AgTech Accelerator Now Taking Applications for First Cohort
The Illinois AgTech Accelerator is now taking applications for its first startup cohort, which will kick off in January 2021.
The gBETA AgTech program is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage startup companies from around the country. As part of gBETA AgTech, each of five participating startups will receive a $25,000 investment. gBETA AgTech will be hosted at the University of Illinois Research Park, but all programming will be virtual.
The program will begin on Jan. 13, 2021, and conclude with a pitch night on March 9. The pitch night will be part of the annual AgTech Summit.
Startups can apply here. Applications for gBETA AgTech will close on Nov. 30, 2020.
The Illinois AgTech Accelerator will be led by Jack Marck, who was hired in October to be the program’s managing director. Marck has experience working in product development at an agtech startup, Agrible, at Research Park.
“gener8tor’s presence in Champaign recognizes incredible innovation happening here and across the Midwest. gBETA AgTech will be a valuable addition to the already impressive array
of startup support offered by the U of I Research Park and the greater Champaign-Urbana community,” Marck said.
gBETA is designed to help startups gain early customer traction on their product or idea, and establish and execute on metrics that make them competitive applicants for full-time, equity-based accelerators or seed investment. Participants receive intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners, and investors.
In addition to gBETA AgTech, gener8tor’s agtech-specific offerings will include a virtual OnRamp Agriculture Conference and the gener8tor AgTech 12-week accelerator program, with 2021 dates to be announced.
The gener8tor AgTech program will also be hosted in Champaign-Urbana and will provide each participating company with $100,000 via uncapped convertible note or on their existing financing terms , office space and access to gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors.
In March 2020, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator launched the gBETA AgTech and gener8tor AgTech programs in Champaign. Read more about the AgTech Accelerator launch here.