AgTech In The Heartland
Focused on what's next for the Heartland's most critical industries
ABOUT AGTECH CONNECT
AgTech Connect is Nebraska's annual conference for the people building, funding, and advancing agricultural technology in the Midwest. Each July, 300+ founders, investors, researchers, producers, and industry partners gather at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln for a full day of live technology demonstrations, expert-led roundtables, keynote speakers, and startup showcases.
​
Nebraska isn't a backdrop for this event — it's the point. With world-class agricultural production, a dense network of farmers and ranchers, and a growing roster of homegrown ag tech companies, the Midwest is proving you don't have to be on a coast to build something that matters in agriculture. AgTech Connect exists to celebrate that, and to keep building it.​
Presented by:
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
​For ag industry professionals, AgTech Connect is one of the best opportunities of the year to step outside day-to-day operations and get a clear view of where venture investment is flowing, what technologies are gaining traction, and which startups are solving the problems facing the Ag industry. ​
​
AgTech Connect is built for anyone with a stake in the future of agriculture — founders and startups, investors, ag industry and corporate partners, university researchers, producers, and aspiring entrepreneurs. If you're building, funding, or adopting ag technology, there's a seat at the table for you.
CONFERENCE KICKOFF
Startup Soiree
Wednesday, July 15 | 5:30–7:00 p.m. CT
Barred Owl at Nebraska Innovation Campus
6th Floor of The Scarlet Hotel | 2101 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, NE 68508
Kick off AgTech Connect week by connecting with the people who make this ecosystem worth being part of. The Startup Soiree brings together founders, investors, industry partners, and innovators for an informal evening of conversation, hors d'oeuvres, and drinks — before the main event gets underway.​​
Attendance is included with your AgTech Connect registration. RSVP via the AgTech Connect registration form.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON:
ALA Engineering Demo Day
Wednesday, July 15 | 2:00–5:00 p.m. CT
UNL Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center
For those who RSVP'd for the demo, please meet at the Rise Building at Nebraska Innovation Campus (2125 Transformation Dr., Lincoln, NE 68508) at 1:30 on July 15th. Attendees will depart on a charter bus. For questions, call (308) 529-8104.
Before the conference, get a firsthand look at what the future of feedlot and precision agriculture operations actually looks like in the field. The ALA Engineering Field Day takes attendees out to UNL's Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center for an afternoon of live technology demonstrations — including ALA robotics, UNL feedlot technology, and other emerging feedlot automation systems.
​
This is a rare opportunity to see cutting-edge ag technology operating in a real research environment, not just on a slide deck. Whether you're a founder, investor, or industry partner, walking the ground alongside the people building these systems gives you context that's hard to get anywhere else.
​
Tickets are limited — secure your spot with the AgTech Connect registration form. Transportation will be arranged from the Nebraska Innovation Campus.
​An Operator Roundtable | Invite Only | Hosted by The Combine, Swarm, and Grit Road Partners
%2B-%2BCropped.webp){kind=small}
INVITATION ONLY:
Operationalizing AI: From Volatility to Velocity
Most AI conversations right now are about potential. This one is about what's working, what isn't, and what needs to happen next.
This invite-only roundtable brings together agrifood operators, investors, and innovators for a candid, working conversation on where AI is actually moving the needle, and where it isn't. Expect real operational examples, not slide decks.
Topics will include:
-
Where AI is creating measurable impact in agrifood operations today​
-
What's still hype and where teams are burning time and budget
-
What needs to be prioritized to turn AI from concept to results
Swarm provides decision intelligence for agrifood operators, working with companies including Ardent Mills, Wilbur Ellis, Fruitist, and Pipestone. Shail Khiyara, CEO of Swarm and author of Agentic Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Automation, will lead the session.
Grit Road Partners is an Omaha-based venture capital firm investing in agtech innovation across the Midwest. Ben Williamson, Partner and Mike Jung, Partner, will join as co-hosts.
Space is limited. Invitation only.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
AgTech Connect
Registration
Registration | 8:30 a.m. CT
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Coffee will be provided. Plan to arrive early to connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
Thursday, July 16 | 8:30–5:30 p.m. CT
Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center
2021 Transformation Dr, Lincoln, NE 68508
Keynote & Agtech Demos
9:30 – 11:45 a.m. CT
The morning opens with a keynote from Mark Lewis of Trailhead Capital on the state of ag tech investment and what it takes to build from the Midwest. Live technology demonstrations from RealmFive, Barn Owl Ag, Stockcropper, ALA Engineering, and FuturHerd follow, showcasing innovation across key areas of agricultural production.
BOPA | BOPA's autonomous field scouting robot, the Ant, delivers precision agriculture intelligence by autonomously collecting in-field data to help farmers manage crops with greater efficiency and sustainability.
​
ALA Engineering | ALA Engineering's ALAN Navigator is an autonomous feeding system that combines advanced software, sensors, and computing power to precisely and reliably manage feed delivery operations at feedlots.
​
RealmFive | RealmFive is demoing Flow Grade, the first continuous flow grain grading system, giving grain processors, ag retailers, and feed companies real-time quality data at the point of handling.
​
Stock Cropper | Stock Cropper's ClusterCluck Drive is a solar-powered system that automates the movement of chicken coops with a single tap, simplifying pasture rotation for poultry producers.
FuturHerd Solutions | FuturHerd Solutions' Nursery Nanny is a robotic system designed for piglet pens that monitors and supports newborns during the nursery phase to reduce mortality and improve herd outcomes.
Lunch & Keynote
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. CT
Lunch is provided. Chad Johnson of Grain Weevil will provide insight into the early partnerships required to build an AgTech company.
Breakout Sessions
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CT
Concurrent sessions covering key areas of ag technology and innovation.
Building from the Ground Up: Lessons from Experienced Ag Founders
Craig Rupp (Sabanto Ag), Steven Brockshus (Shivvers Technology Group), Mitch Hora (Continuum Ag), Jacob Hansen (ALA Engineering), Kevin Kimle (Ag Startup Engine)
Five founders who have built and scaled ag tech companies from the Midwest share what they've learned along the way — from early customer discovery and capital formation to navigating the realities of selling into agriculture. A candid conversation for founders at any stage.
​
The Future of Water: Technology, Data, and the Race to Do More with Less
Nick Reinke (Taylor Geospatial), Jake Beam (Reinke Irrigation), Dean Didato (Innova Memphis)
Water availability and efficiency are among the most consequential challenges facing Midwest agriculture. This session examines the technology and data tools emerging to help producers and operators manage water more precisely — and what adoption looks like in practice.
Who Owns the Field? Ag Data, Interoperability, and What's at Stake
Ehsan Soltan (Soil Wireless), Michael Dibbern (Corn Board President and Grower), Steve Tippery (RealmFive) Joe Luck (NFARMS, UNL)
As agricultural data becomes more valuable, questions around access, ownership, and interoperability are coming to the forefront. This session brings together a technologist, a producer, and a researcher to examine where ag data is heading and what it means for the indutry.
From Pitch to Profit: AI Tools that Drive Real Commercial Results
Daniel Kurdys, 9 North Group
A practical session on how generative AI is being applied to sales, marketing, and business development in ag tech — with real examples of what's working and where the technology is falling short. Designed for founders and industry professionals looking to move beyond the hype.
Midwest Founders on the Main Stage: Early-Stage Startup Pitches
Seven-minute pitches from early-stage ag tech founders building companies across the Midwest. An opportunity to see what's coming out of the region's pipeline — and to engage directly with founders during the networking break that follows.
Building in Beef: Lessons from the Cattle Tech Frontier
Dr. Cara Wells, Founder, Emgenysis
Cattle and livestock technology is one of the most complex and high-potential verticals in ag tech — and one of the hardest to crack. Dr. Cara Wells shares what she's learned building Emgenysis, from product development and producer adoption to the unique challenges of commercializing technology in the beef industry.
Expert-Led Roundtables
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Attendees select three topics and rotate through focused, expert-led discussions. Consistently rated the highest-value component of AgTech Connect, roundtables offer direct engagement with practitioners, founders, investors, and industry leaders across a range of ag tech topics.
Table 1
Ben Williamson, Grit Road Partners
Raising in the Midwest
Table 2
Ben Kuspa, Nebraska DED; Josh Nichol-Caddy, NBDC
Nebraska's state and federal startup support opportunities
Table 3
Adam Leise, Nebraska On-Farm Research Network
Farmer relations: navigating multiple entry points with end-to-end relationship management
Table 4
Maggie Schiefen, Venture Best; Matt Poulsen, Suiter Swantz
Contractor or employee? Equity or no equity? And IP insights
Table 5
Dr. Joe Luck, UNL Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering; Ryan Anderson, UNL Industry Relations
Supporting AgTech innovation at the University of Nebraska
Table 6
Rob Owen, Bio Nebraska
Ensuring Nebraska's bioeconomy is competitive for years to come
Table 7
Jeewan Jyot & Joy Eakin, NUtech Ventures
IP and tech transfer
Table 8
Ehsan Soltan, Soiltech Wireless
Does it pencil? Who really pays for AgTech, and what it's worth at the field level
Table 9
Oscar Guardado & Daniel Stanphill, Aurora Boardworks
Design for manufacturing: PCB affordability considerations
Table 10
Ken Takeda, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets) for entrepreneurs and innovators
Table 11
Amy Wagner, Farm Credit Services of America
AI on the farm
Table 12
Rachael Whitehair, Nebraska Corn Board
Who gets to define the problem? Creating an innovation pipeline from the farmer
Table 13
Mitch Hora, Continuum Ag
45Z and CI scoring on the farm
Table 14
Dean Didato, Innova Memphis
Strategies for raising capital in a difficult market
Table 15
Shail Khiyara, SWARM Engineering
AI beyond the hype: where AgTech leaders are creating real business value
Table 16
Isaac Reiger, Frontier Tech Lab
Experiences in hardware prototyping and fabrication in the US
Table 17
Charles Baron, FBN
Serving farmers in difficult markets: how startups react and succeed in volatile market conditions
Table 18
Doug Clingman, Central Valley Ag
Future of AgTech in cooperatives
Table 19
Brianna Buseman, Marble Technologies
Leading change in legacy industries: building trust to drive innovation
Table 20
Jarrod Sutton, DIAL Ventures
From industry problem to venture opportunity: identifying the highest-value challenges in agrifood
Table 21
Nicole Buan, UNL Professor and Co-Founder, Molecular Trait Evolution
The golden circle: centering the US bioeconomy in Nebraska
Table 22
Allison Weckman, ND AgTech Engine
Federal program opportunities for AgTech startups
Table 23
Alec Gorynski, Greater Omaha Chamber; Kate Engel, Nebraska Innovation Campus
Building in Nebraska
Table 24
Ben Paige, Landoption
Innovative business models in AgTech
Table 25
Yale Zhang, Seismi
Building great AgTech products on a shoestring budget
Table 26
Nicholas League, NE Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Supply chain priorities for a hard tech startup
Happy Hour
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. CT
The formal program concludes with a networking reception at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Light refreshments provided.
2026 SPONSORS
Signature Sponsors
Premium Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
2025 Event Testimonials
“I really enjoyed the roundtables as well as the AI conversation... very eye opening to the future of the industry. Great job at picking the keynote speakers!”
“The way the day was split
between morning sessions, outdoor activities, and an afternoon meet and greet created conversations and laughter that I rarely see at lecture only conferences.”
2025 AgTech Connect Recap
Presented by The Combine
AgTech Connect is organized by The Combine, Nebraska's ag tech incubator and accelerator, based at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.
​
The Combine supports early-stage entrepreneurs building high-growth companies in food and agriculture. Through mentorship, commercialization support, and access to a statewide network of farmers, ranchers, and industry partners, The Combine helps founders move from early concept to fundable, market-ready company. Since its founding in 2019, The Combine's portfolio companies have raised more than $50 million in capital and created jobs across Nebraska and beyond.
​
Operating under the Invest Nebraska umbrella, The Combine works at the intersection of ag innovation and economic development — connecting startups with the investors, corporate partners, and producer relationships they need to grow. AgTech Connect is the annual expression of that mission: bringing the full ecosystem together in one place, once a year, to share what's working, surface what's next, and strengthen the network that makes Nebraska a serious place to build in ag tech.
QUESTIONS?
2021 Transformation Dr
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508