Five companies have been selected for the fall 2023 cohort of the HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator.
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in partnership with global venture firm and startup accelerator gener8tor unveiled the cohort members who will participate in the 12-week accelerator, which invests $100,000 in each startup.
The concierge business accelerator connects the startups with a program team, a global community and regional resources from both HudsonAlpha and gener8tor. Participating founders also receive individualized coaching along with access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors to help them secure customers, accelerate their revenue growth and attract additional funding.
The companies selected for the third cohort in the program are Plants Without Borders, SetaTech, InTerra SmarTarget, COMU Labs, and Harmony Dx. The companies were selected from among hundreds of applications from around the world.
• San Francisco-based Plants Without Borders is an online marketplace for propagative material. It helps growers increase net income by reducing the cost of goods sold.
• Homestead, Florida-based SetaTech USA merges chicken feathers with other nutrients crafting bio-solutions that are intended to be sustainable and better for the planet.
• Huntsville-based InTerra SmarTarget is shaking up the process of aerial photogrammetry with GPS-enabled Ground Control Points. SmarTarget aims to improve delivery performance and accuracy while reducing the man-hours required for drone mapping and surveying in the BIM, construction, engineering, mining, agriculture, telecomm and transportation markets.
• London-based COMU Labs aims to bridge sustainability and affordability in furniture materials by addressing a growing demand in a multibillion dollar market where many products contribute to deforestation and some consumers pay more for sustainable alternatives. COMU Labs uses fungi to transform agricultural waste into a machinable and fire-retardant material that looks and behaves like plywood. It’s toxin-free and compostable.
• Harmony Dx specializes in developing in-field diagnostics designed to detect the presence of common pathogens affecting crops. Harmony Dx’s mission is to enhance crop yields and promote sustainable farming practices by deploying in-field diagnostics to continually monitor and optimize crop health.
”Supporting agriculture innovations is an area of deep importance for HudsonAlpha,” said Alex Cate, director of entrepreneurship programs at HudsonAlpha. “From mapping plant genomes and developing the next workforce of plant scientists, to supporting startups moving agriculture discoveries to market, HudsonAlpha is invested in the health of our agriculture economy.”
“At gener8tor, our mission is to be the best partner for a community to invest in its best and brightest. Our founders are the best and brightest, and I am excited to work with HudsonAlpha and help them accelerate their businesses,” said Christopher Udall, the accelerator’s managing director.
The accelerator will conclude Nov. 16 with a showcase event highlighting each of the five startups. Founders will have the opportunity to pitch their companies to investors, community partners and the public.
The HudsonAlpha Agtech Investment Accelerator’s third cohort is supported by the Growing Alabama Tax Credit program through the Alabama Department of Commerce. Sponsors of the HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator include Breland Homes, Fuqua & Partners, Keel Point, Pearce Construction, Regions Bank, Synovus and individual contributors.
