Since 2021, The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and Invest Nebraska with The Combine (nebraskacombine.com) has watched Nebraska grown with each “Nebraska AgTech startup ecosystem map”. Since its inception, more than 10 new AgTech startups have been founded in Nebraska and the broader innovation system has grown, contributing heavily to the economic development.
The new 2024 map looks at the evolving and expanding entrepreneurial landscape in Nebraska and breaks it down into five categories:
- Robotics and Automation startups offer value propositions intended to reduce manual labor and to undertake dangerous or unpleasant jobs. This group of startups relies heavily on in situ hardware and telemetry including sensors and autonomous vehicles
- Farm Management and Precision Ag startups use data-driven approaches to improve decision making about crop or animal management. Both software and hardware products are used to assess crop health, detect diseases and to fine-tune the application of inputs such as water, fertilizers and chemicals.
- Ag Marketplace startups use software solutions to facilitate the buying and selling of agricultural products, equipment and services
- Ag Fintech startups offer a range of financial services to meet agricultural producers’ needs around accessing working capital and managing risk.
- Ag Biotech startups use genetic engineering to deliver innovations applying beneficial microbes, improving animal or crop breeding or preventing disease.
This map helps the startups get the help and support they need within Nebraska’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Combine AgTech Incubator supports agriculture technology founders with the individualized support they need to lead in agriculture innovation. Learn more at nebraskacombine.com.