Wednesday 23rd October 2024
AgTechUCD said that seven start-ups which have been selected for its fourth accelerator programme, which is dedicated to early-stage start-ups in the AgTech and Agrifood sectors.
The participating start-ups are; Aerial AG Ireland (Dublin), Auto Coupler (Co Kilkenny), Evogen (Dublin), IONA Minerals (Anglesey, Wales), RoboCrop (Co Kildare), Weighless Wonders (Dublin) and Zirkulu (Co Cork).
The 2024 AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme is an intensive 12-week hybrid programme, tailored to address the particular needs and challenges facing AgTech and Agrifood start-ups.
It is focused on fast tracking the business development and leadership skills of participants and on providing them with the support and guidance needed to accelerate the growth and development of their start-ups.
The programme includes dedicated business development workshops and investor readiness training, mentoring from industry experts and business advisors, guest speakers and facilitated introductions to its venture capital and business angel networks.
27 start-ups, including MyGug and Proveye, have completed the three AgTechUCD Agccelerator programmes delivered so far.
Programme partners include, AIB, Carbery, Enterprise Ireland, Herdwatch, IFAC, The Yield Lab and Thrive/SVG Ventures.
The seven start-ups are:
Aerial AG Ireland specialises in advanced agricultural drone services and products for farmers, offering multispectral imaging, precision aerial crop spraying, seeding, and fertilisation to maximise crop health and yield, while minimising environmental impact. Founder Daniel O'Reilly is taking part in the 2024 AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme.
Auto Coupler allows a tractor/digger loader to attach to any agricultural implement, automatically coupling the loader's hydraulic circuit to the implement and then locking the implement in place with the loader’s locking system. It was recently named winner of the AgTechUCD Award at the 2024 National Ploughing Championships. Founder Seamus Kenny is taking part in this year's programme.
Evogen is focused on helping dairy farmers maximise profits through smarter genetic selection and its platform uses advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to analyse farm-specific environmental factors to take the guesswork out of breeding decisions. It was recently named winner of the One to Watch Award at the end of the third New Frontiers Programme delivered by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD. Founder Andrew Moore is taking part in the programme.
IONA Minerals is a distributer of natural minerals with the aim of providing innovative solutions to help mitigate environmental pollution challenges found on the land, in waterways and in the air. Managing Director Selwyn Owen is taking part in the programme.
RoboCrop is focused on revolutionising agricultural production, for a diverse range of agricultural crops, through advanced robotic systems to optimise yields and minimise environmental impacts. . Lead promotor Dr Gary Gillespie, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, is taking part in the programme.
Weighless Wonders is a health and wellness company committed to empowering individuals to achieve their health goals through informed choices. Its product NutraVerse is a food tracking app that offers insights into nutrition, food processing, and environmental impact. Founder Caraldine Nolan is taking part in the 2024 programme.
Zirkulu, a material innovation company, is focused on developing a platform of bio-based solutions designed for real-world applications to accelerate the adoption of renewable, bio-based products that engage directly with consumers. Founders Jack Norman, Fionn McCarthy and Eoin Keller are taking part in the programme.
Source: RTE.ie