Ag-tech fund raising new $10 million fund to provide scaling capital Ag Startup Engine, a fund for ag-tech startups, made six investments in new companies in 2024, bringing the fund’s total portfolio companies to 40, according to its latest annual report. The report also shows Ag Startup Engine made three investments in existing portfolio companies, and […]
The Iowa Biotechnology Association has announced that the Ag Startup Engine will offer a $25,000 investment to one company that pitches during IowaBio’s 2025 Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference (IBSC) Showcase Competition. A panel of judges will select a winner of the showcase to receive $10,000, and Ag Startup Engine will choose the recipient of […]
Ag Startup Engine announced the inaugural winners of the Ag-tech Founder of the Year and Ag-tech Startup of the Year awards during its 2024 Ag Innovators Unconference on Oct. 3. Kyle McMahon, founder of Tractor Zoom, was named Ag-tech Founder of the Year, and FloVision Solutions, led by Rian Mc Donnell, received the Ag-tech Startup […]
The Ag Startup Engine will hold its 2024 Ag Innovators Unconference in Des Moines on Oct. 3. The agenda includes keynotes from startup founder and adviser John Teeple and Than Hartsock, vice president of precision upgrades at John Deere. This year, Ag Startup Engine will award the Ag-tech Founder of the Year and Ag-tech Startup […]
Ag Startup Engine, an Ames-based program that offers seed investment and investor connections to early-stage agriculture startups, announced Feb. 21 it has added Indianapolis, Ind.-based Croft to its portfolio companies. According to a news release, Croft has developed an online Agribusiness Workforce Platform to help address challenges around seasonal labor, worker productivity and farm operations optimization. Croft founders Scott […]
Ag Startup Engine, a fund for agtech startups, hosted its 2023 Unconference event in Des Moines touching on the themes of data, artificial intelligence and sustainable agriculture. Speakers from this year’s event shared their thoughts on agricultural innovation currently and in the future. Bill Northey, CEO of Agribusiness Association of Iowa and former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture“When […]
Ag Startup Engine, a seed capital program for agricultural startups, on Wednesday announced Farmwave as the latest company to join its portfolio. According to the news release, Farmwave offers a solution to monitoring and managing mechanical harvest loss. Using AI software, the company has developed a system of cameras that mount on the combine in […]
The current hiring landscape is on nearly every business leader’s mind. The Ag Startup Engine’s fifth annual Ag Innovators Unconference sought to inform and support agricultural startups in their hiring journeys and working to attract tech talent to Iowa. Ag Startup Engine co-director Joel Harris moderated a panel discussion titled “Crap. I just raised a bunch […]
Ames-based Genvax Technologies, a startup bringing advances in self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) for animal vaccines, will move toward getting regulatory approval of its vaccines with $6.5 million in new series seed funding. According to a press release, the company is seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture and international approval “in anticipation of any foreign animal disease outbreak in order […]
Ag Startup Engine has announced a new initial investment in Le Clair, Iowa-based Haggle, an online marketplace where farmers can lend equipment and services they aren’t using to other farmers. “Haggle makes it easy for farmers to earn a passive income with idle equipment,” founder and CEO Nathan Greuel said. “We look to improve agriculture […]