Sprout Agritech has appointed Dr. Sandhya Sriram as CEO. Dr. Sandhya Sriram is the former Group CEO and Co-founder of Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Singapore, the first cultivated seafood & meat company in Southeast Asia and the first cultivated Crustacean company globally. She joins New Zealand company Sprout Agritech, an early-stage investor specialising in transformational technologies that impact how life on Earth is nourished and sustained.
Dr. Sriram comes with an impressive background in the global early-stage tech industry. A stem cell biologist and scientist by training and education, a former business development professional, a serial entrepreneur, an angel investor and a thought leader - Sandhya was named as part of the 2021 class of Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts, featured in TIME magazine and Forbes Women in Tech. She has successfully completed two M&As and had a successful exit from Shiok Meats via a merger.
Established in 2015 as the Sprout Accelerator, Sprout Agritech was incorporated in 2020 and established an early-stage investment fund with partners US-based Finistere Ventures, Kiwi dairy giant Fonterra, and Israeli venture builder OurCrowd, alongside the support of New Zealand government agency Te Pokapū Auaha Callaghan Innovation. Their growing portfolio includes Scentian Bio and newcomer Metrovate.
Sandhya shares “I am excited to join Sprout Agritech and immerse myself into the deep tech landscape in New Zealand after spending more than 15 years in South-East Asia. I am looking forward to bringing Asia, New Zealand and the rest of the world together, alongside growing the Sprout portfolio and establishing a global presence.”
Sprout Board Chair Marcel van den Assum shares “I’m very pleased that we are able to attract global talent to enhance our deep tech ecosystem in New Zealand, fundamental to growing our presence in offshore markets and with investors, whilst striving to build on our Kiwi essence and the valuable partnerships that we have around Aotearoa. Sandhya will commence her position at Sprout in September 2024, based at the Sprout head office in Palmerston North, New Zealand.”
After three years of establishing Sprout as a leader in the New Zealand agri and food tech startup and venture capital ecosystem, former CEO Gil Meron is stepping into a new relationship with Sprout focusing on connecting innovation with investment, and science with solutions. His passion for entrepreneurship and investing and his global networks will continue to inspire founders, portfolio companies and partners.
All Media Enquiries to:
Marcel van den Assum
Phone +64 021963459
To arrange interviews with key personnel, please contact:
Anna Bailey
Phone +64 0221083558
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