The Client:
Avemoy is an Austrian agri-tech start-up based in Klagenfurt, developing fully autonomous AI-powered drone technology for greenhouse horticulture. Their flagship product, Hortiscan, enables tomato growers to automate crop monitoring (i.e. scanning for pest detection, harvest prediction, vine health, and quality classification) delivering over 33% cost savings and up to 50% fewer resources required.
The Challenge:
With growing demand across European greenhouse markets, Avemoy identified the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading horticulture hubs, as a critical territory for commercial expansion. They required their first boots on the ground in the region: a Sales Manager with deep knowledge of the Dutch greenhouse sector, the credibility to open doors with large-scale growers, and the commercial acumen to build a pipeline from scratch in an entirely new market.
The Solution:
Gillespie Manners conducted targeted market mapping and headhunting across the Netherlands’ agri-tech and horticulture ecosystem, identifying candidates with both the sector expertise and the entrepreneurial profile suited to a first-in-market role. Working closely with Avemoy’s leadership team, we moved quickly to qualify, assess, and present a focused shortlist of high-calibre candidates within a tight timeframe.
The Outcome:
From initial brief to signed offer in just six weeks, Gillespie Manners delivered Avemoy’s first commercial hire in the Netherlands, a significant milestone for their European growth strategy. The placement gave Avemoy an immediate, credible presence in one of the world’s most advanced greenhouse markets, positioning them to accelerate commercial traction from day one.