The Midwest is home to an increasing number of entrepreneurs seeking to make an impact in agricultural verticals. Nebraska boasts 15 million acres of corn and soybean production and also has an extensive livestock industry. This makes the state an ideal testbed for innovative business models in agriculture.
DWFI's first-of-its-kind "Nebraska agtech startup ecosystem map" captures agtech startups as well as the broader agricultural ecosystem in the state. It also includes a range of partners, funders, industries, university programs, and advocates that intersect with and support agricultural startups. On the map, startups are categorized loosely into five different categories based on current business models and value propositions: Inputs & procurement; Sensors, Robotics & On-farm operations; Connectivity; Finance; and Marketing & Marketplace.
The purpose of the map is to increase visibility of the resources available within the local startup ecosystem. The map may be used by: startup founders to take advantage of supporting resources they may not have known about otherwise investors who are looking for agtech companies in which to invest potential entrepreneurs exploring relocating to start a company, etc.
It can also be used by any entity interested in the agtech space in Nebraska to identify opportunities — as well as gaps — in the system. The overarching objective is to strengthen the agtech ecosystem in Nebraska, which creates opportunities for innovative solutions to pressing issues in irrigated agriculture.
The map is continuously updated as the team adds newly-formed companies or updates existing ones. The initiative is a partnership with The Combine and Invest Nebraska. Click the image above to enlarge.