MOOSE JAW — The Cohort 4 phase of Cultivator, a program powered by the Conexus Credit Union’s AGTECH ACCELERATOR, is now open to recruitment with an application deadline extending into early January 2025.
“Saskatchewan and Canada are home to incredible entrepreneurial thinkers who are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture through innovation,” explained Laura Mock, director of the Cultivator project.
“However, the path to building and scaling an ag tech company is complex,” she continued. “To succeed, founders need to deliver clear value to farmers, taking into account the intricacies of farming cycles, the risks and complexities of adopting new technology, and how their solutions integrate into existing farming operations.”
The AGTECH ACCELERATOR program facilitated by Cultivator drives growth in agricultural technology by connecting farmers, founders, and investors. It’s goal is to bring innovative solutions to Canada, thereby enabling farmers to access cutting-edge tools to enhance their operations.
The program has already supported 47 companies and created 193 jobs in its first three cohorts. This includes $119.2 million raised in private capital, $72.1 million generated in revenue, and $44.4 million received in public funding.
Designed to tackle challenges in the ag tech sector, the program fosters collaboration among industry leaders, farmers, and investors, creating a dynamic ecosystem where ideas are refined, real-world farming solutions are developed, and startups can gain the expertise and funding needed for growth.
Cultivator’s AGTECH ACCELERATOR thrives on collaboration to create a supportive network for founders of new technologies. Kyle Scott, a managing partner at Emmertech, highlights the program’s ecosystem-building efforts over the past three years.
“We look forward to welcoming connections with a wider network of investors as this can be a great way to raise additional capital, diversify sources of funding, and access different expertise,” Scott said.
Cultivator also has an exciting update to the accelerator program. The program’s finale will now take place at Ag in Motion, the largest outdoor farm expo in Western Canada, starting in July 2025. Ag in Motion is regularly attended by over 30,000 attendees and 550 exhibitors from around the world each year.
“We’re proud to play a role in strengthening Canada’s agricultural economy and cultivating the next wave of ag tech innovation,” Mock said in her concluding remarks. “If you’ve developed an agriculture technology and have a working prototype, now is the time to apply and take your business to the next level.”
The Conexus Credit Union is located at 80 High Street West and can be reached at 306-690-1449. For more information visit Conexus.ca or call 1-800-667-7477 toll free.
To apply, visit Cultivator.ca/AgTech and register before the Jan. 3, 2025, deadline.
