Partner Arama Kukutai Covered in Ag International

In a recent online feature, Ag International explored the most recent trends affecting Agtech. Arama Kukutai provides additional context on the impact of COVID-19 and other trends from the investor perspective, highlighted below.

What can we expect to see in terms of VC activity in 2020? With the economic realities of Covid-19 starting to bite, it now seems there is little chance of the continuance of a 58 percent yoy growth rate. Kukutai estimates the number of deals could be down by around 25 percent.

“There are still lots of opportunities; many may not be consummated until 2021,” he says. “And there’s a lot we can do remotely. Here’s a moment to lock arms with colleagues and companies, and move the ball down the pitch.”

“There are still lots of opportunities; many may not be consummated until 2021,” he says. “And there’s a lot we can do remotely. Here’s a moment to lock arms with colleagues and companies, and move the ball down the pitch.”

Travel restrictions are one of the bigger barriers. “Would you invest in a company you have never met? This is a high-touch business. So that funding window has to be impacted, but to continue the sporting analogy – it’s just going to take longer to score.”