Woodland, CA – December 26, 2023
AgStart, a premier hub for AgriFoodTech innovation, proudly reflects on a transformative year of substantial growth and achievements in its 2023 retrospective. Under the visionary leadership of John Selep, Board Chair and President, AgStart successfully completed its most significant capital expansion of the Lab@AgStart facility. This expansion facilitated the graduation of four client companies into dedicated scale-up facilities, marking a crucial milestone in the organization’s journey.
Among the notable success stories is Persist AI, which, starting with a single bench, experienced rapid growth and successfully graduated from the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program. This accomplishment underscores AgStart’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the development of promising AgriFoodTech startups.
In the face of challenging venture capital conditions in 2023, AgStart demonstrated resilience by adding new clients and fostering collaborations. The organization received grant awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration to establish AgTech Nation, a national collaboration initiative. Furthermore, AgStart earned recognition for its sustainability efforts from the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, showcasing its dedication to environmentally conscious practices.
Despite a temporary dip in laboratory bench occupancy, AgStart remains optimistic about the future, with ongoing discussions for exciting new startup clients in 2024. The organization continues to be a driving force in the AgriFoodTech sector, contributing to economic development, job creation, and the establishment of sustainable food systems.
AgStart is a leading startup incubator dedicated to accelerating innovation in agriculture, food, and health in the western region. Its Lab@AgStart incubator, spanning nearly 13,000 square feet in downtown Woodland, houses the Yocha Dehe Lab, the Raley’s Food Lab, and the Bayer LifeHub California @AgStart. Beyond providing space, AgStart offers education, mentoring, and valuable connections to collaborators, customers, and investors. Over the past decade, AgStart has played a pivotal role in supporting hundreds of innovators and startups, contributing to the thriving innovation ecosystem in the region.
AgStart operates as a non-profit organization, sustained through membership and use fees, as well as the generous support of corporate and other sponsors. The Lab@AgStart is located at 1100 Main Street, Suite 300, Woodland, California. Learn more at www.agstart.org.
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Zen Hunter-Ishikawa
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Phone: 707.427.1212
