Key Takeaways
- Phytoform Labs has been selected to join NC State’s Seed2Grow agtech incubator.
- The company is the first international startup and the first outside NC State’s research community to participate.
- The entry follows Phytoform Labs’ selection as the winner of Bayer’s Golden Ticket program.
- Phytoform Labs will receive 12 months of lab access, mentorship, and networking support.
- The initiative is part of a broader collaboration between Bayer and the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative.
Phytoform Labs Enters Seed2Grow Agtech Incubator
Phytoform Labs, a U.K.-based plant biotechnology company focused on genetic solutions to food supply challenges, has been selected to join the Seed2Grow agricultural technology incubator operated by the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) at North Carolina State University. The company is the first startup outside NC State’s research community and the first international participant to enter the program.
Phytoform Labs secured access to the incubator as the winner of Bayer’s Golden Ticket program, which provides selected startups with a year-long placement within the Seed2Grow ecosystem.
Phytoform Labs Access to Facilities, Mentorship, and Networks
As part of the Seed2Grow program, Phytoform Labs will receive 12 months of access to shared laboratory and office space in NC State’s Plant Sciences Building. The company will also benefit from business and technical mentorship, networking opportunities, and connections to faculty, students, and industry partners.
The Golden Ticket program is co-sponsored by Bayer and the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative and includes access to lab bench space, workspace, and integration into Bayer’s global innovation network, alongside broader Seed2Grow program resources.
Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, said, “Our partnership with Bayer continues to strengthen the impact of Seed2Grow by expanding our entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are pleased to welcome Phytoform Labs to our startup community and to support their growth as they scale their innovations.”
Seed2Grow’s Role in Advancing Plant Science Innovation
Seed2Grow is an entrepreneurship program designed to help researchers and early-stage startups translate plant science research into commercially viable solutions. The program supports innovation through infrastructure access, mentorship, and guidance on commercialization pathways aimed at benefiting farmers and the broader food system.
The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative stated that supporting companies like Phytoform Labs aligns with its goal of accelerating the development and adoption of technologies that improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Industry Perspective and Bayer Collaboration
Raphael Dumain, Global Head of External Innovation and Partnerships at Bayer Crop Science, highlighted the role of the Golden Ticket program in advancing agricultural innovation. “The Golden Ticket program reflects our strong partnership with the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and our shared commitment to accelerating agricultural innovation,” Dumain said.
Bayer and the N.C. PSI noted that the collaboration aims to help promising agtech companies move technologies from development to market, supporting more resilient and productive agricultural systems.
