CANADIAN AGTECH ACCELERATOR LAUNCHES 2021 COHORT

San Francisco, CA | Minneapolis, MN | Los Angeles, CA:

The Consulates General of Canada in San Francisco, Minneapolis and Los Angeles are pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 cohort for the Agtech Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA). Ten innovative companies from coast-to-coast across Canada have been selected to participate in this initiative.

The Agtech CTA program is designed to support the growth of Canadian start-ups interested in expanding into the Upper Midwest and California – two of the biggest agricultural markets in the United States.

Delivered virtually over 12 weeks from September to November 2021, the program targets companies looking to raise their seed to Series A funding rounds. Weekly sessions will provide multiple opportunities for the cohort to connect with potential US partners and investors, while building skills in pitching, fundraising, marketing, tax and legal considerations, customer acquisition, and much more.

Programming will be delivered with the support of industry-leading partners in the agtech ecosystem, including: AgStart, the Larta Institute, Opengate Partners, the Western Growers Association and Logan Ashcraft in California, and TechStars, Emerging Prairie and Grow North in the Upper Midwest.

The full cohort of companies, their objectives and their capabilities are available in the 2021 Agtech CTA Dealbook. Members of the cohort include: 

1. Bushel Plus: The leaders in harvest precision
2. Cattle Scan: Cattle monitoring solution that boost farm’s productivity 
3. EcoBloc: Protecting food supply chain assets from rodent destruction
4. Farm Health Guardian: Improving animal health & welfare through technology
5. Goodeye Technologies: The Eye in Agriculture: Better Insights, Better Decisions, Better Crops
6. Lucent Biosciences: Healthier Food Starts with Healthier Soil
7. Nectar: Give Honey Bees a Voice
8. NuWave Research: Increasing the Quality, Yield, and Efficiency of Processing Through Industrial Vacuum Microwave Technology
9. UBI Meat Experts: Building a meat-grading and monitoring platform that leverages AI/ML allowing meat processors to measure and document quality assurance in real-time
10. Wyvern: Intelligence from Space, Anywhere

 

QUOTES:

“We’ve seen significant momentum in agtech investment against a backdrop of rising concerns related to food security and climate change. Now more than ever, Canadian technologies have an important role to play in creating meaningful solutions for both the immediate and long-term future.” 

• Simon Pomel, Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco

 

 “We are thrilled to welcome such an innovative and diverse cohort of Canadian Agtech companies to the Upper Midwest market. We look forward to supporting these companies and providing them with valuable connections that will accelerate the growth of their businesses in the long-term.”

• Carl Pilon, Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis

“The 10 Canadian start-ups participating in the Agtech CTA cohort reflect the strength of Canada’s agricultural innovation ecosystem. These companies have the potential to make a meaningful impact on the global agriculture and food system for the better. We are proud to introduce this incredibly diverse cohort representing such a broad range of innovative solutions to the Southern California agriculture and food market.” 

– Thierry Weissenburger, Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles

 

 

About the Canadian Technology Accelerator Program (CTA)

The CTA program is a global business development program by Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service. Established in 2013, the CTA program supports the international scale-up of high-growth, high-potential Canadian firms in the sectors of cleantech, as well as life sciences and digital and information communication technologies. The CTA program reports over 574 participants collectively garnering $646 million in capital, $238 million in revenue and the creation of 1,128 strategic partnerships and 2,529 new jobs. Apply at www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/cta-atc.

 

CTA Contacts

Jenny Karnjanavijaya, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles  

Emily Raab, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco

Christina Connelly, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis