Winter '23 Newsletter - From the Desk of Dr. Allan Gray
I am delighted to share the concepts from Pitch Day, held on December 1st by DIAL Ventures at Purdue’s Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.
From The Desk of Dr. Allan Gray
Hello,
I am delighted to share the concepts from Pitch Day, held on December 1st by DIAL Ventures at Purdue’s Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. This pivotal day, which featured the work of our Fall 2023 Fellows cohort, marked the culmination of a rigorous and innovative journey for our Fellows, who have been deeply immersed in developing agri-tech startup concepts. The event showcased their remarkable progress from conceptualization to the presentation of polished, market-ready proposals. The Fellows' presentations were not only a testament to their hard work and creativity but also demonstrated their keen understanding of the agri-tech industry's nuances and demands.
Below are the three company concepts presented at Pitch Day.
Regenerative Ag Risk Management
Sustainability commitments are more critical than ever, and companies are facing a growing challenge – how to contribute effectively and tangibly to a greener planet while ensuring their ESG goals are achieved. This is where we step in. Our investment and production warranty program solution is simple but powerful. We facilitate direct, farm-level program sponsorship to accelerate the adoption of sustainability practices, solving the problem of upfront expenditures and assuaging the fear of profitability loss during transition. By establishing a floor or reference price to warranty minimum returns during the transition period (up to 3 years), our solution helps farmers manage financial risk during this transition while providing an opportunity for companies with sustainability goals to bring their commitments to life – by directly supporting those farmers who are at the forefront of addressing climate change.
Redefining the Rural Workforce
Imagine a future where businesses in rural communities are able to utilize the untapped potential of local labor in a way that creates sustainable growth for their business and the entire community. When businesses thrive, communities thrive! Our platform unlocks untapped workable hours in rural areas by enabling businesses to flexibly hire workers on demand – precisely when, where, the frequency, the duration, and in the quantity needed. By teaching businesses how to fractionalize and optimize their job structure and helping orchestrate worker schedules and transactions, our shared employment fractionalization platform enables them to seamlessly share their workforce while drawing maximum worker participation. Ultimately, we help businesses design jobs and create opportunities for the stay-at-home parent, the retiree, the student, and the second jobber, so that they can achieve a more fulfilling life in their communities that have agriculture at their core.
Voice of America's Farmer
Farmers are the original “influencers.” So, imagine a future where their inherent influence and storytelling was captured and made accessible to all Americans looking for a deeper understanding of the food they are putting into their bodies – a future where a “face” replaces a label. Farmers have what the world needs at the moment: respect in a time of skepticism, industry durability in a time of disruption, and proximity to food practices. Our digital marketplace platform provides opportunities for content discovery, creation, and distribution – a place where trusted brands can engage farmers as storytellers, increasing consumer trust, and ultimately driving revenue and differentiation—a win both for those companies serving consumers and farmers who create a new revenue stream by just sharing what they already do each day.
Check out this video from the event!
What an exciting time!
Pitch Day stood out as a vibrant platform where each Fellow displayed exceptional professionalism and strategic insight. Their startup pitches encompassed comprehensive solutions to pressing challenges in the agri-tech sector, highlighting their potential to make a significant impact. The event was an embodiment of our commitment at DIAL Ventures to nurture and unveil innovative talent capable of driving meaningful change.
The success of this day reinforces our belief in the power of collaboration, mentorship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in transforming groundbreaking ideas into viable business ventures.
Announcing the Winners of the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge!
AgriNovus Indiana and DIAL Ventures were thrilled to celebrate the culmination of the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge. In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge tasked companies, entrepreneurs, students and innovators with creating new revenue streams from current on-farm processes to increase efficiency and return on investment for producers’ operations.
The participants, equipped with a producer’s perspective on current agricultural hurdles, pushed the boundaries of creativity and practicality. Their final deliverables—a compelling six-minute pitch and a comprehensive executive summary—showcased their vision and potential for real-world impact.
In addition to the $25,000 grand prize won by FiberX of Hammond, Ind., DIAL Ventures presented prize money to the top two student teams from Purdue University:
First Place
EcoTrak: Software to help farmers collect, store, organize and share documentation related to organic production certification.
Student: Corey Tuinstra
Prize $4,000
Second Place
Yieldsmart: A company that uses AI to help farmers use the optimal types of seeds for their fields based on information about soil, weather, and field-related variables.
Students: Anton Josifovski and Isha Shamim
Prize $2,000 (for the group)
What’s Next
Stay tuned for company announcements from Pitch Day. Also, we have already conducted interviews for the Spring Fellows Cohort. They are set to begin in February 2024.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and happy New Year!
Best Regards,
-Allan Gray
From The Desk of Dr. Allan Gray
Hello,
I am delighted to share the concepts from Pitch Day, held on December 1st by DIAL Ventures at Purdue’s Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. This pivotal day, which featured the work of our Fall 2023 Fellows cohort, marked the culmination of a rigorous and innovative journey for our Fellows, who have been deeply immersed in developing agri-tech startup concepts. The event showcased their remarkable progress from conceptualization to the presentation of polished, market-ready proposals. The Fellows' presentations were not only a testament to their hard work and creativity but also demonstrated their keen understanding of the agri-tech industry's nuances and demands.
Below are the three company concepts presented at Pitch Day.
Regenerative Ag Risk Management
Sustainability commitments are more critical than ever, and companies are facing a growing challenge – how to contribute effectively and tangibly to a greener planet while ensuring their ESG goals are achieved. This is where we step in. Our investment and production warranty program solution is simple but powerful. We facilitate direct, farm-level program sponsorship to accelerate the adoption of sustainability practices, solving the problem of upfront expenditures and assuaging the fear of profitability loss during transition. By establishing a floor or reference price to warranty minimum returns during the transition period (up to 3 years), our solution helps farmers manage financial risk during this transition while providing an opportunity for companies with sustainability goals to bring their commitments to life – by directly supporting those farmers who are at the forefront of addressing climate change.
Redefining the Rural Workforce
Imagine a future where businesses in rural communities are able to utilize the untapped potential of local labor in a way that creates sustainable growth for their business and the entire community. When businesses thrive, communities thrive! Our platform unlocks untapped workable hours in rural areas by enabling businesses to flexibly hire workers on demand – precisely when, where, the frequency, the duration, and in the quantity needed. By teaching businesses how to fractionalize and optimize their job structure and helping orchestrate worker schedules and transactions, our shared employment fractionalization platform enables them to seamlessly share their workforce while drawing maximum worker participation. Ultimately, we help businesses design jobs and create opportunities for the stay-at-home parent, the retiree, the student, and the second jobber, so that they can achieve a more fulfilling life in their communities that have agriculture at their core.
Voice of America's Farmer
Farmers are the original “influencers.” So, imagine a future where their inherent influence and storytelling was captured and made accessible to all Americans looking for a deeper understanding of the food they are putting into their bodies – a future where a “face” replaces a label. Farmers have what the world needs at the moment: respect in a time of skepticism, industry durability in a time of disruption, and proximity to food practices. Our digital marketplace platform provides opportunities for content discovery, creation, and distribution – a place where trusted brands can engage farmers as storytellers, increasing consumer trust, and ultimately driving revenue and differentiation—a win both for those companies serving consumers and farmers who create a new revenue stream by just sharing what they already do each day.
Check out this video from the event!
What an exciting time!
Pitch Day stood out as a vibrant platform where each Fellow displayed exceptional professionalism and strategic insight. Their startup pitches encompassed comprehensive solutions to pressing challenges in the agri-tech sector, highlighting their potential to make a significant impact. The event was an embodiment of our commitment at DIAL Ventures to nurture and unveil innovative talent capable of driving meaningful change.
The success of this day reinforces our belief in the power of collaboration, mentorship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in transforming groundbreaking ideas into viable business ventures.
Announcing the Winners of the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge!
AgriNovus Indiana and DIAL Ventures were thrilled to celebrate the culmination of the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge. In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Producer-Led Innovation Challenge tasked companies, entrepreneurs, students and innovators with creating new revenue streams from current on-farm processes to increase efficiency and return on investment for producers’ operations.
The participants, equipped with a producer’s perspective on current agricultural hurdles, pushed the boundaries of creativity and practicality. Their final deliverables—a compelling six-minute pitch and a comprehensive executive summary—showcased their vision and potential for real-world impact.
In addition to the $25,000 grand prize won by FiberX of Hammond, Ind., DIAL Ventures presented prize money to the top two student teams from Purdue University:
First Place
EcoTrak: Software to help farmers collect, store, organize and share documentation related to organic production certification.
Student: Corey Tuinstra
Prize $4,000
Second Place
Yieldsmart: A company that uses AI to help farmers use the optimal types of seeds for their fields based on information about soil, weather, and field-related variables.
Students: Anton Josifovski and Isha Shamim
Prize $2,000 (for the group)
What’s Next
Stay tuned for company announcements from Pitch Day. Also, we have already conducted interviews for the Spring Fellows Cohort. They are set to begin in February 2024.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and happy New Year!
Best Regards,
-Allan Gray