HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (September 5, 2023) – HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in partnership with global venture firm and startup accelerator, gener8tor, announced the five startup companies selected for the Fall 2023 cohort of the HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator. The 12-week accelerator began earlier this month and invests $100K in each of five startups at the forefront of the agriculture technology industry.
The concierge business accelerator connects the startups with an engaged program team, a global community, and regional resources from both HudsonAlpha and gener8tor. Participating founders also receive comprehensive and 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 Huntsville-based program are: Plants Without Borders; SetaTech; InTerra SmarTarget; COMU Labs; and Harmony Dx.These five companies were selected from among hundreds of applications from around the world. Each went through a rigorous application and interview process before being selected.
”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.”
Together, gener8tor and HudsonAlpha aim to bring economic diversity and job growth to north Alabama. 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.
“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 on 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. Investors, mentors and community members interested in connecting with the startup companies and programs are encouraged to contact Udall at christopher@gener8tor.com.
HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator Fall 2023 Cohort
Mark Javier, CEO | mark@plantswithoutborders.org | https://plantswithoutborders.io/
Plants Without Borders is an online marketplace for propagative material. It helps growers increase net income by reducing the cost of goods sold.
Blair Blacker | blackerblair@gmail.com | https://setatech.global/
SetaTech USA merges chicken feathers with other all-natural nutrients crafting bio-solutions for a healthier planet and a more sustainable future for all!
Larry Donelson | Larry@interra5d.com | https://interra5d.com/
InTerra SmarTarget® is revolutionizing the process of aerial photogrammetry with GPS-enabled Ground Control Points with accuracy and ease. SmarTarget® improves 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.
Ilya Gindin | ilya@comulabs.com | https://comulabs.com/
COMU Labs bridges sustainability and affordability in furniture materials by addressing a growing demand in a multibillion dollar market where 80% of products contribute to deforestation and 40% of consumers pay more for sustainable alternatives. COMU Labs utilizes fungi to transform agricultural waste into a robust, machinable and fire-retardant material that looks and behaves like plywood. It’s sustainable because it’s local, toxin-free, compostable and affordable.
David Gaddes | david.gaddes@cfd-research.com | http://harmony-diagnostics.com/
Harmony Dx specializes in developing in-field diagnostics designed to detect the presence of common pathogens affecting crops. Surprisingly, a significant portion of crop yields is lost, both during cultivation and storage, due to these pathogens. Harmony Dx’s mission is to enhance crop yields and promote sustainable farming practices by deploying cutting-edge in-field diagnostics to continually monitor and optimize crop health.
About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, founders, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.
About HudsonAlpha Agtech Accelerator
HudsonAlpha Agtech powered by gener8tor leverages HudsonAlpha’s deep experience in agriscience, specifically agriculture genomics, plant breeding and crop diversity, with gener8tor’s national network of mentors and investors, and Huntsville’s innate strengths as a technology hub. The program invests $100,000 each in the best and brightest startups tackling the challenges of sustainably feeding and powering a growing planet.
About HudsonAlpha
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, education and commercialization. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second-largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha is a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 45 diverse biotech companies on campus.
Media Contacts
Adam Kelley, HudsonAlpha
256-508-7199
akelley@hudsonalpha.org
Christopher Udall
Managing Director, AgTech Accelerator
406-250-0895
christopher@gener8tor.com
