Key Takeaways
- Plug and Play Topeka has selected 24 startups for its accelerator program on animal health and ag-tech.
- The selected startups offer a range of innovative solutions, from pet dietary supplements to AI-driven soil management.
- The program aims to provide the selected startups with valuable resources, mentorship, and partnerships.
- Topeka is centrally located within the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, a hub for animal health companies.
- Since its inception in the spring of 2021, 54 startups have graduated from the Plug and Play Topeka accelerator program.
Plug and Play Topeka has announced the selection of 24 startups for its accelerator program to foster innovation in the animal health and ag-tech industries. The program will provide these emerging companies with valuable resources, mentorship, and partnerships to help bring their disruptive technologies to market.
Diverse Range of Startups
The selected startups offer a wide array of solutions. For instance, 5 Element Food Therapy focuses on nourishing pet dietary supplements, while E-Livestock Global provides a blockchain-powered global traceability platform for healthy livestock. Other startups like Gaia Ag are working on producing biodegradable cups and straws from agricultural waste. The diversity in the selected startups highlights the program’s commitment to addressing various challenges in the animal health and ag-tech sectors.
Program Objectives
“Our goal is to help these emerging companies gain valuable resources, mentorship, and partnerships, which can ultimately bring their disruptive technologies to market and make a real impact in their respective industries,” said Lindsay Lebahn, senior program and partner success manager for Plug and Play Topeka. The program also aims to facilitate business development, mentorship programs, and proof of concept between the selected startups and founding partners.
Strategic Location
Topeka is located within the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, the world’s largest concentration of animal health companies. This allows the startups to tap into a network that generates 56% of the total global sales in animal health, diagnostics, and pet food, totaling $21.5 billion in annual sales.
Future Prospects
Since the program’s launch in the spring of 2021, 54 startups have graduated. Each year, the program plans to develop two accelerator groups, each comprising 10-12 animal health and ag-tech startups. This ongoing effort underscores the program’s commitment to fostering innovation in these critical sectors.
Image provided by Topeka
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