Ag tech accelerator connects start-ups with producers and business experts

The road to commercialization success for an agricultural innovation entrepreneur is neither short nor straight. It can be hard to find the necessary funding, overcome regulatory barriers, or access all the necessary skills and resources to go from idea to sellable product. 

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That’s where the Saskatchewan-based Cultivator, Canada’s first credit union-led tech incubator, is helping to make a difference with its agtech accelerator program. Supported by Conexus Credit Union, Cultivator’s mandate is to support tech businesses with a focus on agriculture.

Why it matters: According to Bloomberg, Canada ranks ninth in the world for its investment in agricultural research, but a mere 21st for bringing that research to market. 

Cultivator has just launched its third agtech accelerator cohort this spring, which features specialized programming for early-stage start-ups looking to expand their business models and products. Built by venture capital investors, the curriculum includes base programming in topics like marketing, sales and legal, as well as one-on-one connections for founders with mentors, industry experts and farmers. 

“Our goal is to achieve wide connectivity and integration with as many people as possible when they’re here (in Saskatchewan),” says Bre Walkenden, Community and Partner Manager, adding that kick-off and wrap-up in person sessions are complemented by 10 weeks of virtual learning. “We want to help ag entrepreneurs be successful.”

Each cohort has room for approximately 15 participants, with up to five spots open to businesses based in the United Kingdom as part of a unique partnership with Innovate UK. 

“There are a lot of synergies between the agricultural economies and landscapes of Canada and the UK, and part of what makes this program so unique is that we can offer that global perspective as the participants build out their business models,” adds Director Laura Mock. 

The accelerator program is free for participants thanks to financial support from Economic Development Regina and Emmertech, a venture capital firm specializing in agri-tech and agri-business innovation. 

According to Mock, the program’s support for participants continues even when the cohort ends, through initiatives like the Million Acres project that is recruiting farmers who are willing to work with founders to test and refine their innovations. 

“This is part of what makes this program so unique and special; through our connections with producers across Canada, participants will have access to a network of farmers who provide feedback and help with product development, so there’s a feedback loop that continues – and founders don’t have to spend time looking for participants for product trials,” Mock says. 

Ontario-based IntelliCulture is a graduate of the first cohort that ran in 2022. The company has developed farm management software that helps solve three of the biggest, most critical on-farm challenges: labour availability, pest prevention and machine safety. 

Through specially developed data loggers that easily plug into a tractor, IntelliCulture provides a real-time view of a farm’s equipment fleet through a web portal or an app, giving farmers and farm managers detailed information about management and performance.  

“This was a great program in general with regular mentor sessions to talk about problems we were having – and the mentors were producers and business experts,” explains co-founder and CEO Cole Powers. “What more could you ask for than to sit a table with all these people and have them give you the time of day?”

In the two years since completing the cohort, the company has doubled its grower customer base, hired an additional five people and continues to expand its products and services. Powers credits a significant part of that steady growth to the network they were able to build and the marketing and business training they received. 

Three Ontario companies are part of the current cohort: Grain Discovery, Transport Genie and Vetson. In addition to IntelliCulture, other Ontario alumni include Vivid Machines, Farm Health Guardian, Ukko Agro and Vive Crop Protection. 

At the five year mark since its launch, Cultivator is now working on updating its business strategy and focusing on the key capacities that will help the organization grow and add value as an accelerator and incubator and continue to expand its offering for agtech founders.