How I Built This with Guy Raz HIBT Lab! Gro Intelligence: Sara Menker
Dec 8, 2022
Sara Menker, Founder of Gro Intelligence and a former Wall Street commodities trader, shares her journey from experiencing famine in Ethiopia to launching a cutting-edge platform for agricultural data. She discusses how AI is revolutionizing agricultural forecasting, helping stakeholders navigate complexities in food supply. The conversation also touches on the global grain crisis accentuated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to food insecurity and the role of data analytics in sustainable farming practices.
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Growing Up in Ethiopia
- Sara Menker grew up in Ethiopia during a communist regime with limited resources and a sense of scarcity.
- This upbringing taught her not to take anything for granted and appreciate basic necessities.
Realizing the Data Gap
- During the 2008 financial crisis, Sara Menker's colleague's reaction to the crisis sparked her interest in agricultural investing.
- She realized the lack of reliable data and infrastructure in agriculture made it difficult to address food security challenges.
Leaving Morgan Stanley
- Sara Menker left Morgan Stanley in 2012 to pursue her idea, despite her boss's disbelief.
- She spent two years researching and defining her business, Grow Intelligence.