Croissants and Questions Business Breakfast

Listen to our two guest speakers, ahead of networking, as usual. Fresh pastries and beverages will be served.

Chris Horne and Sullivan Foundation will discuss 'What features do investors look for in an agri-food technology company, how important is IP within that mix and what can you do about it?'.

Chris Horne is a passionate agriculture specialist with a wealth of international experience and a real excitement for how new technology is transforming farming. With 20+ years leading global projects for top crop protection and seed companies, he’s lived and worked across three continents, building a strong network along the way.

After advising a wide range of agricultural businesses—from machinery and seeds to animal health and finance—Chris now focuses on the fast-moving world of agritech. He’s helped UK agritech companies go global, get funded, built international research partnerships, and supports UK AgriTech Centre projects.

Chris enjoys bringing people together, supporting start-ups and spin-outs, and offering guidance to founders and investors alike. As a mentor with Thrive/SVG Ventures, Farm491, and Singapore’s Grow Accelerator, a Business Advisor to ICURe projects and an assessor for Innovate UK, he’s always eager to help new ideas take root and thrive.

Meanwhile, Sullivan Fountain leads Keltie's Sustainability Practice, and deals with technologies in many sectors, across the full range of engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electronic, materials, control systems, and software-related inventions.

Sullivan read Mechatronics at the University of Leeds, where his studies included analogue and digital electronics, software engineering, microprocessor interfacing, dynamics and control theory, power electronics, robotics and machine intelligence. This broad range of technical understanding supports his main practice of drafting and prosecuting patent applications in engineering and computer-related technologies.

Before joining Keltie in 2002, Sullivan worked for two years as an Avionics Systems Engineer with a defence contractor where he was involved with system design, integration and testing of helicopters. He qualified as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney in 2008.

After eight years at Keltie, Sullivan relocated westwards as a qualified patent attorney and joined the Intellectual Property department of Dyson Technology where he was part of the team responsible for securing patent and design protection for Dyson's rapidly-expanding range of home appliance products. Sullivan returned to Keltie in May 2013, establishing Keltie’s base in the Cotswolds along with Richard Lawrence.

Sullivan now balances his practice between drafting, prosecution and infringement risk analysis work for large corporations which are key clients of Keltie, and growing Keltie’s presence in the West of England, working hand-in-hand with SMEs of various sizes to help them navigate the world of IP whilst establishing themselves commercially.