Farmers Business Network (FBN) is organizing an agtech startup showcase at its upcoming Farmer2Farmer conference to give agtech innovators the chance to present their technologies to some of the industry’s earliest tech adopters for real-time farmer feedback.
FBN, an independent farmer-to-farmer network that focuses on farm benchmarking, real-world seed performance, input optimization, and purchasing, as well as crop marketing, also wants to give its members exposure to the latest in agricultural innovation.
“It is vital that agricultural startups get honest, actionable feedback from their ultimate customers, farmers,” says Charles Baron, cofounder of FBN. “FBN members are deeply innovative, and we want to make sure they’re exposed to the breadth of innovation out there.”
FBN is inviting agtech startups at any stage to apply to present their technologies in front of an expected audience of more than 3,000 farmers in Omaha in December. Selected startups will also be provided with exhibition space at the three-day conference where they have the chance to further interact with their farmer member base.
The showcase is also an opportunity for FBN to connect with the most innovative startups in the industry as potential distribution partners through its online marketplace.
“FBN has done an incredible job building close relationships with some of the top farmers in the US,” says Rob Leclerc, CEO of AgFunder. “For a startup to access a network that took FBN years to build is an incredible opportunity given that distribution is one of the main challenges an agtech startup will face.”
FBN is looking for startups of any stage and maturity to apply, across technology and crop types, although the attendees of the event will predominantly be large-scale row crop farmers from across the US and Canada.
“We’re looking for the most breakthrough innovations on the farm, with an emphasis on broadacre crops,” says Baron. “We want to help our members find the innovations that will drive deep ROI (return on investment) now and in the near future.”
Five selected startups will have five minutes to present their technologies followed by five minutes of Q&A from a panel of judges as well as the audience. The judges will be questioning and assessing the startups on the problem their technology aims to solve, the strength of the product in question, the business model, and the competitive landscape.
Startups will be in the running to win one of two awards: the Farmers’ Choice Award, voted on by the audience, and the Farmer2Farmer Judge’s Choice Award, selected by the judging panel.
Startups that are not selected to pitch can apply for a stand at the Farmer2Farmer exhibition for a small fee.
Farmer2Farmer is FBN’s annual conference for its members, bringing together the most progressive farmers from across the United States and Canada for three days of unbiased, independent conversation around the future of farming.
“Farmer2Farmer has become the place where the future of technology, farming, and food come together,” says Baron. “FBN members are elite farmers from all over the US and Canada who are excited about the frontiers of technology and understanding what role it will have on their farms.”
“Farmer2Farmer brings together the most innovative farmers with the most innovative companies who are together creating a new future for agriculture,” he added.
Apply to present here before October 15, 2018.
*Farmers Business Network is an AgFunder Network Partner. Find out more here.*
