AgPitch18 seeks startups working on the future of farming

Farming-focused entrepreneurs are gathering on the Chesapeake Bay’s Kent Island in December for the Grow & Fortify Value-Added Agriculture Summit.
During the December 6 event, five startup founders will get a chance to present their startup to judges and the crowd for AgPitch18. It’s the second year of the competition, organized by agriculture lender MidAtlantic Farm Credit. (Check out highlights from 2017).

“AgPitch18 gives those who are making strides in our community a platform to share their ideas on how we can make sure agriculture continues to not only thrive, but expand,” Andrew Rose, Director of Innovation, Strategy and Development for MidAtlantic Farm Credit, said in a statement. “The agricultural industry is evolving in ways many people never saw coming. We encourage everyone who has an idea for a new agricultural venture to apply.”

Applications are open for the agriculture-focused pitch competition through October 31, then five finalists will be selected. While all finalists will get cash prizes, the winner will receive $7,500, as well as access to office space from Maryland Business Incubation Association and F3 Tech Accelerator Program, admission into Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Resources, Access, and Mentoring Program (RAMP) and risk management services from North Central Insurance Agency.

Challenge events were held leading up to this year’s AgPitch as organizers looked to get ideas flowing. These included the Aqua Tech Ideation Challenge held earlier this month as part of Baltimore Innovation Week. The winner at that event was Sam Glickstein, founder of Baltimore-based Biotrophics. A September challenge gathered at University of Maryland Eastern Shore‘s Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

On Monday at #BIW18, Biotrophics' @samglick5 won the @F3TechMD Aqua Tech Ideation Challenge. Read about his work treating insects as livestock: https://t.co/Lt1WHE7ndK pic.twitter.com/90QMgDMtLf

— Technical.ly Baltimore (@TechnicallyBMR) October 9, 2018

Group pic of teams in #agpitch18 during @F3TechMD challenge event @UmesMANRRS pic.twitter.com/LZC4yeGzFz

— F³Tech (@F3TechMD) September 27, 2018