AgBASE

AgBASE,Inc. is an American Internet company that manages AgBASE.com, an online food and beverage shopping website that functions much like a virtual farmer’s market.

History

The AgBASE concept evolved during the late 1990s arising out of CEO Glen Klock’s involvement with US Online in developing an electronic catalog to enable Boeing employees to find parts to build commercial airliners. From this project came the concept for a similar catalog, but with the food industry in mind. AgBASE, Inc. was formed with encouragement by Mat Sanders of Forrester Research (2003). Sanders predicted that the potential of an online agricultural market could be realized and that there would be a significant future movement of agricultural products through e-commerce.

Organized AgBASE with the assistance of Miriam Technologies and adapted its technology to connect agricultural businesses with consumers (B2C). Version 1.0 of the AgBASE B2C online food and beverage directory was launched in late 2005.

Product and Services

AgBASE is a virtual global farmers’ market specializing in unique products and seasonal specialties. It is an Internet alternative to direct local shopping for produce, wine, and other agricultural based-products, linking consumers directly to producers.

Competition

Several large domestic internet businesses including Ebay, and Amazon have limited food and beverage sections on their website, but the marketing of these products is not considered a core competency of these businesses. As such, LocalHarvest, a California based website focusing on organic food products, is the largest American competitor. The most relevant competitor on the international scene is Alibaba.

Financial overview

The growth of AgBASE has been financed by founder, friends and family, and bootstrapping. No venture investors are involved in AgBASE’s current growth.

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