Start-up companies who are inventing ag technologies now have the opportunity to compete for investments totaling up to $250,000 to support the development and growth of their businesses. Western Growers has officially opened the application period for AgSharks™, a new initiative where selected entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to a panel of experts who will decide on the spot whether and how much to invest. The entrepreneurs must then accept the offer, negotiate or decline.

If any WG member is currently working with a startup or know of an entrepreneur who is developing ag technologies, help them scale by encouraging them to apply for AgSharks.

Companies interested in participating in AgSharks at Western Growers Annual Meeting can apply here. 

AgSharks, which was recently launched by Western Growers and S2G Ventures (Seed 2 Growth), will take place at Western Growers 92nd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas on October 31, 2017. The event expands on WG’s previously implemented Innovation Showcase, where startups competed for exclusive opportunities to connect with growers throughout California, Arizona and Colorado. AgSharks takes the Innovation Showcase to the next level with real-time investment opportunities and decision-making in front of a live audience.

“We had the privilege to participate in the Innovation Arena with a panel of extremely innovative startups. It was an honor to win the Audience Choice award and also tie for the Judge’s Choice award with Agralogics,” said Diane Wu, co-founder of Trace Genomics and winner in the 2016 Innovation Showcase. “We used the opportunity to launch a new program exclusive to Western Growers members. Since the audience is uniquely a group of growers, the experience really helped us validate the need for our product and receive valuable feedback that is hard to find elsewhere.”

The deadline to apply is Friday, September 29 at 12:00pm PST. 

For questions on AgSharks, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.