AgTech Propeller Cohort

FINDING THE BUSINESS VALUE IN NEW IDEAS

Propeller is a 6-week entrepreneurial design thinking program which helps founders and entrepreneurs determine whether there is sufficient value to pursue a product or service idea. The program helps entrepreneurs identify potential markets, develop a path to market strategy, and learn how to communicate the value of the idea to early stakeholders and adopters.  

Over six weeks of instruction, Propeller enables innovators to utilize the tools provided and peer interaction to consider angles from the business problem, customer value, and competitive edge--resulting in a clear understanding about the business direction and value of their idea and how to present this value in an investor-ready pitch.

Propeller serves as a first-step program for early-stage science and technology innovators by helping them bridge the gap between a brilliant idea and the business value it represents. It is based in part on the Wendy Kennedy Institute (WKI) methodology but tailored to science and technology-focused companies.  First Flight seeks to contribute to our vibrant entrepreneurial community by adding Propeller as a building block for an ever-stronger innovation ecosystem.

Timeframe of program delivery:  The virtual, self-paced modules, integrated with mentor interactions, may take place over a several weeks (pace depends on time committed by Founder). If Cohort based with facilitator, program is typically completed over 6 weeks with celebration demo day afterward.

Scholarships to

●       5 AgTech Companies sponsored by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center

●       Manufacturing Companies sponsored by the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Agriculture contributes ⅙ NC’s total economic success per annum ($91.7B). It provides 4.4 million agricultural-related jobs, or 20% of NC’s workforce. North Carolina boasts the third most diverse agriculture economy in the U.S., with more than 80 commercial crops and a large animal agriculture presence. NC is one of the top 10 agricultural producers in the US, Contributing a wide diversity of products from hogs and poultry to sweet potatoes and tobacco to Christmas trees and trout.

As the World’s populations continue to grow we need to meet these challenges, technology in agriculture is more widespread and important than ever.

Examples of today’s technology at work in the agriculture industry includes:

●Robotics                                          ●Drones                    

●Autonomous vehicles                   ●Agricultural robots

●Air & soil sensors                           ●Precision agriculture

●Equipment telematics                   ●Synthetic biology

●Imaging Sensors                             ●Vertical farming

●AgFinTech                                        ●Animal Health & nutrition

●Farm management                        ●Animal vaccines and diagnostics

●Livestock biometrics                      ●Nutrition, yield, harvestability, and extended shelf life

●Crop sensors                                   ●Crop protection, biological, chemical

●Plant traits & gene editing            ●Rapid iteration selective breeding

(abiotic and biotic stress resilience)

Being one of the top agricultural producers in the Country, home to first-class universities and colleges, a uniquely skilled workforce and an existing community, North Carolina is the preferred location for many of the World’s largest agricultural corporations and is at the forefront of AgTech Innovation!

Please contact Emil Runge at erunge@ffvcnc.org or (404) 668-2136 and Lydia Bjorklund at lbjorklund@ffvcnc.org if you have any questions.