72 | RURAL SERVICES » Landify Connecting established and young farmers with investors Landify co-founder’s Sarah How and Tara Dwyer. Tracey Edwardes Landify is a space connecting established farmers, younger farmers and investors. “We are an online platform where people can dip their toes to explore farming partnership models and going opportunities.” says the start up’s co-founder Sarah How. The 34-year-old launched Landify in August with Tara Dwyer, university mates since their days studying at Lincoln. Sarah’s background is in agronomy and research and development, but her interest in farm ownership pathways led her to study an MBA to understand how other industries apply technology to similar challenges. “That’s how our cogs started turning with what a platform-based solution could look like to support more farming partnerships. We felt that having to rely on informal networks to find suitable partners left families feeling they had limited options for succession, seeking investment or entering farm ownership. From a multi-generational, mixed-cropping background, Sarah lives near Geraldine - with fencing contractor husband Toby, 4-year-old Reba, and 20-month-old Jock. She and co-founder Tara built the highly-automated platform from the ground up, inventing everything by trial and error. “I pick up the phone and troubleshoot with Tara, who is an awesome sounding board. With her husband, Tara helps to manage a large sheep and beef property in Middlemarch, while also being on the road as Breeding Manager for Headwaters genetics and juggling two young children herself.” “On Landify, you can discretely list or explore other listed partnership opportunities. Almost all our listings -from established farmers, aspiring farmers and investors alike - are anonymous and keep their affairs private. “It’s free to sign up and view our partnership listings. You just need to be a paid member ($499 per year) to be connected to someone, or to make a listing yourself. This subscription cost filters out the wheat from the chaff – people who contact you about your listing are serious about and already invested in exploring partnerships.” ‘Partnerships’ can mean many things on Landify, including lease, equity partnership, joint venture, lease to buy, vendor finance and other farm ownership pathway arrangements. Already, several equity partnerships in both dairy and drystock situations have been established thanks to connections made on Landify. “But we’re not in the business of shotgun marriages! A 12-month listing really tests the waters by allowing members to explore multiple enquiries. For no extra fee, we can craft an anonymous listing on a member’s behalf, after a phone interview to pinpoint their motivations, values and boundaries. “It’s no secret that going farming is an uphill battle. The next generation, whether they’re from farming stock or not, face extremely high capital requirements and limited access to finance. At the same time, many landowners are looking for options to step back or to diversify. We created Landify as a space to connect natural partners and give more options to farmers and investors at all stages. “Importantly - Landify connects people, but we don’t facilitate partnership arrangements. Our members are strongly encouraged to use Accountants & Business Advisors 18 Woollcombe St, Timaru | www.fordsimpson.co.nz | P: 03 687 2080 Proud partners of successful South Canterbury Businesses Pleased to support Landify Ford Simpson Ltd Chartered Accountants Brodie Craig Antony Ford Tom Hanning ph.co.nz Your Farm Accountant facilitators and get independent advice to appropriately assess partnership opportunities. Our service provider directory promotes qualified accountants, lawyers, advisors and facilitators who operate in this field. “We feel so privileged that people are willing to share with us their family situations and goals, and we take that really seriously. We are thrilled by the immense support we’ve had from the sector – over 1,500 people have signed up to Landify, and more people are signing up every day.”
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