Vegrow - Head - Ve-Labs - R&D

ABOUT VEGROW

Vegrow focuses on matchmaking across demand and supply for fruits, aggregating multiple channels (wholesalers/semi-wholesalers, modern trade, and general trade) in 100 cities on the demand side and 30,000+ farmers on the supply side. Through its unique community advisory approach, Vegrow digitally engages with farmers across 400+ production pockets and helps them align with market expectations and get better yield, thereby higher income. It processes more than 400 tons of fruits daily. The company has grown significantly in the last 12 months with industry leading gross margins of ~20%. The growth has been unlocked on the back of its deep tech and data stack across the value chain. It has built capabilities to harness farmer chatter, estimate farmland produce and measure demand across Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III markets.

Vegrow founders are extremely passionate about Agri-domain and come from a very strong pedigree of IITs and have a rich corporate and start-up experience along with domain expertise owing to their stint in ITC, Urban Company, AgroStar and Chronus. It is a fast-growing company and has scaled to over 450-member young and passionate team with a very strong leadership who are ex-entrepreneurs with a blend of Agri & non-Agri expertise coming from successful organisations viz. Godrej, Reliance, ITC, Microsoft etc.

The company has raised US$46M in its Series C primary and secondary funding in January 2024. This new funding round has been led by GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, with significant participation from existing investor Prosus Ventures and continued support from Matrix Partners India, Elevation Capital, and Lightspeed.

https://vegrow.in/

Position Title: Head of Velabs

Location: Bangalore

Reports To: Co - Founder

Department: Research & Development / Innovation

Role Overview: The Head of Velabs will lead a dynamic team dedicated to extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of fresh fruits. This role requires a deep understanding of fruit science, innovative thinking, and a strategic mindset to develop products and services that improve fruit longevity. The solutions created will be utilised both internally and offered to external customers, with the long-term goal of establishing a consulting arm to address challenges within the fruit industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for the Velabs team, aligning with the company's objectives to extend fruit shelf life and preserve quality.

- Lead the team in researching and developing innovative solutions that cater to both internal needs and external market demands.

Innovation and Product Development:

- Spearhead the development of new products and services aimed at extending the shelf life of fresh fruits.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, supply chain, and marketing, to ensure successful product launch and adoption.

Industry Engagement:

- Establish Velabs as a consulting arm, capable of solving complex problem statements from the fruit industry.

- Build and maintain relationships with industry stakeholders, leveraging these connections to drive innovation and commercial success.

Team Management:

- Recruit, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals.

- Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and excellence within the team.

Research and Development:

- Oversee initiatives to develop a deeper understanding of fruit science, identifying key areas for innovation.

- Stay updated on the latest industry trends, technologies, and scientific advancements to ensure Velabs remains at the forefront of innovation.

Commercialization:

- Collaborate with the sales and business development teams to commercialise Velabs' solutions, ensuring they meet market needs and drive revenue growth.

- Explore new business opportunities, including partnerships and collaborations within the fruit industry.

Qualifications:

- Advanced degree (Master's) in Food Science, Agriculture, Horticulture, or a related field.

- Minimum of 7 years of experience and a focus on fresh produce is preferred

- Strong understanding of fruit physiology, post-harvest technology, and quality preservation techniques.

- Experience in business development, commercialization & consulting within the fruit industry is desirable.

- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate research into market-ready solutions.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Key Competencies:

- Innovation: Ability to think outside the box and develop cutting-edge solutions to industry challenges.

- Strategic Vision: Strong business acumen with a clear understanding of market dynamics and future trends.

- Leadership: Proven ability to inspire and lead a team towards achieving ambitious goals.

- Ability to Learn: Intent to create a deep knowledge of preservation techniques and post-harvest technology.

- Collaboration: Strong ability to work with cross-functional teams and build relationships across the organisation and industry.