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.
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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. ​
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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
Transportation is arranged from Nebraska Innovation Campus | Limited tickets available
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.
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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.
Additional participating demos will be announced soon.
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Tickets are limited — secure your spot with the AgTech Connect registration form. Transportation will be arranged from the Nebraska Innovation Campus.
INVITATION ONLY:
VENTURE CAPITAL MEETUP
Wednesday, July 15 | Details provided upon confirmation
Hosted by The Combine | Invite Only
The AgTech VC Conversation is a facilitated, closed-door session for investors, fund managers, and select ecosystem leaders — designed to move past the polished panel format and get into a real conversation about where ag tech investment is heading.
This invite-only gathering brings together active investors from across the Midwest to share what they're seeing on the ground: deal flow trends, category opportunities, founder quality, and the structural shifts reshaping the ag tech investment landscape. It's a peer conversation, not a pitch session — and that's what makes it worth the time.
If you're an investor or fund manager interested in attending, reach out directly to explore whether this session is a fit.
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 RealmV, Stockcropper, ALA Engineering, and FuturHerd follow, showcasing innovation across key areas of agricultural production.
Lunch & Keynotes
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. Pete Nelson of AgLaunch will provide an overview on the intersection of ag technology and farmer adoption, drawing on AgLaunch's national network of farmer-innovators and early-stage ag tech companies.
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.
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The Future of Water: Technology, Data, and the Race to Do More with Less
Nick Reinke (Taylor Geospatial), Jake Beam (Reinke Irrigation)
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), 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.
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
Premium Sponsors
Signature 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.
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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.
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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