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius with Obirikorang as CEO and Ocansey as CTO. Ocansey left the Swappaholics in 2016 to focus on building AgroCenta.Obirikorang still runs both companies as CEO and joined the global entrepreneur community Startup Grind in 2016 as chapter director of Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.
Green Innovations is an impact fund that invests in large-scale projects addressing global sustainability challenges, focusing on the agriculture, biotechnology, education, energy, housing and water sectors. It is headed by Angola-based Portuguese businessman Jorge Marques, and linked to Israeli group Mitrelli. Green Innovations took control of Biocant, Portugal’s biggest biotech park, in a privatization move in 2017–2018. Green Innovations's stable of companies includes Green Biotech, created to invest in biotechnology in Portugal, and Green Services Innovations, linked to the exploration of phosphates in Congo.Its recent investments include in the June 2021 $85m Series C round and February 2021 $25m Series B of Portuguese home physiotherapy tech solution SWORD Health, the world’s fastest-growing musculoskeletal solution.
Green Innovations is an impact fund that invests in large-scale projects addressing global sustainability challenges, focusing on the agriculture, biotechnology, education, energy, housing and water sectors. It is headed by Angola-based Portuguese businessman Jorge Marques, and linked to Israeli group Mitrelli. Green Innovations took control of Biocant, Portugal’s biggest biotech park, in a privatization move in 2017–2018. Green Innovations's stable of companies includes Green Biotech, created to invest in biotechnology in Portugal, and Green Services Innovations, linked to the exploration of phosphates in Congo.Its recent investments include in the June 2021 $85m Series C round and February 2021 $25m Series B of Portuguese home physiotherapy tech solution SWORD Health, the world’s fastest-growing musculoskeletal solution.
Capital V is a French rural-based investor that only invests in solutions that facilitate sustained behavioral change and eliminate the consumption of animal products. Its investments range from €10,000 to €1m and currently has 20 startups in its portfolio, mainly plant-based meat makers.In 2020, it announced its participation in Pitch & Plant 2020, the global investment competition by Vevolution for plant-based and animal-free startups, offering £100,000 to finalists. Among its recent investments are participation in the extended 2020 seed round of THIS, a UK-based plant-based meat startup that has raised over £6m to date and, in August 2020, in vegan confectionary manufacturer, Livia’s that has raised over £1m so far.
Capital V is a French rural-based investor that only invests in solutions that facilitate sustained behavioral change and eliminate the consumption of animal products. Its investments range from €10,000 to €1m and currently has 20 startups in its portfolio, mainly plant-based meat makers.In 2020, it announced its participation in Pitch & Plant 2020, the global investment competition by Vevolution for plant-based and animal-free startups, offering £100,000 to finalists. Among its recent investments are participation in the extended 2020 seed round of THIS, a UK-based plant-based meat startup that has raised over £6m to date and, in August 2020, in vegan confectionary manufacturer, Livia’s that has raised over £1m so far.
Established in Shanghai in 1992, Greenland Holding Group, also known as Greenland Group, is a state-owned real estate developer. It manages projects in over 100 cities in nine countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. It holds assets worth nearly $120bn, and has ranked among Fortune Global 500 for nine consecutive years. The company went public in Shanghai in 2015. Beyond real estate, Greenland has diversified its portfolio by expanding into related sectors, such as retail and transportation.
Established in Shanghai in 1992, Greenland Holding Group, also known as Greenland Group, is a state-owned real estate developer. It manages projects in over 100 cities in nine countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. It holds assets worth nearly $120bn, and has ranked among Fortune Global 500 for nine consecutive years. The company went public in Shanghai in 2015. Beyond real estate, Greenland has diversified its portfolio by expanding into related sectors, such as retail and transportation.
Clarity AI uses machine learning and data analytics to effectively assess and score environmental, social and governance performance of companies and investment portfolios
In Spain, women are busy launching startups
Official data show women-led startups are on the rise in Spain. We take you to some of the biggest names in the game
Ciweishixi: HR startup helps Chinese youth pursue rewarding careers
Ciweishixi uses the Western internship model to help young people discover their true passion, online and offline
Cristina Fonseca: On a one-woman mission to make Portugal more innovative
The co-founder of Portugal's third unicorn, Talkdesk, is now an influential investor and AI authority
Xu Jinghong: Champion of young entrepreneurs and high-tech startups
Under Xu Jinghong’s leadership, Tsinghua Holdings grew its assets sevenfold and incubated over 10,000 businesses. In his new role as VC investor, Xu wants to nurture startups into future global leaders
Clear Plate: Anti-food waste AI that rewards the diners who finish their food
Taking little steps to make a big difference in fighting food waste, Clear Plate engages with digital natives to spread the message
Jesús Encinar: The Man Behind Idealista and 11870.com
Entrepreneur, angel investor and down-to-earth idealist
SWITCH Singapore: Embracing a circular economy, the whys and the hows
Its benefits for the environment aside, going circular could also lead to new economic growth, better public health and higher value-add employment, experts say
Big Idea Ventures Founder Andrew D Ive: Asia will lead cell-based meat innovation
In a wide-ranging interview, the managing general partner of the US- and Singapore-based foodtech investor also expounds on his goal to extend sustainability to the rest of the food sector, combining good returns with doing good
Ruangguru, Amartha founders made aides to Indonesian President
Seven young leaders appointed to assist President Joko Widodo in non-ministerial tasks, with an emphasis on innovation
Heptasense wins trust at a time of (lax) global surveillance
There may be some 700 million surveillance cameras running worldwide in today's age of global security threats, yet 98% of them are unmonitored. A Lisbon-based startup is promising real-time response and greater reliability in security tech
Impact investing: Spanish startups with a cause and the ecosystem backing them
As more thought and money go into socially and environmentally responsible projects, Spanish entrepreneurs, investors and big businesses are following suit
Delectatech: "Food data" proves its value in Spain's Covid-hit F&B industry
Delectatech deploys AI, NLP and big data to help restaurants and food suppliers optimize business information, decisions and operations
Yali Bio: Recreating a juicy steak in plant-based alternatives
Founded by the former head of Impossible Foods’ pilot plant, this Bay Area genomics and foodtech startup is one of the first to engineer a better fat for plant-based meat
This e-retailer uses influencers to sell niche brand cosmetics in high-growth markets
Huajuan Mall is a popular makeup e-mall for young women in smaller Chinese cities, turning little-known local brands into big hits
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