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    News Research Park

    Bailey Conrady Named Associate Director of Community and Industry Partnerships at Research Park

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (July 9, 2026) — Bailey Conrady joins the University of Illinois Research Park as Associate Director of Community and Industry Partnerships, bringing a strong background in relationship building, strategic leadership and community engagement. Before joining the Research Park, Bailey served as Manager of the Champaign County Farm Bureau, where she made history as the first woman to serve as the organization’s chief executive. During her tenure, she led organizational strategy,  public policy initiatives and partnerships that strengthened connections between agriculture, business, education and local communities. Known for her collaborative leadership style and deep connections across Central Illinois, Bailey has built a career creating partnerships that deliver meaningful results for organizations and the communities they serve. A two-time graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bailey earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Animal Sciences. As a fifth-generation farmer who lives on her family’s farm near Armstrong, IL with her husband, 2 children, and farm dog, she brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to strengthening the region she calls home. Passionate about the intersection of agriculture, innovation and economic development, she looks forward to expanding partnerships between the University, industry, entrepreneurs and the broader community. Her experience working across the public, private, nonprofit and agricultural sectors provides a unique perspective on connecting organizations with the talent, resources, and research that drive economic growth. Bailey is excited to help advance the Research Park’s mission of fostering innovation, supporting startup and corporate growth and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in Champaign-Urbana and beyond. ###  About Research Park at the University of Illinois Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    News Research Park

    Research Park Hackathon Brings Companies Together, Names Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab as Winner

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (July 3, 2026) – Fifty-two interns and employees from companies based at the University of Illinois Research Park and EnterpriseWorks spent 12 hours building projects for the 2026 Hackathon on Tuesday, June 30. The event is one of several programs Research Park runs each year to bring companies in the UIRP community together. Nine teams built projects aligned with this year’s theme, “Ship It!”, each one built to “Help People.” The day ended with a science-fair-style exhibition, where judges and guests toured the projects before finalists presented and demonstrated their work. Judges scored entries in three categories: shipped application, data security, and execution and demo clarity. “Honestly, it’s a way for companies to see what their people can really do,” said Bryan Goode, Talent Manager at the University of Illinois Research Park. “You throw a mechanical engineer into a room with a UX designer for twelve hours, and you see how cross collaboration creates innovation. That’s not something you get running a hackathon on your own. Our hackathon is a playground for ideas not tied company identity. Companies get engaged interns and employees, some real ideas out of it, and a look at the rest of the community they wouldn’t get otherwise.” For participants, the day offered a rare chance to work in the same room as people from other companies across Research Park, comparing notes and watching how other teams tackled the same challenge. “I learned that ideation is actually the hardest process while making something, because of the number of people on my team,” said Cindy, a data engineering intern at Dow Delivery Center. “I’ve done hackathons before, but it’s been in teams of three or four. [Task management] took a lot of organization and collaboration among the six of us.” 2026 Research Park Hackathon Winners Third place went to Dow Delivery Center for “Reci,” a recipe ranking, tiering and sharing platform the team described as “Strava for cooking.” Users can log recipes, discover trending dishes and more. Second place went to COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab for “Sessio,” a campus-focused, feed-first deep-work app for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students the team described as “Strava for studying.” Users can log focus sessions, browse a 3D map of campus study spots, form groups, share a calendar and give friends gold stars on an activity feed. First place went to Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab for “Nutrensa,” an AI-assisted platform that guides and coordinates recipients, donors, volunteers and managed inventory for community food banks. Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab and Rivan also won the “Best User Interface” award for “PillBox,” a medication reminder app managed behind the scenes by a caregiver. Caregivers can set up and monitor patients’ medications in real time. Mondelēz International Future Lab won the “Most Creative” award for “Wello,” a platform that serves as a companion for caregivers of children with mental and cognitive disabilities. The app features AI-personalized guidance based on the child’s diagnosis, age and more. Judges were impressed with the finished projects and said several could succeed in production if further developed. The judges included: Jarai Carter, lecturer, Columbia University Laura Appenzeller, executive director, University of Illinois Research Park Gerald Wilson, director of entrepreneurship, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ###  About Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park, there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    Community EnterpriseWorks Features News Research Park

    New Podcast Episode: Nancy Sullivan

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (May 5, 2026) — Nancy Sullivan, CEO, Managing Director, and Managing Principal of Illinois Ventures, joined the Innovations at Research Park to discuss how her organization, Research Park and EnterpriseWorks, work hand-in-hand to move ideas from the lab to the market. When talking about the beginnings of the partnership between Illinois Ventures and Research Park, Sullivan pointed to Illinois Ventures’ space in EnterpriseWorks. “We took up space right in the EnterpriseWorks location…we wanted to prove we were directly connected with them,” Sullivan said. Sullivan described the partnership as a full-service support system for founders, with Research Park providing the infrastructure and Illinois Ventures providing the investment expertise. “If you’re a founder, you have a group of highly talented individuals who want to help you get set up and get your idea out of the lab and into EnterpriseWorks. The infrastructure exists in Research Park and [Illinois Ventures] has co-located to help with the investing,” said Sullivan. To hear the full conversation about Nancy Sullivan’s career and her thoughts on expanding entrepreneurship in Champaign, listen to the Innovations at Research Park podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast network. The Innovations at Research Park podcast highlights Champaign’s thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture. It is hosted by Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus.  Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show or a story we should pursue? Contact Kaleb Medina at kmedin22@illinois.edu

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    Community News Research Park

    Dow Delivery Center Opens at Research Park

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (April 8, 2026) – Dow has officially opened its Delivery Center at the University of Illinois Research Park, establishing a dedicated hub for artificial intelligence and analytics that will support the company’s operations worldwide. The opening represents Dow’s continued commitment to building the infrastructure and talent needed in an increasingly technology-driven materials science industry. Serving customers across packaging, mobility, and consumer applications, Dow operates at a scale where AI and data have become central to how the company delivers value. As those technologies continue to reshape industrial operations, Dow has made analytics a core part of its long-term strategy, investing in the people and platforms required to put that vision into practice. The Delivery Center is the latest expression of that strategy. Operating within Dow’s Enterprise, Data and Analytics organization, it is structured around four pillars: data excellence, business strategy, applied use cases, and AI governance. Together, those pillars guide how the center connects Dow’s data assets to operational decisions, supported by the company’s Integrated Data Hub. “Dow is a company based on innovation. It’s the core of what we do. To have this association and strong alignment with the University of Illinois, building on what we’ve been doing together for years in R&D, and now bringing IT and AI into that alignment, is an exciting time,” said Chris Bruman, Chief Data Analytics Officer at Dow. For decades, Dow and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have collaborated on sponsored research in chemical and biomolecular engineering, materials science, and sustainability, with Dow serving as one of the university’s longstanding corporate research partners. The Delivery Center extends that relationship into new territory, with University of Illinois students working alongside full-time professionals on live initiatives with real operational stakes. “We are excited to welcome the Dow Delivery Center to the University of Illinois Research Park. Dow is a global leader in materials science with decades of experience in data science and pioneering work in AI and machine learning. This on-campus location will facilitate faculty collaboration, student experiential employment through the University of Illinois, and connections with other technology leaders throughout the Research Park,” said Laura Appenzeller, Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park. Jen Quinlan leads the site, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry and a deep familiarity with the Research Park environment, having previously launched and directed innovation centers on the same campus. ### About Dow Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. The company operates manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employs approximately 34,600 people. Learn more at dow.com. About Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park, there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.

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    EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Cache Energy Featured in Wall Street Journal

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (July 6, 2026) – EnterpriseWorks incubator graduate Cache Energy is drawing national attention after a feature profile in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the company’s cement-based thermal battery technology. Cache Energy has developed a safe and transportable thermal storage system that stores energy from renewable sources for months at a time. By offering an efficient, affordable path away from fossil fuels, the technology provides a practical means of transitioning to clean energy. The company’s chief executive officer, Arpit Dwivedi, is focused on creating energy storage that enables long-duration electricity storage. “It gave me some time to think about what is the most impactful solution, what is that missing piece, and really developing a solution which could enable access to clean energy for everyone, everywhere,” Dwivedi said. The article also highlighted the simplicity behind the company’s pellets, dating back to a chemical reaction found in ancient Roman concrete. The reaction effectively transforms cement into a long-duration thermal battery by releasing large amounts of heat when quicklime interacts with water. Although this science has been recognized in the past, what differentiates Cache Energy’s technology is its ability to form cement into small, durable pellets through endless charging cycles. In recent military applications, the U.S. Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory partnered with Cache Energy to adapt the company’s Thermochemical Energy Storage for Army use. While the company’s commercial systems typically function between 100 and 1,000 kilowatts, the partnership between ERDC-CERL and Cache Energy supports the specialized design development of a 5-kilowatt reactor. “We are excited by the opportunity to support the U.S. Army’s mission by delivering low-cost, long-duration energy storage that enhances resilience, operational readiness and energy security,” said Amulya Nimmagadda, director of research and development at Cache Energy. “With multiple installations already underway across diverse applications, we’re excited to scale our technology to provide reliable, cost-effective energy solutions for the Army’s needs.” The Champaign-based company has also secured funding from Evergreen Climate Innovations and the U.S. Department of Energy, building on earlier recognition, including a DOE Energy Innovation Prize and a pitch competition win at the White House. ###  About Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park, there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.  About EnterpriseWorks Incubator EnterpriseWorks is an on-campus technology business incubator that supports and provides resources to deep tech entrepreneurs and startups within Research Park.

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    AgTech EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    ForgeBee Wins 2026 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 11, 2026) – ForgeBee, a startup developing automated systems for honey bee production, received the 10th annual Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award in a ceremony at the 2026 AgTech Innovation Summit. The prize, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni rewards EnterpriseWorks entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. Members of the Moore family, whose patriarch farmed in Northern Illinois, presented the $5,000 cash prize to ForgeBee during the Summit. Founded in 2024 by world renowned bee expert Gene Robinson, a U. of I. faculty member and his former graduate student Adam Hamilton, ForgeBee addresses the need for better pollination systems to support food security. “ForgeBee is an opportunity to greatly expand the possibilities of pollination and beekeeping in the United States and around the world,” said Hamilton, who recently was named ForgeBee’s CEO. Instead of renting or buying entire bee colonies, ForgeBee’s technology allows farmers to use a smaller section of a colony. This approach costs less and requires fewer resources than existing methods. “That’s what we do at Illinois. We regularly disrupt industries,” said Robinson. “There’s a long tradition of that here, emanating from the University and through Research Park and EnterpriseWorks. We are a part of that culture, and so we embody that and take that as a goal.” ForgeBee plans to use the prize money to purchase its own honey bees and support a colony in the Research Park for research purposes. The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in the development of new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and/or efficiency in farming or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, new crops and new food production systems. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Award winners include: Boston Bioprocess, 2025 Hypercell Technologies, 2024 HarvestIQ (formerly Farmers Risk), 2023 FrostDefense Envirotech, 2022 Epivara, 2021 Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020 TellTail, 2019 EarthSense, 2018 Soil Diagnostics, 2017 About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for both crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued the use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag related careers capturing the same innovative spirit. About Research Park at the University of Illinois Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies, corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information is available at researchpark.illinois.edu.

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    AgTech Summit EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    C16 Biosciences Wins 2026 Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional 

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 17, 2026) — A panel of investors named C16 Biosciences the winner of the Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional on March 10, advancing the company to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco where it will compete for a $1 million investment. The regional, held at the  11th Annual AgTech Summit in Champaign, was hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park in partnership with  Serra Ventures, Startup World Cup, and Pegasus Tech Ventures. Now in its second year, the competition drew 10 startups from across the country to compete. C16 Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer David Heller represented the company during the pitch competition. “We’re really excited about this,” he told Illinois Public Media. “It shows that one, we’re at a stage that’s inspiring some confidence in folks in the industry and two, that we’ve built something pretty exciting.” Founded in 2017, C16 Biosciences develops microbial alternatives to palm oil through fermentation and biotechnology, targeting a growing vulnerability in agricultural supply chains. Palm oil is found in nearly 50% of products on supermarket shelves, yet 90% of global production comes from just two countries, leaving food manufacturers and consumer goods companies exposed to significant supply and price risk. Conventional palm oil production is also one of the leading drivers of tropical deforestation. C16 addresses that problem by producing fats and oils at industrial scale without extracting them from plants or animals, supplying its Palmless product line across the beauty, personal care, food, and home care sectors. C16 Biosciences is a member of the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) consortium and the Access to Capital and Entrepreneurship Council, and has engaged with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) for pilot scale development. Judges included: ### About the AgTech Summit The AgTech Innovation Summit brings together leaders in agricultural technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and academia to address pressing agricultural challenges and explore emerging solutions. This interactive conference hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park features dynamic panel discussions, keynote presentations, and valuable networking opportunities. To learn more about the AgTech Innovation Summit, visit the  Research Park website. About the Startup World Cup The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With over 100 regional events across 60+ countries, the competition culminates in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, where the top startups from each region will compete for a $1 million investment prize. For a complete list of regional events, visit the Startup World Cup website. About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, with over $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus supports emerging technology companies worldwide by providing both intellectual and financial capital. They also offer a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large corporations looking to partner with cutting-edge startups. Learn more at Pegasus Tech Ventures.

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    AgTech Summit Events News Research Park

    Marcoot Jersey Creamery Awarded 2026 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism 

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 10, 2026) – A pair of sisters who returned to their family farm and made it profitable by creating novel dairy products are the recipients of the 2026 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism. Amy and Beth Marcoot, owners of Greenville-based Marcoot Jersey Creamery, accepted the honor during a ceremony at the 2026 AgTech Summit hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. The prize honors a grower/producer/farmer who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices.  One of the company’s most profitable and innovative products is Dog-O’s dog ice cream, which is sold at pet retailers nationwide. “If you would have asked me 16 years ago if we would have been making dog ice cream I would have said you were crazy,” Beth Marcoot said. The Marcoot sisters, University of Illinois graduates who run the business and the farm together, describe themselves as “advocates and cheerleaders for all of agriculture” and are passionate about getting people on the farm. (Amy’s degree is from the College of Applied Health Sciences and Beth’s from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences). The  Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism was established in 2021 in honor of Glen “GB” Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture, who passed away in late 2020. The BRANDT Foundation partners with the University of Illinois to provide the winner with a $10,000 prize.  Marcoot Jersey Creamery plans to use the prize money to purchase a new piece of equipment that automates cutting cheese, a process currently completed manually. While the equipment creates efficiency, the Marcoot team also reflected how important it is to build a positive culture for its staff. “This check does more than what $10,000 can articulate well,” said Beth Marcoot, who runs the business side of Marcoot Jersey Creamery. “We are so excited to have this opportunity so much sooner than what we thought.” “Glen Brandt was the consummate entrepreneur,” said Karl Barnhart, Vice President, The BRANDT Foundation. “When there was no solution, he invented one. And that’s the spirit we see in Amy and Beth Marcoot. When the family farm’s succession was uncertain, they took on the responsibility, diversified into cheesemaking, and transformed the entire operation. GB would be proud of the 2026 winners of the GB Prize.”   Previous Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism winners include Roger Bock (2025), Andrew and Karlie Bowman (2024), Eric Miller (2023), and Matt Riggs, (2022).   ### About The BRANDT Foundation   The BRANDT Foundation was established in 2012 as a philanthropic extension of BRANDT, Inc. The Brandt family has always stood with their communities and as their company grew, so did the opportunities to give back. The BRANDT Foundation offers donations, grants, and support to charities, organizations, and communities that reside in the same area of the company; geographically and industry-related.  About the AgTech Innovation Summit   Produced by the University of Illinois Research Park, the AgTech Innovation Summit is an interactive conference where participants learn and share knowledge about the current state of AgTech and get a look into the future through dynamic panels, inspiring keynote presentations, and networking opportunities. One of the premier AgTech hubs in the nation, Champaign-Urbana is uniquely positioned to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and industry for learning, networking, and advancing this sector.   

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    AgTech Summit Events News

    AgTech Summit Celebrates 11th Annual Event

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 4, 2026) – The 11th annual AgTech Innovation Summit presented by Bayer will take place Tuesday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Illinois Conference Center, 111 St. Mary’s Road, Champaign, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. This summit brings together entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, investors, growers, producers and academics at one of the nation’s premier AgTech hubs for fireside chats, panels, award presentations and networking opportunities aimed at advancing the AgTech sector. The event will feature fireside chats with: Linda Jing, President and CEO of Genective; Mike Graham, Head of Research and Development for the Crop Science division of Bayer; Germán Bollero, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Kristi Jones, Acting Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and Kaiyu Guan, Founder and Executive Chairman of HabiTerre. Panel topics will address some of the most pressing issues facing the agricultural sector today, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel, the Future of Ag and AI in AgTech. Two award presentations will recognize innovation across the agricultural sector. The Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism is awarded to an innovative grower or producer, and the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award recognizes a startup company based at the EnterpriseWorks incubator. For the second year, the summit will host the Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional, featuring 10 startup finalists from across the country competing for a chance to advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in November, where finalists compete for a $1 million investment prize. The event also includes a lunchtime University Showcase connecting external partners with university resources, a Tech Showcase and a Networking Reception following the conclusion of the AgTech Summit. A full agenda can be found here. The AgTech Innovation Summit is sponsored by Bayer, John Deere, AGCO, the University of Illinois College of ACES, the University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Champaign County Farm Bureau, Serra Ventures, J.P. Morgan, the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy and Farm Credit Illinois. The AgTech Summit is the cornerstone event of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week. Find all events here. For more information about the AgTech Summit and press opportunities, contact Laura Bleill. ###

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    AgTech Summit EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park Startup

    Finalists Announced for Startup World Cup: Agriculture And Food Regional Pitch Competition

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 4, 2026) — In partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures and Serra Ventures, the University of Illinois Research Park is excited to announce the 10 startups selected as finalists for the Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional pitch competition. The second annual event will take place during the AgTech Innovation Summit on March 10 in Champaign, where the 10 finalists will present their business ideas and models to a judging panel of investors and industry experts. The winner will move on to the Startup World Cup Finale in November, where it will compete against other regional winners for a $1 million investment. The following startups have been selected to compete at the Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional: American Prime Sustainable Solutions – From space to field, American Prime turns satellite and AI intelligence into real-time agricultural decisions, powering autonomous action, scalable operations and measurable outcomes across every acre. C16 Biosciences – Produces fermentation-derived oils that outperform traditional commodities on stability and sustainability while supplying global brands at commercial scale. DMR INTERNATIONAL INC. – Provides a drop-in antimicrobial pellet solution that upgrades stormwater and wastewater treatment performance without new infrastructure or hazardous chemicals. Explain Ag – Builds science-based enterprise software that embeds predictive agronomic intelligence into customer systems to drive scalable sales growth and durable competitive advantage. Farmland Stock Exchange – Connects retiring landowners with tenant farmers to solve farmland succession and access challenges, leveraging deep Illinois roots and strategic farmer-investors to secure first-mover advantage and trusted deal flow. GigaCrop, Inc. – Engineers enhanced photosynthesis seed traits that bypass biological yield limits to double crop productivity and improve drought resilience across major crops. LegacyAcres – Digitizes farm succession planning with expert-built logic and strategic distribution partnerships that help farm families transition ownership with clarity and confidence. Soil1 LLC – Delivers sub-$1, instant soil health testing that empowers farmers to make real-time regenerative and carbon-smart decisions without relying on costly lab analysis. SpecVision – Turns equipment photos into verified specifications in minutes, delivering 75% lower assessment costs while building the industry’s first compounding equipment data layer. TerraForce, Inc. – Deploys farm-scale robotic fruit harvesters that match human labor costs while delivering faster, safer and compliance-free picking and packing. About the AgTech Summit The AgTech Innovation Summit brings together leaders in industry, entrepreneurs, investors and academics to address pressing agricultural challenges and explore emerging solutions. Programmed and hosted by University of Illinois Research Park, 2026 marks the 11th edition of this annual event. AgTech is one of the fastest growing industry clusters in the Research Park and the broader Champaign-Urbana region. To learn more about the AgTech Summit, visit the event homepage. About the Startup World Cup The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With over 100 regional events across 60+ countries, the competition culminates in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley on November 6, 20256 where the top startups from each region will compete for a $1 million investment prize. For a complete list of regional events, visit the Startup World Cup website. About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, with over $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus supports emerging technology companies worldwide by providing both intellectual and financial capital. They also offer a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large corporations looking to partner with cutting-edge startups. Learn more at the Pegasus Tech Ventures website.  

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