Last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced AgTech Nation, a Nationwide AgriFood Innovation Network catalyzed by Woodland's AgStart, as a Stage Two winner for the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The Network will receive a $150,000 award to leverage partnerships with leading agrifood-focused entrepreneur-support organizations across the country to support the launch, growth, and scale-up of STEM/R&D-focused small businesses pioneering innovations in our global food system.
The SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition brings together organizations, entities, groups, and individuals beyond geographic boundaries to support innovators and innovation needed to confront today's challenges. AgTech Nation is expected to facilitate a thriving national ecosystem to quickly connect innovative high growth agrifood entrepreneurs with the insights, resources, and partners they need to succeed, without regard to location, gender or ethnic origin.
"American agriculture is globally competitive, and an important part of the economy of many states, particularly in rural communities. Technology innovation is essential to keep American agriculture competitive, and much of this innovation is emerging from innovative startups,” said John Selep, president of AgStart. “AgTech Nation is intended to strengthen U.S. leadership in agrifood technology by ensuring those innovative startups can connect to the resources they need to be successful. Healthy agriculture means healthy rural communities.”
AgStart is a nonprofit organization that supports agriculture, food, and health entrepreneurs who are commercializing innovative technologies for a better future. AgStart is based in Downtown Woodland and operates The Lab@AgStart, the largest wet-lab incubator for startup companies in California’s Central Valley region.
Read the full release on AgStart's website.