The National Science Foundation (NSF) Great Plains I-Corps Hub, which includes the University of Wyoming as a partner, announced on May 15 that it is recruiting teams for a new entrepreneurship training cohort focused on agriculture-related technologies.
The program, called Ag45, is open to individuals and teams developing agricultural technologies who want to learn more about bringing their ideas to market. North Dakota State University leads the hub and plays a key role in research and industry collaboration within North Dakota’s agricultural sector.
The seven-session Ag45 program will run from Aug. 13 through Sept. 24 in a virtual format from 9 a.m. to noon Mountain Time. The sessions are designed to help participants validate their ideas and build foundations for commercialization of ag-related technologies. “Ag45 gives UW faculty members, students and other Wyoming innovators an opportunity to learn how to move an agriculture-focused technology from a concept or lab toward real-world impact,” said Erica Belmont, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming and faculty lead for UW in the hub. “Participants will interact directly with producers and other industry stakeholders to better understand market needs, validate their ideas and build connections across the agricultural ecosystem. Whether someone is just beginning to explore commercialization or is already developing a technology, this program will provide valuable entrepreneurship training.”
During the course, participants will conduct customer discovery interviews with farmers and industry leaders; participate in workshops; engage with stakeholders across the agricultural system; explore pathways toward launching startups; evaluate research discoveries; discover societal impacts of innovations; enhance proposals for funding opportunities; build networks; and become eligible for NSF I-Corps team grants up to $50,000.
In-person panels are scheduled Sept. 15-18 in Fargo, North Dakota during events such as the Big Iron Farm & Construction Show and Grand Farm’s Autonomous Nation Conference.
Applications are open until July 13 through the Great Plains I-Corps website.
