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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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    AgTech Summit

    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.   

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

    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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    AgTech Summit EnterpriseWorks Graduates Media Mentions News

    New Podcast Episode: Frenzy Ag

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Feb. 17, 2026) — Founders of Frenzy Ag, Ken Paige and Chris Harbourt, joined the Innovations at Research Park podcast to speak about their innovative agricultural tech company. This episode, hosted by Tanmay Shah, explores the origins and mission of Frenzy Ag. Discussing Frenzy Ag’s core product, Harbourt highlighted the large commercial potential of crop growth in the United States. “When we think about all of agriculture in the U.S., for example, there’s about 300 million acres of crops that are tilled and planted every year, and 90 million of those are soybeans…so about two-thirds of the land in the U.S. that is in agriculture production is either in soybean that year or will be in soybean the following year,” Harbourt said. When asked how EnterpriseWorks and Research Park have benefitted Frenzy Ag, Paige discussed the community they’ve built. “We have a lab in EnterpriseWorks, and we have a full-time chemist who works in that lab. They’ve kind of been central and key to a lot of what we’re currently doing,” Paige said. To hear the full conversation about Frenzy Ag, as well as Paige and Harbourt’s advice for other agricultural tech entrepreneurs, tune in 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 Laura Bleill at lwbleill@illinois.edu.

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    AgTech Summit News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Nominations Sought for 2026 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Dec. 1, 2025) – Nominations are now being accepted for the sixth annual Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, recognizing an Illinois farmer for their role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship in the ag sector. View the nomination form here. The deadline for submission is Feb. 2, 2026. Established in 2021 to honor the memory of GB Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture, the $10,000 cash prize will be awarded to a nominee who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices, crop growing processes, or product usage. The prize is a partnership between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and The BRANDT Foundation. The winner will be announced and recognized at the AgTech Innovation Summit, an annual event produced by the University of Illinois Research Park on March 10, 2026. Those eligible for the prize include Illinois farmers, growers and producers or those engaged with Illinois farmers, growers and producers. Nominees should be connected with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and/or its affiliates, including University of Illinois Extension. A full list of eligibility criteria is available in the nomination form. Roger Bock, fifth-generation farmer and owner of Wolf Creek Farm in Williamsville, Illinois was the fifth annual recipient of the Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism. A University of Illinois alumnus, Bock works with the University of Illinois Extension and plant science department to optimize lesser growing areas by rotating in edible crops across his 1,200-acre operation of corn, soybeans, and specialty vegetables. Read the full story on the Research Park website. Past Brandt Prize Winners 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 the farms, charities, and organizations in the areas where the company does business. About the AgTech Innovation Summit Hosted 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. Contacts Karl BarnhartThe BRANDT Foundation karl.barnhart@brandt.co Laura BleillResearch Parklwbleill@illinois.edu ###

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    AgTech Summit Community Events News Research Park

    10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit Recap

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Research Park’s 10th Annual AgTech Summit on Thursday, March 6, 2025 fostered conversations surrounding the most pressing AgTech trends, including fintech, computing, and more. Moderators and panelists represented a wide spectrum of AgTech, including leaders from the State of Illinois, the agtech industry, startups, and more.  A major highlight of the Summit was the inaugural Startup World Cup Agriculture & Food Regional. This event brought together 10 innovative startups from seven states for a chance to win the Startup World Cup finale in October. Keep reading for a recap of the AgTech Summit. The event kicked off with opening remarks from our hosts and community leaders. Laura Appenzeller, the Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois opened the day by highlighting Champaign-Urbana’s role as the heart of agriculture land and recognizing the history of the AgTech Summit. Then, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones spoke about the importance of radical collaborations in agriculture for the U. of I. The day’s first panel focused on The Circular Bioeconomy: Bioprocessing in all its Applications. Kim Kidwell, Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the University of Illinois, moderated this discussion, featuring Bühler Group Director of Innovation Thierry Duvanel, L’Oréal Chief Open Innovation/Open Excellence Officer Mohamed Kanji, and Black & Veatch Solutions Manager Jeremy Owen. After The Circular Bioeconomy, the first fireside chat started, spotlighting ADM‘s Chief Commercial Officer of Precision Fermentation, Allyson Fish. Fish sat down with moderator Beth Conerty, the Regional Innovation Officer at IBRL and iFAB.  The program then shifted to the presentation of the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize, which recognizes a University of Illinois entrepreneur focused on agricultural innovations. This year’s winner was Boston Bioprocess, an EnterpriseWorks startup that offers full-suite fermentation and downstream processing services at benchtop and pilot-scale. “It’s been a real pleasure to see them take over one lab after the next at the incubator, and one hire after the next, building an amazing team and startup company that is thriving,” said Laura Appenzeller. https://youtu.be/PRpUj_62EkE?si=oeid3sgPS7Gycbqp The second panel, The Intersection of AgTech & FinTech was moderated by John Reid, the Executive Director at the Center for Digital Agriculture. The panel covered the intersection between finance and agriculture, featuring HarvestIQ Vice President of Product Strategy Eric Barnard, Farmland Stock Exchange Co-founder and CEO Brian Kearney, Compeer Financial Director of New Markets Mary Morgan and CNH Industrial CX Business Product Owner Jennifer Whisman. After a break for lunch and a University department showcase, Research Park Talent Manager Bryan Goode and the AGCO Acceleration Center’s Business Site Lead Karandeep Singh shared how Research Park participated in HackIllinois‘ annual Hackathon on February 28 to March 2.  That was followed by a fireside chat with Kristin Richards, the Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Laura Appenzeller moderated this discussion about AgTech and government policy, business, and more.  The final panel of the day discussed Pushing the Frontiers of Computing to Solve Grand Challenges in Agriculture. Bayer‘s Head of Data, Systems, and Intelligence for Plant Biotech Mark Moran moderated panelists in a discussion of how computing is applied in the AgTech industry. Panelists included Intersect Illinois SVP, Chief Quantum Officer Preeti Chalsani, John Deere Senior Manager of Data Science Jarai Carter, ACES Gardner Associate Professor of Agricultural Policy Jonathan Coppess and Chicago Biomedical Consortium Executive Director Michelle Hoffmann. Wolf Creek Farm was awarded the 2025 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism. “[Wolf Creek Farm] has taken innovation to heart,” said Alex Lovdahl, award presenter and Director of Insights and Analytics at BRANDT. The farm “seamlessly integrates sustainable growing methods, self-designed equipment and precision agriculture to maximize efficiency and quality.” This award presentation was followed by Startup World Cup‘s Agriculture & Food Regional competition, featuring pitches from the following startups:  AGTECHLOGIC INC. — Developed Agtellio, an AI solution helping farms reduce chemical use by up to 90%, lowering costs and improving yields while providing actionable insights for asset efficiency. Cattle Care — Uses computer vision with existing security cameras to measure employee efficiency on dairy farms, enabling performance-based compensation and improving workforce productivity. EarthSense, Inc. — Creates AI-powered farming robots targeting labor shortages and rising costs, initially serving oil palm companies in Asia that manage over 10 million hectares. Re-Nuble — Converts vegetative food byproducts into biological fertilizers and peat replacements, helping commercial farms reduce costs and mitigate pathogen risks through lab-tested products. Vivid Machines — Offers tractor-mountable AI cameras providing real-time, per-plant fruit predictions, enabling precise tree-level decisions to increase fruit size and reduce labor costs. Earnest Agriculture — Produces Prairie Power, a probiotic seed coating that improves soil health, delivering a proven 6 percent yield increase for row crop farmers with measurable ROI. Oaken — Building asset management software to streamline farmland management and financing, automating payments, lease management, and relationship tracking. Good Agriculture — Provides AI-powered farm business management that automates back-office tasks, saving farmers 5-10 hours weekly while improving profitability. Integrated Dynamics, Inc. — Developing high-selectivity waste-to-value technology using synthetic biology and high-temperature microbes to convert organic waste into commodity chemicals. UfarmX — Africa’s largest farmer data and procurement platform connecting smallholder farmers to agribusinesses and financial institutions, eliminating middlemen and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Congratulations to Champaign-based startup EarthSense for winning the 2025 Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional.  The final fireside chat featured Chris Harbourt, CEO of Frenzy Ag, and Ken Paige, Founder, Chief Science Officer and President of Frenzy Ag. The discussion was moderated by EnterpriseWorks Director of Entrepreneurship Gerald Wilson. The 2025 AgTech Innovation Summit concluded with a Tech Showcase of local startups and area innovators during a networking reception. The AgTech Summit is free thanks to its generous sponsors John Deere, AGCO, the College of ACES, Frenzy Ag, Buhler Group, Cooley, GDM, Intersect Illinois, the Illinois/Champaign County Farm Bureau, the University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo and the NSF I-Corps Hub. The AgTech Summit is hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park with support from the University of Illinois, the College of ACES, and the Office of Corporate Relations.

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