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Regrow CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Anastasia Volkova has been selected to join the 2023 cohort of UBS Global Visionaries, a prestigious innovation accelerator program run by UBS Group, the world’s largest private bank.
As highlighted in her UBS profile, Volkova co-founded Regrow to achieve her vision of making science-based agronomy and sustainable crop management industry standards. Regrow is driving a resilient agriculture revolution, enabling companies across the agrifood industry to invest in sustainable and profitable working practices. Our digital solutions enable farmers to grow more quality produce and manage their land and crops in ways that help them build resilience to climate change, while enabling brands with agricultural value chains to accurately measure, monitor, reduce, and report on their farm-based Scope 3 emissions.
Regrow was recently recognized by Fast Company as the No. 1 Most Innovative Company in Agriculture for 2023, and No. 41 out of the top 50 across all industries. At only 31, Volkova is already blazing a path as a well-known industry thought leader who can help guide global CPGs on their path to net zero. She is also a 2022 Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst, and has been recognized as one of MIT’s “35 Under 35” Innovators, and BBC’s “Top 100 Women.”
What is a UBS Global Visionary?
Global Visionaries are leading entrepreneurs – outstanding individuals working towards one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. They're finding innovative solutions to societal issues, across diverse realms such as health; education; equality and the environment. Global Visionaries are selected by a UBS board and must meet the following selection criteria:
- Innovative - They are thought leaders at the forefront of innovation - their work is shaping our future - from the society we live in to the products we use.
- Impactful - Their actions create positive environmental and/or social impact.
- Compelling - They have a great story to tell and a clear, convincing message to share - which are of interest to UBS and its stakeholders.
And are working for organizations that are:
- Sustainable - The organization has the potential and ability to be financially and operationally sustainable in the long run.
- Scalable - The organization's method of solving societal challenges is designed to be scalable.
- Compatible - The organization and its purpose complement our overall strategy and the support that we offer other Global Visionaries.
Since the program launched in 2016, UBS has supported over 70 Global Visionaries. And today, those companies are doing some exciting things. They’re creating networks of cloud-controlled vertical farms. They’re capturing CO2 and storing it underground. They’re finding alternatives to palm oil. They’re addressing humanitarian problems with apps and drones. And they’ve gone on to win major awards, become UBS partners and successfully raise capital.
“I’m very honored to have been invited to join this impressive group,” said Volkova. “One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned on my journey as a mission-driven entrepreneur is that none of us inherently have all the knowledge and resources we need to achieve the global changes we are trying to make. Together, we are stronger. Having a network of like-minded, successful innovators to network with and learn from will be an invaluable resource for me - and in effect, the entire Regrow team - as we continue our work to make agriculture more resilient, along with the companies and people that depend on it.”
Eight Visionaries were selected for this year’s Global Visionaries program. UBS will support them to scale their positive impact by connecting them with the firm’s network of employees, partners and clients. As UBS states on its website, “Our purpose is to reimagine the power of investing and connect people for a better world. We’re aiming to build a new way of thinking. One where social and environmental impact is embedded in how all finance works and how all businesses grow. No one can do this alone. That’s why connecting is so important and we all have a role to play.”
