How Cropify turned a seat at the table into growth at evokeᴬᴳ Culinary Capital
This wasn’t just dinner; it was the start of something bigger. As the entrees rolled out at the 2025 Culinary Capital Dinner, so did game changing conversations. At the centre of one table sat Cropify, a startup with a bold mission and a sharp pitch, ready to turn a seat at the table into something more.
Meet Cropify: The startup tackling grain grading head on
Cropify is a South Australian based agritech startup transforming how the grain supply chain grade grain in Australia and globally. Their mission? To eliminate subjective testing from the grading process of pulses and grains.
Founded by Anna Falkiner and Andrew Hannon, the team came together after recognising an opportunity to deliver efficiency and transparency to the existing grain grading systems, for both growers and grain marketers, navigating volatile markets and limited pricing transparency.
Before their evokeAG. experience, Cropify had a working prototype, a small network of trial users and big ambitions to commercialise in Australia in 2025.
“We couldn’t afford delegate tickets to evokeAG. previously, so applying to the Startup Program was a way to see what opportunities we could unlock. It was about seeing what we could gain by being part of the ecosystem,” said Anna Falkiner, Co-Founder and CEO.
Why evokeAG. was the right move
Cropify was selected to participate in the 2025 Culinary Capital Dinner, where they were matched with tables that aligned with their focus. In preparation, the team refined their pitch, polished their value proposition, and honed in on the outcomes they wanted to achieve from the event.
“We expected evokeAG. to be like an exhibition. You pay for a stand, chat to passersby. We had no idea how curated it would be. It completely exceeded our expectations,” said Falkiner.
The unique dinner format, where attendees rotate tables each course and engage in structured conversations, offered Cropify a rare opportunity: time to explain, listen, and build relationships in a low pressure, high value environment.
“The format was intimate and we knew why each person was there. We had done the research, we had our key messages and were focussed on making authentic connections,” said Falkiner.
The dinner sparked interest from US based venture capitalists and potential customers, a defining moment in Cropify’s growth story. But it wasn’t just leads, it was confidence. Being part of evokeAG. gave Cropify credibility, validation, and momentum.
“While no one says it outright, being part of evokeAG. signals credibility and investor confidence. It acts as a vetting mechanism. You’re there because you’ve gone through a process, and that gives investors confidence” said Falkiner.
Dinner with a difference
In 2026, the Culinary Capital Dinner is being reimagined to deepen these kinds of connections. Each startup will host a table centred around a “future force” topic like artificial intelligence, climate change, or biosecurity. Across three courses, investors, producers and corporates will rotate between tables for facilitated discussions, giving startups a captive audience and the space to explore their ideas more meaningfully.
This year’s format will also strengthen alignment between guest interests and startup relevance through pre-event preferences and table assignments, helping ensure each interaction is as intentional as it is impactful.
“If you’re an investor, you should absolutely be part of Culinary Capital. You’re not just hearing a pitch, you’re seeing how founders operate across personalities, pressure, and real conversations” said Falkiner.
The Culinary Capital dinner is open to ten startups or scaleups and applicants will be selected based on investment readiness, the strength of their customer value proposition, and the clarity of their growth strategy.
Why now is the time to apply?
“evokeAG. backs the startups they select. That alone is a huge advantage”, said Falkiner.
The evokeAG. Startup Program isn’t just a stage or a dinner, it’s a springboard. From Startup Alley to Scaleup Station and Culinary Capital, the program offers:
- Targeted exposure to investors, corporates and producers
- Market tested feedback from people who matter
- Media visibility and validation
- Strategic partnerships and post event support
- Year round engagement and inclusion in Australia’s leading agrifood innovation network
AgriFutures Managing Director, John Harvey said, “Now more than ever, we need bold ideas with clear impact, and we need to connect them with the people who can help make them real.”
Anna explained that, “we didn’t walk away with a signed deal, but we did build strong relationships with some really high quality venture capitalists. Normally you’d have to go to San Francisco to even get a meeting with that calibre, and they sat at our table. That’s the kind of access you want.”
Opportunity
Cropify started with a pitch and left with investor interest, purpose, and momentum. The next game changing solution could be sitting at a Culinary Capital table in 2026.
Applications for the 2026 evokeAG. Startup Program are now open. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of the most connected agrifood innovation platform.