Episode 461 · July 13, 2019
461: Chris Rawley on Alternative Funding for Urban Farmers
Investing in small agriculture businesses.
In this episode
As a career naval officer, Chris has traveled the world. Over the course of visiting dozens of war-torn and poverty-stricken countries, he began to appreciate the importance of farming to every single person on earth. As a professional investor, he decided to invest in a farm, but discovered that these types of investments were inaccessible to the average person. He created Harvest Returns in 2016 to democratize investments in agriculture.
Our Guest
Production farming in America is not an easy business path to start on without some help or connections. Appreciating the value of farming after his travels in the US Navy, Chris Rawley realized these challenges farmers face when trying start or expand small-to-midsize farms and decided he could help. He breaks down the basic process for agriculture investing outside of traditional bank loans and the benefits for both farmers and investors.
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- He is not a farmer, however his travels in the US Navy allowed him to see farming and food systems around the world
- He and a friend co-founded Harvest Returns to help farmers raise capital and allow investors get closer to food production
- Seeking to invest in a new “flavor” of real estate and noticed the farms around him
- Working with farms that need capital to start or expand with new projects
- “The best way to sustain the planet is invest in farming”
- Farmers and investors are stronger together
- Why alternative funding is needed outside of traditional bank loans
- How a farmer or business-agripreneur gets started
- Some of the early preparation that is needed like a business plan
- How they help farmers raise funds
- The agricultural investments they focus on
- The flip side of the process and becoming an investor
- Education before investing - Guide to Investing in Agriculture
- What a registered investor is and how that applies
- A little bit more about “disruption”
As well as
His failure – The first farm they put on the platform and how they had not vetted it fully
His success – Every time they close a deal is a success, a Kentucky deal just closed will bring 75 jobs to the area
His drive – Simply by helping people – farmers, their communities, the people they serve, and the investors
His advice – Add a zero to your thinking and think bigger to reach your dream
Chris’ post on our Blog
Chris’s Book recommendations
Hungry For Disruption: How Tech Innovations Will Nourish 10 Billion By 2050
How to reach Chris
Website: HarvestReturns.com
Twitter: @HarvestReturns
LinkedIn: Harvest Returns
UrbanFarm.org/harvestreturns
Special thanks to our sponsors:gemplers.com/urbanfarm (use code URBANFARM01)
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