Q&A
Clarospec
Clarospec is on a mission to develop technology to transform food supply chains, particularly lamb, by enabling farmers to breed, create and process better quality products for consumers. Their hyperspectral imaging technology coupled with a cutting-edge computing system combines real-time data capture, data processing, prediction and measurement of meat-quality attributes. It’s all about producing and exporting meat in a more conscientious way.
CEO and founder Cameron Craigie credits ChristchurchNZ’s Food Fibre and Agritech challenge for getting his idea off the ground and the continuing ability to access to the city’s innovation ecosystem to support their growth in its bid to get a seat at the international table.
How did Christchurch’s Food, Fibre and Agritech Challenge help grow your idea and expand your network?
We were at the stage where we had nailed a lot of the science, but we really needed to understand the broader context of taking technology to market, so the Food Fibre Agritech challenge was a golden opportunity for us. It sent us into other dimensions where we gained insight into all the other things you need to consider, such as, pitch practice, access to cohorts, understanding legalities, addressing the skillsets you need within your business and access Christchurch’s commercialisation community.
The environment created gave us the opportunity to grow by giving us positive and constructive feedback and it inspired us to make ourselves vulnerable, give it a crack and have a growth mindset. It also raised our profile by giving us credibility and opened us up for people to take notice and think “you must be onto something”.
“The Food Fibre and Agritech challenge is a must-do for researchers looking to take their product to market. It will help you develop important skills in the commercial arenas and introduce you to the innovation network around Christchurch.”
The Food Fibre and Agritech challenge is a must-do for researchers looking to take their product to market. It will help you develop important skills in the commercial arenas and introduce you to the innovation network around Christchurch.”
Why is Christchurch the place to do business?
There's a fantastic innovation ecosystem in Christchurch. We’ve got the Ministry of Awesome, BLinc, UC Center for Entrepreneurship and ThincLab who all support a culture of changemakers. What we found really beneficial is the ability to tap into the ecosystem and get impartial advice - there is a critical mass of people here that bring a diversity of perspective.
The other benefit is that it's a main centre, so you've got the offices of a number of key stakeholders, which has been great for us as we've developed our technology and received feedback and advice.
What’s next for Clarospec?
We are currently working on pitches to investors - actually putting onto paper what it looks like and what they’d be committing to. It’s not just lamb in our vision, as consumer demand and purchase behaviour for meat is changing, and it's going to change even faster.
“We are cutting our teeth in lamb and focused on doing it right and doing it well for credibility to move into other areas. There are future alternatives and hybrid products that have so much potential. Consumer habits and diets are changing as more people are choosing to eat less or no meat, so we are thinking about how Clarospec can be part of the solution.”
