BUILDING AGRI-FOOD TECH TO RECODE THE FOOD SYSTEM
I'm Michael Macolino, Managing Director of Recode Ventures
An independent Investment Advisory Practice built to partner with scaling AgriTech companies navigating their next growth phase.
I work with a select group of dedicated founders and their teams, delivering the commercial capability, customers, and capital needed to build traction, win markets, and access the right strategic partners.
I started my first company at 21, launching five businesses over 15 years across multiple industries.
Deep curiosity for technology-driven agricultural solutions led to prior roles as Director for AgriFood Tech at BDO and Managing Director APAC at SVG Ventures Thrive, building commercial engines for scaling companies and connecting them to capital, markets, and industry partners.
Today I advocate for the AgriFood tech ecosystem as a Committee Member of the Australian AgriTech Association and co-organiser of the South Australian AgriTech Meetup Group.
My thinking on redesigning the food system was featured in my TEDx talk, and my long-term commitment to entrepreneurship was recognised with an InDaily 40 Under 40 award in 2020.
Can you redesign the food system?
Michael’s TEDx talk in August 2022, posed the idea that the food system can be redesigned for sustainability and resilience.
In my talk I analyse the four core challenges constraining our current food system and address why we must develop solutions in order to feed our society in the year 2050.
My talk explores our new technology tool kit, which we can use to redesign the food system, retrofitting agriculture, developing new forms of food production and building an ecosystem of agriculture innovators in the process.
Delivering commercial capability, customers and capital to AgriFood tech companies
Recode Ventures is Michael Macolino's independent venture building and investment advisory practice, designed to partner with a curated group of dedicated, forward-thinking AgriTech companies.
This selective approach enables deep collaboration, working alongside founders and teams to build commercially disciplined businesses with sustainable unit economics, validated market traction, and capital structures aligned to agricultural realities.
These beliefs shape every engagement, from how we assess market entry to how we structure growth strategies and deploy our networks to accelerate commercial outcomes.
RUNWAY
VENTURE BUILDING
BUILD THE COMMERCIAL ENGINE
You've validated the tech. Now you need the GTM strategy, customer engagement, and execution rhythm that scales.
We build the commercial engine to win markets, the operational cadence to scale efficiently, and the roadmap to drive competitive advantage.
REACH
MARKET ENTRY
NAVIGATE MARKET COMPLEXITY
New markets hide complexity, unknown demand patterns, unfamiliar channels, and strategic relationships you need to build quickly for success.
We deliver validated market entry strategy, network-accelerated partnerships, and access to channel infrastructure that opens commercial pathways.
RAISE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY
PREPARE FOR STRATEGIC CAPITAL
You've built traction but investors demand commercial fundamentals. Without disciplined strategy, companies accept dilutive terms or run out of runway.
We work alongside founders to build the investment case, connect them to the right capital partners, and negotiate terms that set the path for long-term success.
TRACK RECORD OF DELIVERY
GLOBAL EXPERT NETWORK
BUILT FOR OUTCOMES
Through strategic partnerships with the AgTech Advisory Collective and a network of relationships across agriculture, technology, and investment, clients gain direct access to world-class expertise that accelerates commercial traction.
With deep industry knowledge and presence across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the Collective provides local expertise, strategic guidance, and trusted connections in key markets
helping AgriTech companies scale from launch to global presence.
ECO-SYSTEM BUILDER
Since 2018, Michael has worked at two levels within the AgriFood tech ecosystem: directly with companies, and strategically with the eco-system that enables them.
This includes government policy, events, investments and the programs that connect innovators, producers, and researchers with global opportunities, driving progress through strategic advisory work that shapes our global eco-system.Co-organiser of AgriTech Meetup South Australia
FEATURED BY
