How Amol Deshpande Raised $900 Million to Build a Business in Agtech

Want to know how this entrepreneur disrupted agriculture and built a successful business?

In this episode of Money Moves, Neil Devani interviews Amol Deshpande, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who co-founded Farmer's Business Network (FBN) and was the first investor in Beyond Meat. They discuss Amol's experiences raising $900 million for FBN, his early involvement with Beyond Meat, and insights on investing and scaling companies.

Highlighted Topics:

- Investing in Breakthrough Ideas: Amol discusses his investment in Beyond Meat when it was just an idea in a lab. He emphasizes the importance of betting on breakthrough technologies and the flexibility required in investment strategies.

- Shifting Venture Capital Models: The episode explores how venture capital has evolved, with a shift from risk-taking on early-stage, high-potential ideas to a more conservative, "venture analyst" model.

- Disrupting Traditional Industries: Amol shares his experience disrupting agriculture through FBN, discussing the challenges of breaking into an industry dominated by monopolies and entrenched players.

- Challenges in AgTech and Beyond Meat: Amol reflects on the promise of plant-based and cellular meats, expressing skepticism about their long-term impact and viability despite Beyond Meat's initial success.

- Advice for Entrepreneurs: Practical tips on raising funds, emphasizing the importance of waiting until you have customers and metrics before pitching to investors.