America's Cultivation Corridor Accepting Applications for 2nd Cultivo Cohort

DES MOINES, IOWA – America’s Cultivation Corridor™ is currently seeking international startup companies and entrepreneurs to apply for the second cohort of the Cultivo™ Virtual Academy. The six-week virtual program will provide up to 12 participants with mentorship, interaction with Iowa’s agricultural leaders and an online curriculum focused on U.S. market entry, regulatory and financing systems, and customer perspectives.

Applications for the program are now being accepted through August 27, 2021. Selected applicants will be notified in September, and the cohort sessions are expected to begin in October 2021. All sessions will be facilitated by Iowa business and university leaders. Upon successful completion of the virtual program, cohort participants will be eligible to attend an in-person, week-long Cultivo event based out of Des Moines, Iowa, currently slated for 2022. The in-person event will provide an opportunity to meet networks in person, tours of Iowa farms and Iowa State University, and interaction with Iowa industry leadership.

“The inaugural cohort of Cultivo Virtual Academy was a tremendous success, with six startups making invaluable connections with Iowa business leaders, researchers, farmers and more, as they develop their technologies and prepare for a launch in the U.S. marketplace, ” said Judd O’Connor, President of U.S. Commercial Business for Corteva Agriscience, and Chairman of the Cultivation Corridor Board of Directors.

America’s Cultivation Corridor will host and coordinate the Cultivo Virtual Academy in partnership with its investors and supporting organizations. The Iowa Economic Development Authority is the presenting sponsor of the program.

“The next generation of ag innovations are being developed in Iowa right now, and we look forward to the networks and new opportunities that will be built when global entrepreneurs connect with our strong network of university researchers, industry leaders, startup companies and forward-thinking farmers and livestock producers,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority. “The Cultivo program will provide unequalled access to the best and brightest minds in every sector of Iowa’s agricultural community, and help entrepreneurs build the network they need to reach their goals.”

The program will be hosted via the Virtual Academy Hub, a professionally-managed platform for learning and engagement. The following topics will be covered during the three hours of programming each week of the session:

• Introduction to the U.S. startup community and entrepreneurial ecosystem
• U.S. investment in startups
• How to connect for partnerships and acquisitions to build a business
• Education on the U.S. financial system and regulatory programs
• Opportunities to connect with industry-leading farmers and livestock producers
• Pathways to introduce technologies in the U.S.
• Supply chain, workforce

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or cohort participation, visit https://www.cultivationcorridor.org/cultivo-global/ or contact Bill Hunt, executive director at America’s Cultivation Corridor at bhunt@cultivationcorridor.org. Applications must be submitted by August 27, 2021.

Investors and partners of America’s Cultivation Corridor are working together to accelerate the development of new technologies, strengthen Iowa’s ag bioscience workforce, and attract economic development, all focused on meeting the challenge of feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

Stakeholders in America’s Cultivation Corridor include Iowa State University, Corteva Agriscience, Deere & Company, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Pork Producers, Kent Corporation, MidAmerican Energy Company, Ames Economic Development Corporation, Hy-Vee, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Farm Bureau, ISG, Kemin, REG, and Sukup Manufacturing.

More information is available at CultivationCorridor.org, or by following on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

About America’s Cultivation Corridor

Focused on further developing and marketing the world-renowned agricultural and bioscience economy in Iowa, America’s Cultivation Corridor is building on a rich history of innovation to accelerate value-added agriculture business development by attracting companies, talent and capital from across the globe to the state. Representing a diverse public-private coalition of stakeholders including Iowa State University, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Ames Chamber of Commerce, nonprofits and private sector companies from across the region and state, the Cultivation Corridor is one of the nation’s foremost cluster-based economic development organizations. For more information, visit CultivationCorridor.org.