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Iowa AgriTech Accelerator
The Iowa AgriTech Accelerator is a Des Moines-based agtech accelerator founded in 2017, backing startups in precision agriculture and farm software.
Iowa AgriTech Accelerator
The Iowa AgriTech Accelerator launched in 2017 as a venture development program housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Innovation Network. It was created to plug the gap between Iowa's dense agricultural economy and its thin venture capital infrastructure, drawing early support from the state's corn and soybean checkoff funds. The accelerator runs an annual cohort of roughly 10 agtech startups, each receiving an initial investment of $75,000 in exchange for equity. Portfolio companies span precision agriculture tools, biological crop inputs, livestock monitoring systems, and farm-management software. Notable graduates include Bushel (a grain market platform), Smart Ag (autonomous farming), and Hawk (aerial crop analytics). The program partners with major agribusinesses like John Deere, Syngenta, and Cargill for mentorship and pilot opportunities. The accelerator is run by a dedicated executive director and board drawn from Iowa State University, the state's agricultural checkoffs, and regional venture firms. It has no disclosed AUM, nor does it manage a permanent pool of capital. The program has supported over 40 companies since inception, though its financial returns and fund performance are not publicly reported. The Iowa AgriTech Accelerator is structurally distinct from a traditional family office or venture capital fund. It operates as a nonprofit economic development accelerator, using grant and checkoff funding to support its cohort costs. Its model blends public-sector development goals with private-sector venture returns, a design common among state-anchored agtech initiatives across the US Midwest.
General information
Firm type
null
Year founded
2017
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
West Des Moines
Corporate office
West Des Moines, IA, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who leads investment decisions at the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator?
The accelerator is run by an executive director and a board that includes representatives from Iowa State University, state checkoff organizations, and venture capital firms. Specific names of the executive director are not consistently disclosed in public materials; the board makes cohort selection and investment decisions.
Does the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator function like a venture capital fund or a family office?
It operates as a nonprofit accelerator, not a family office or traditional VC fund. It does not manage a permanent pool of capital; it relies on state grant funding, checkoff dollars, and corporate sponsors to support its cohort expenses and initial investments.
What types of startups does the accelerator invest in?
The accelerator targets early-stage agtech companies, including precision agriculture, biological crop inputs, livestock monitoring, farm management software, and supply chain logistics. It typically invests $75,000 per company in exchange for equity and runs annual cohorts.
How are returns structured for the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator?
The accelerator takes equity stakes in portfolio companies but does not publicly report fund-level returns or internal rate of return. Since it is a nonprofit, its primary goal is economic development, not maximizing financial returns for a fixed pool of limited partners.
What is the accelerator's relationship with Iowan agricultural checkoffs?
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Soybean Association were early funders of the accelerator, providing initial capital through state checkoff programs. This funding is used for operational costs and direct startup investments.
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