Women entrepreneurs - meet Olga Dubey of AgroSustain

17.07.2018 12:00, Charlotte Pichon

Having seen at first-hand how farmers and gardeners depend on pesticides to achieve high production, despite the adverse health effects, Olga immediately recognized the potential of the efficient, organic anti-fungal pathogen she discovered during her PhD studies at the University of Lausanne. It’s not just for farmers, either; post-harvest application in food and plant storage will significantly reduce waste.

Her own entrepreneurial potential has been recognized by the De Vigier Foundation (where she was a 2018 finalist) as well as the Republic & Canton of Geneva, which awarded AgroSustain the 2018 Sustainable Development Prize. She shares with us her journey into entrepreneurship, from a PhD to a successful startup.

How did you first get started with AgroSustain?
AgroSustain is an outcome of my PhD thesis, which I did at the Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Lausanne. During my thesis, I was working on understanding why some plants are more resistant to fungal pathogens than others. I enjoyed working on such a fascinating subject, as it was very challenging and motivating. As an outcome, I found the first antifungal compounds that made the base of AgroSustain’s technology.
 
What’s been your experience as a woman in your field? Have you faced any specific challenges?
Almost every day, I find an article talking about women in the entrepreneurial world and their challenges. However, from my side, I never felt underestimated as a woman in the start-up community. The entrepreneurial environment in Switzerland is extremely open and friendly. Indeed, there are more men than women, but I believe this ratio is more linked to the high pressure and insecurity than any other factors. My only concern is that some jury members might sometimes find it confusing to judge a woman entrepreneur, but they have to get used to it! Men and women can each bring something unique to their startups, and I believe that only by working closely with each other can we build strong companies.
 
Who were your mentors along the way?
AgroSustain had a lot of support along the way from great people at Innosuisse and Venture Kick as well as experienced entrepreneurs. The Swiss entrepreneurial community is extremely supportive and really guides you through your first steps.
 
What advice do you have for women who want to launch their company in high-tech?
There is nothing to be scared about in creating a start-up. It is exciting and motivating to build you own company. We all hear that more than 95% of startups are going to fail, but finding or starting a new job can be tough too.
 
In 2017, you participated in the AIT program and this year, you also traveled to South Africa with the Swiss-South African Venture Leaders. What was it like to discover these markets? How have those trips helped with developing AgroSustain?
I really enjoyed both camps and I am thankful to Venturelab for providing us the opportunities to discover the Indian and South African markets. I found it very useful to start investigating other markets at the very beginning of AgroSustain’s development, to build its long-term vision.
 
Earlier this year, you also won CHF 130,000 at the Venture Kick final. The Venture Kick journey covers many months. How were the Kickers camps and jury sessions? How was it beneficial to you as entrepreneur and to your company’s development?
Applying for Venture Kick was one of the best decisions we took. I would call it the best school for entrepreneurs, starting from your lab bench and finishing with talking and signing contracts with your future customers. During the two-day Kickers camps, we got guidance on what should be the next steps for developing AgroSustain, how to select the main market and approach customers. Additionally, we got exposure to make other people interested in what we do. Exposure is a key point for early-stage startups, as it allows you to easily access investors and potential mentors.  

The jury session was very useful; I really appreciated getting written feedback after each stage and used it as guidance on what should be improved for the next round. I strongly recommend Venture Kick to other entrepreneurs who are just starting their journey – getting a Kick from VK is the best thing that can happen to your startup.