Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Memphis-based AgLaunch has officially opened applications for the 2026 AgLaunch365 Accelerator, a bold, multi-stage challenge designed to catapult the next generation of agtech start-ups—not in a lab or a pitch room, but in the field, shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers. Applications are due by September 15.

AgLaunch365 isn’t like other accelerators. It embeds founders directly into the real-world complexity of farming. Selected start-ups will partner with AgLaunch’s aligned and connected national farmer network, made up of farmers working hundreds of thousands of acres, more than 150 crops, and all major classes of livestock. Using standard trial protocols and milestones, these innovation-ready producers operate across diverse regions and production systems throughout the country, forming a massive, real-time feedback loop that powers technology validation and adaptation at scale.

What Accepted Start-ups Gain:

1. Investment: $100,000 initial investment, with additional milestone-based capital available through the seed round to prepare for a strategically timed Series A.
2. Farmer Insight: Endorsement and co-development support from the trusted national farmer.
3. On-Farm Trials: Commercial-scale testing in real-world conditions in key markets, funded through a sponsored cost-share program developed with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and now being replicated across U.S.
4. Farm Data Access: Datasets from farm operations to train, test, and refine your model(s).
5. Technical Expertise: Guidance from in-house agriculture expertise from managing farm trials to building regional teams.
6. Business Development: Deep understanding of market entry and scaling within complex agricultural system.
7. Strategic Partnerships: Unparalleled access to influential partners like Ag Ventures Alliance and Farm Journal.
8. First Access: Priority integration into new AgLaunch ventures including the AgLaunch Data Cooperative and others in development.

What Accepted Start-ups Give Up:

1. 10 percent equity: Founder-friendly terms to a shared pool benefiting farmers and mission-driven partners.
2. Time and Commitment: Willingness to iterate, refine, and scale your technology in collaboration with AgLaunch and its ecosystem.
3. Embedded Engagement: Boots-on-the-ground approach to solving complex agricultural challenges in farm regions across the U.S.
4. Unwavering Focus: Relentless drive to achieve bold, system-changing outcomes.

What Type of Start-ups Should Apply:

Early-stage, pre-seed start-ups that are working on groundbreaking technologies that need ongoing feedback iterations from farmers.

1. Intelligent Farm Systems: Autonomous machinery, smart infrastructure, AI-driven tools, “plants as sensors.”
2. Regenerative Biological Solutions: On-farm biomanufacturing, microbial and living inputs.
3. Farmer-Centered Data Platforms: Artificial intelligence copilots, sensors, and cooperative data ecosystems.
4. Regionally Adapted Innovations: Solutions grounded in place, ecology, and local culture.
5. Full-Stack Ag Robotics: Scalable robotics for labor, precision, and value delivery.

 A full list of 20 “areas of interest” is available here. To apply, click on this link.

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