- January 2, 2025
EPISODE #
88
The $300M agri-tech giant, avoiding down round disasters, founder self-sabotage, the hard truth about MENA exits, tariffs, and bad actors ruining a multi-billion dollar industry
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About this episode
I sat down with Sky Kurtz, Co-founder and CEO of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, to explore the $300M journey of building an agri-tech giant in the Middle East. In this episode, Sky shares his hard-earned lessons on avoiding down round disasters, the pitfalls of founder self-sabotage, and why a high valuation isn’t always a good thing.
We dive into the hard truth about why exits in MENA are so challenging, the role of tariffs in protecting domestic production, and how bad actors have tarnished the reputation of an entire industry. Sky also gives us a masterclass on navigating capital markets, working with your board (hint: don’t deprive them of their learning moments), and what to do when you’re stuck with an inflated valuation.
From ag-tech failures to billion-dollar blunders and business model innovation at scale, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the future of food production.
Support for the show comes from Capital.com, a global investment platform with offices in Dubai. Click here for a chance to win AED 1m.
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guest profile
Sky Kurtz
Sky Kurtz is a mission-driven serial entrepreneur focused on technology solutions that help to tackle food security, water conservation, economic diversification & sustainability challenges. Solutions that improve people’s lives. Private investment experience across multiple sectors, including Ag-tech IoT, vertical market software, healthcare IT, services, semiconductor capital equipment, biometrics, specialty chemicals, and novel materials.
Director experience serving several companies providing strategic advice and execution support for enterprise transforming events (e.g. critical hires, restructurings, mergers & acquisitions, financing, sizable internal investments).