Alison Sunstrum, founder and CEO of CNSRV-X, discussed her methods of evaluating management within the ag tech industry.
Speaking to moderator
Marty Seymour, director of industry and Stakeholder Relations at
Farm Credit Canada and “cowboy at heart” as part of Valhalla Private Capital’s “Ask An Expert” series, Alison revealed her preference for “curious” founders.
“I want ethical founders that are coachable because if they will not take input from others on board - even if it's not from me - they're not going to be a founder that can build a great team,” she said.
As the founder and CEO of CNSRV-X - a Canadian company researching, researching and applying emerging tech in agriculture - Alison claimed that focus on science and technology has informed her approach to working with founders, leading her to conduct background checks on every investment.
On the topic, she continued: “I want to see a founder that understands that raising funds doesn't mean just grabbing money from angels - it's a long journey.
“I want to see your milestones, I want to see your growth path, and I want you to understand that you're moving towards an exit.
Alison added: “If you're taking my money, you're moving towards an exit within a given time and you know how your objectives meet your financing path.”
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