I’ve taken much of what I learned from my time in the CIA leading special operations teams and applied it to our startup, Fieldcraft, where we’re building the first ingredient marketplace for agriculture. There’s a saying in special operations—“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
This is a widely misinterpreted concept and would probably panic investors who were part of the “move fast and break things” era. That era is dead.
In combat, clearing a building is dangerous if done without precision. Smooth is the best way to do it without getting anyone killed. Training and research prepares you for a mission. Knowing what you’re doing makes you smooth and being smooth makes you fast.
The initial idea for Fieldcraft started years ago. I’ve traveled across all seven continents and nearly 100 countries. What struck me was that ingredients can come from any corner of the world and be used in products that can go to every corner of the world. Ingredients also have the greatest potential to improve economic outcomes and foster sustainable food systems.
Fieldcraft makes it easier for producers going beyond commodity to partner with makers driven by the same purpose—to change how we grow and what we eat.
Fieldcraft is also the only marketplace in the world with a value-added supply chain. Building network effects entails piecing together every stage of that chain and building liquidity first. Over 60% of all ingredients are imported and exported. The value of Fieldcraft’s network effects grows with each new country added.
Our vision is to become the global ingredient marketplace for agriculture. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.