Rockstart is a privately backed asset manager, investing in >270 early stage startups globally since 2011. Rockstart believes in a regenerative and sustainable future and aims to fund and empower founders to drive positive change on a global scale. Since its inception in 2011, Rockstart has invested in more than 250 startups and its alumni value to date is half a billion euro. We recently announced the final close of our AgriFood fund at +€22million. We are a commercially seasoned team of entrepreneurs who have raised private capital to invest in a portfolio of startups in order to drive returns (both from a financial and impact perspective). 

The Rockstart acceleration program is different for a number of reasons. Firstly, on motivation. Our focus is on using the program services to create commercial and impact value for our portfolio companies. This is the central point of where we differ from other accelerator programs: we utilise our program to help scale the portfolio companies we invest in. We are interested in using the program to drive towards commercial and impact traction and scaling, not to educate you on what a company is or develop your concept.

Secondly, on timing. We know that building a company takes years, not weeks or months. That’s why after the program we continue to co-invest in our portfolio companies up to Series B with a maximum allocation to any one company of >€2million. We also take positions on boards, when it makes sense, and connect you with strategic partners and mentors who can fill our role if there is a specific strategic need. With this long term perspective in mind, we are looking for companies that are ready to move the needle. Your company’s timing also needs to match. We want to see some traction (be it commercial, academic or some other proxy) and we want to work on taking that traction to the next level with you.

In order for us to help you get the most out of the program, we’re primarily looking for startups that have developed at least a MVP (Minimal Viable Product), have customers or users and some traction. However, if your idea is still on the back of a napkin at the moment or just at the beginning of the startup journey, we still encourage you to apply for our program to get visible on our radar, we can start to get to know each other and can keep an eye on your progress. We could then suggest your next steps and what your business needs to be ready for us.

There are several components that make up our selection criteria. Firstly, we believe in the power of a great team. It is important that you have a strong team in place with a track record, motivation and potential. We’re also looking for innovation. It doesn’t mean that you have to come up with a totally original idea, but your execution of that idea has to be unique. Here, we focus on digital tech (more about it in a section above) and companies that are data-driven. You should have a running business which shows some traction and ideally already has its first customers or users. Since we’re looking to change the world with the startups we work with, there needs to be a clear mission of how your company helps drive positive change in the agrifood domain.

Many programs will talk about after program support as you graduate as an “alumni”. Sometimes that means you get to reach out to the mentors, other times you can attend events, you might get access to some deals. We do all of the above as well. And we continue to co-invest up to Series B. 

The Rockstart program is the launch pad. Building and scaling your company will take years. Throughout those years, Rockstart brings continued structural support through follow-on investments, board seats, syndication partners, our large mentor and corporate network and helps you to scale and (potentially) exit your company.

Rockstart is looking for startups with a team that already runs a business and has traction. Ideally, the team already consists of not only the co-founders but has also hired its first employees. You and your teammates should have complementary skills and positive team dynamics to be able to make your business work. Team dynamics is, in fact, a critical component of the selection process.

In order for us to help you get the most out of the program, we’re primarily looking for startups that have developed at least a MVP (Minimal Viable Product), have customers or users and some traction. However, if your idea is still on the back of a napkin at the moment or just at the beginning of the startup journey, we still encourage you to apply for our program to get visible on our radar, we can start to get to know each other and can keep an eye on your progress. We could then suggest your next steps and what your business needs to be ready for us.

The Rockstart AgriFood program is a domain-focused, fund-backed, and tailor-made program designed to rapidly take your business from MVP to investment-readiness. 

The AgriFood program runs twice per year, in the spring from February to June and in the fall from August to December. Throughout the program, we run six Deep Dives; an intensive week of workshops, 1on1 expert sessions, coaching sessions, peer-to-peer sessions, events and more. Each of these weeks is focused on a specific area of your business, such as Marketing & Communications, Fundraising or Pitching, in order to give you access to the tools, people and opportunities to build a solid and scalable business. 

Rockstart AgriFood is based in the heart of Copenhagen. Known for its entrepreneurial climate, open lifestyle, and central location, it is the place for any startup to grow internationally. Rockstart also has an office based in Amsterdam, where some part of the program takes place in order to introduce you to our Dutch ecosystem, which plays an important role within the AgriFood sector. Hosting startups in person in Copenhagen and Amsterdam helps us to ensure a soft landing for your startup in a new market and for you to get the best of our network. 

But no, you do not have to relocate for the program. While designing the program, we aim to be as founder-friendly as possible. For the time-being, the entire program is run remotely, until COVID-19 restrictions allow for free-flowing worldwide travel again. 

When the program ends, you become a Rockstart portfolio company and we continue the journey together. You are now part of our community of more than 300 startups and have access to our online events (investor events, corporate events, etc.), to various deals, continue to have mentor support, and participate in marketing & communications campaigns. We are also at your side when it comes to investing as we co-invest from seed until series B.

Startups accepted to Rockstart AgriFood receive an initial investment consisting of a convertible note agreement of €100,000 from our investment fund. Our accelerator program fee is  €65,000 (i.e. net cash proceeds to your company of €35,000). Rockstart AgriFood also continues to invest in its portfolio companies, investing up to 50% in the next round and co-investing with the lead investor. Rockstart can continue to co-invest up to Series B.

Startups accepted to Rockstart AgriFood receive an initial investment consisting of a convertible note agreement of €100,000 from our investment fund. Our accelerator program fee is  €65,000 (i.e. net cash proceeds to your company of €35,000).

The € €65,000 is based on cost-prices of program activities and many bulk-buy services, -tools and -privileges. These include essentials for every startup that could easily cost you twice as much outside the program, such as workshop & sessions (group & 1:1 sessions), networking events (e.g. investor events, mentor events), connections to potential customers, external management assessment, intensive mentorship, support in legal setup, documentation, accountancy & subsidy questions, software packages through our startups deals, entrance tickets for conferences, as well as a program team dedicated to you.

Yes, Rockstart follow-on invests. Rockstart AgriFood also continues to invest in its portfolio companies, investing up to 50% in the next round and co-investing with the lead investor. Rockstart can continue to co-invest up to Series B.

We definitely do. In order to be able to support founders year-long with access to capital, market partners, expertise and community, Rockstart offers two accelerator programs per industry domain each year; one in the spring and one in the fall. This gives the opportunity to scout for startups all year long. Running our domain programs in tandem offers the opportunity to also invest throughout the year as startups are selected in a continuous manner. In 2020 we have invested in more than 20 startups.