This week on Found, we’re joined by Charles Baron, co-founder and CMO of Farmers Business Network (FBN), a startup that offers a suite of online services to farmers. In this episode, Baron shares his story about what led him, a former venture capitalist, to want to build in the agtech space.
About Our Guest
Charles Baron is the co-founder and CMO at FBN. Prior to founding FBN, Baron worked as a venture capitalist, where he saw firsthand the potential for technology to improve agriculture. He realized that farmers were facing significant challenges in terms of access to information, pricing power, and scale. This experience sparked his desire to build a company that could provide solutions to these problems.
The Birth of FBN
FBN was founded on the idea that farmers should have access to the same level of data-driven decision-making tools as corporations. Baron and his team recognized that technology could help farmers make better decisions, improve efficiency, and increase profitability. They also saw an opportunity to democratize access to these technologies, making them available to farmers of all sizes.
Expansion into Multiple Verticals
When FBN first launched, it focused on providing data-driven decision-making tools for corn and soybean farmers. However, as the company grew and learned more about its customers’ needs, Baron and his team realized that there was a much broader opportunity to support multiple crops and verticals.
"We started with corn and soybeans because they’re two of the most widely grown crops in the US," says Baron. "However, we quickly realized that there were other crops where farmers could benefit from our services as well."
Today, FBN offers solutions for over 50 different crops, including fruits, vegetables, and row crops.
The Need for What FBN Offers
Baron believes that the agtech space is ripe for innovation. "Farmers have been underserved by technology for a long time," he says. "We saw an opportunity to create a platform that would provide farmers with the tools they need to make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and increase profitability."
FBN’s services include access to real-time market data, pricing information, and weather forecasts. The company also offers a suite of digital tools that help farmers manage their operations more effectively.
The Role of Technology in Agriculture
Baron is passionate about the potential for technology to transform agriculture. "Technology has the power to make farming more efficient, more sustainable, and more profitable," he says. "At FBN, we’re committed to providing solutions that will help farmers achieve these goals."
Some of the key technologies being used in agriculture today include precision agriculture, vertical farming, and autonomous equipment. These innovations have the potential to improve crop yields, reduce water consumption, and increase food production.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Charles Baron’s journey from venture capitalist to agtech entrepreneur is a testament to the power of innovation and disruption in any industry. By recognizing the need for technology solutions in agriculture, Baron and his team at FBN are changing the face of farming forever.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Found as much as we did! If you have any questions or comments about this episode, please feel free to reach out to us on Twitter or Instagram. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more stories from founders and innovators like Charles Baron.
