Uprooting the Flower Industry 1 Global Youth Conference 2012 World Bank Group Presentation March 7, 2012

Where can we find the great ideas that become the foundation for incredible companies? 2

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Orchidologist and plant explorer 4

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My problem/opportunity: I want to grow potted orchids at low cost in an emerging market, but I also want to export the plant and sell it to first-world consumers. How do I do this? 11

My problem/opportunity: I want to grow potted orchids at low cost in an emerging market, but I also want to export the plant and sell it to first-world consumers. How do I do this? 12 My Answer: Dump the dirt!

How does it work? Soil-less orchids, also known by their scientific name, Barkeria, are not grown with the use of soil substitutes, hydroponics, or any technology having to do with the pot design. The orchids that we grow have naturally evolved to grow without soil and our company found a way to commercially exploit that ability in order to get around import restrictions. 13

How do we produce them? 1) Seedlings cloned in sterile jars at lab 2) Seedlings acclimatized to ambient environment 14 3) Plants transferred to special pots 4) Commercial-sized orchids flowering

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Product Line: 6 of our 11 Varieties 16

Signposts of Progress 17  Closing on a 2M round of financing to scale the project to commercial level.  Beginning construction of an advanced propagation laboratory.  Licensing talks with foreign companies.  Submitting initial patent applications to Mexican government for approval.

Goals:  Become the largest orchid farm in Latin America  Creation of a new flower business model that disintermediates the florist  Ability to drop ship our orchids to our customers 18

3 Tips for Entrepreneurs 19

3 Tips for Entrepreneurs 1. To get what you want sometimes it’s as easy as asking for it. 20

3 Tips for Entrepreneurs 1. To get what you want sometimes it’s as easy as asking for it. 2. Do the things that you are passionate about doing. 21

3 Tips for Entrepreneurs 1. To get what you want sometimes it’s as easy as asking for it. 2. Do the things that you are passionate about doing. 3. Take advantage of the fact that you have the ultimate backup plan. 22