AgAssembly

September 26 | Las Cruces, NM

 

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum

Time: 2:00PM-5:00PM, with Reception to Follow

 

WHERE AGRI-FOOD STARTUPS + FUNDERS + INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES CONNECT

Register Today!

AgAssembly is the culminating event for AgSprint, a 5-month venture builder for innovators in agricultural applications of food, energy and the environment. AgAssembly brings together entrepreneurs, agriculture industry leaders, and funders for a day of agriculture innovation, technology, and connection.

Connecting with the Right People

Industry Executives & Media

Get an inside look at the up-and-coming trends and startups at the forefront of ag innovation.

Investors

Meet the most promising new ag startups.

Entrepreneurs

Connect with investors, potential partners and customers. Plus, have the chance to give a 60-second pitch during the open mic session.

Open Mic

AgAssembly invites startups with agricultural applications of food, energy and the environment to apply to pitch executives, investors, media, government, entrepreneurs, and other ecosystem contributors. The crowd favorite will walk away with $500.

We know entrepreneurs need to be judicious with their time. If you are going to pitch, pitch wisely and pitch to the right people. If you are developing something in the food and agriculture space, regardless of business maturity, presenting at this event will be time well spent.

Five startups will be selected to give 60-second pitches to describe their venture and what additional skills and help they are looking for from the food, agriculture, and entrepreneurial community. Applications close September 11.

 

Applications Open

At This Year’s AgAssembly:

R

Guest speakers will take the stage to talk about building the real food economy of the future, the current and future landscape of funding agricultural applications of food, energy and the environment and NM’s budding industry in hemp.  

R

AgSprint accelerator companies have the opportunity to pitch and secure a $20,000 award; while, established and emerging entrepreneurs compete for $500 through an Open Mic pitch competition. 

R
Through curated networking we’re bringing together people with the power to propel the Southwest’s startup forward, tackling some of the biggest challenges in food and agriculture and illuminating a sustainable, innovative future.

This Year’s Speakers

Brad Lewis

Joshua Rich

JJ Childress

Duke Rodriguez

Dr. John Floros

Jeff Witte

Beto Pallares

Dr. Rolando Flores

Javier Gonzales

Paul Laur

See All of This Year's Speakers

Agenda

2:00PM

Opening Remarks

  • John Floros, President of New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Rolando Flores, Dean and Chief Administrative Officer, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University

2:10PM

Regional Outlook

  • Jeff Witte, Director/Secretary of New Mexico Department of Agriculture                                                                                            

2:25PM

Rapid Fire Pitches

Agri-food startups from the Southwest give 60-second pitches.

  • Kelly Egolf, New Mexico Fresh Foods, LLC
  • Sabri Sansoy, Orchanic
  • Jose Hackleen,
  • Kelsi Palacios, The Palacios Company
  • Paul Szauter, EquiSeq
  • Paul Neher, Neher

Crowd Favorite award sponsored by Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation

 

2:45PM

A Budding Industry: Hemp growers, retailers, and innovators seize opportunity in NM

  • Moderator: Brad Lewis, Division Director for Agricultural and Environmental Services at New Mexico Department of Agriculture
  • Duke Rodriguez, President of Ultra Health LLC
  • Joshua Rich, President of Rich Global Hemp Corporation
  • Paul Laur, Director of Corporate Development at Pebble Labs

3:20PM

Innovation Spotlight: AgSprint

7-minute demos from the stars of AgSprint. A unique opportunity to hear presentations from the AgSprint cohort, the Southwest’s most compelling early-state startups in agricultural applications of food, energy and the environment.

4:10PM

Fireside Chat: Investing Yields More than Crops

Agricultural applications of food, energy and the environment. investors and innovators speak to the industry’s record-breaking year – $16.9 billion in funding in 2018, a 43% year-over-year increase.

  • Moderator: Dr. Beto Pallares, Founder of Joseph Advisor Services
  • Jonathan Childress, Community Engagement Manager (AI for Earth representative) at Microsoft
  • Javier M. Gonzales, Public Policy at Descartes Labs, Inc.

4:45PM

$20,000 Award Announcement

Award sponsored by New Mexico Gas Company, an Emera Company.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquaLorem ipsum Lorem ipsum . 

5:00PM

Reception

Sample some of the region’s best wines while enjoying tasty bites. Entrepreneurs are a sociable bunch; they enjoy interaction as well as transaction. This is a chance to meet like-minded individuals.

Past Speakers

Dr. Todd K. Abraham

Scott Dockum

Dr. Rolando Flores

Dr. John Floros

Brock Furlong

Steve Garguilo

Janiece Greene

Ray Laudano

Andy Lower

Sue McCloskey

Dr. Rebecca White

Jeff Witte

See All Past Speakers

FAQs

How do I become an AgAssembly partner?
Thank you for considering sponsoring this impactful event. Not only will you be making a difference by helping local entrepreneurs grow their business opportunities by connecting with great resources, you’ll be helping grow the economy and create jobs for the state of New Mexico. To become a sponsor, please contact Zetdi Sloan at zrunyan@nmsu.edu.
How do I become an AgAssembly investor next year?
Becoming an investor for the AgSprint accelerator is a rewarding experience. You’ll have the opportunity to invest in the most innovative, scalable startups focused on the latest groundbreaking agricultural technology. If you would like to become an investor, please contact Zetdi Sloan at zrunyan@nmsu.edu.
How Do I apply to AgSprint?
Please refer to
https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/agsprint to learn more about the AgSprint program. Application opens in the spring of 2020. If you would like to speak with someone about joining, please contact Zetdi Sloan at zrunyan@nmsu.edu.