Westmeath start-up in UCD’s programme on AgTech and FoodTech

Delvin-based Freshgraze is among the businesses selected to participate in the 2021 AgTechUCD Accelerator Programme.

The AgTechUCD Innovation Centre has announced the start-ups selected to participate in University College Dublin’s new accelerator programme dedicated to early-stage AgTech and FoodTech start-up companies today.

The inaugural AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, which commenced today, is an intensive 12-week virtual programme which includes dedicated business development workshops and investor readiness training, mentoring from AgTech and FoodTech experts and business advisors, guest speakers and facilitated introductions to AgTechUCD’s venture capital and business angel networks.

Among the participating start-ups is Westmeath-based start-up Freshgraze (www.freshgraze.ie) which has developed a robotic moving fence and management system which portions out new pasture to grazing animals as they require it.

By constantly allocating small portions of fresh grass, it ensures that the animals do not walk on or soil the food they are about to eat, enabling farmers to obtain the best utilisation of their grassland. The founders of Freshgraze are Thomas Drumm and his sons Charlie and James (below).

The other participating start-ups are based in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, in addition to Northern Ireland and Tunisia. Programme applications were also received from start-ups based in Chile, Croatia, England, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, The Netherlands and Ukraine.

Tom Flanagan, director of Enterprise and Commercialisation, NovaUCD, said: "We are delighted with the calibre and global potential of the start-ups selected to participate in the inaugural AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme.

"The programme received applications from all across Ireland, and indeed from all around the world. This highlights the demand for this accelerator programme in Ireland and the interest from international start-ups underscores Ireland's leading reputation in the AgTech and FoodTech sectors."

AgTechUCD, based at UCD Lyons Farm and part of NovaUCD, is focused on accelerating the launch and scaling of AgTech and FoodTech start-ups in Ireland and has been funded through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland.

AgTechUCD’s focus is supporting founding entrepreneurs as they build their innovative businesses into leading enterprises, though the AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, and by providing access to incubation space and to on-farm testing for new products and services at UCD Lyons Farm.

"During the next 12-weeks the AgTechUCD Agccelerator programme will focus on supporting the commercial development of the eight participating start-ups," said Niamh Collins, Manager, AgTechUCD Innovation Centre.

"Through the programme we will also be working with the start-ups to help increase their visibility in the marketplace, attract new customers and investors and forge new partnerships.

“AgTech has already established key relationships with strategic players in the agtech and foodtech sectors in Ireland, across Europe and in the US, which will now leverage to support the participating start-ups to launch their products or services into new territories.

"We now look forward to working with our first cohort on our inaugural AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme.”

The AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme will conclude in early-December when participating start-ups will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors with the opportunity to be awarded prize funding in a number of award categories.

Partners on the AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme include; AIB, The Yield Lab Europe, Bimeda, Devenish, Carberry, Origin Enterprises, Ornua and HerdWatch who are providing financial and mentoring support. Additional mentoring support will be provided by Greencore, Kubota, Dairymaster, Dawn Farms, the Virtual Vet, IFAC, Finistere, Macra Na Feirme, HBAN and Atlantic Bridge.

Participating start-ups will have access to specific supports from AWS Activation, Catalyze, Deloitte and FR Kelly.

AgTechUCD

The goal of the AgTechUCD is to bring together the AgTech and FoodTech ecosystem in Ireland to accelerate the launch and scaling of AgTech & FoodTech companies.

AgTechUCD, led by NovaUCD, and funded through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland, is a collaboration with AIB, Kildare County Council, and Kildare LEO; agri-companies including, Bimeda, Devenish, Carberry, Ornua and Origin Enterprises; investors The Yield Lab Europe, Finistere and Atlantic Bridge, and leading AgTech researchers and innovators at UCD, Teagasc and Wageningen.

https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/about-agtechucd/ and @AgTechUCD