Agtech Accelerator Cohort 1 Finale Week Recap
After 9 weeks of virtual programming, 20 founders from our Agtech Accelerator reconnected in Regina to conclude their formal programming. Cohort 1 consisted of 16 companies from across Canada + the United Kingdom. The founders were able to establish a strong connection with one another in their first week together in March 2022, and further strengthened their relationship during the following weeks of their weekly virtual sessions. Many anxiously awaited the last week of programming, as it would entail meetings with investors, mentors, and a feature Demo Day showcased at Canada’s Farm Show.
Here is a look back at some of the events the Agtech Accelerator founders attended during their visit to Regina…
We began the week by reuniting with founders at Bar Willow on Sunday evening. This beautiful restaurant overlooks Wascana Lake and has a clear shot of the historic Saskatchewan Legislative Building. We enjoyed small plates, charcuterie, burgers, summery cocktails and local craft beers! Coined the ‘biggest deck in town‘, Bar Willow was the perfect space for our group to unite and catch up before heading into a full week of programming!
We were off to the races Monday! The founders were whisked away to Sky Park for an evening of adventure and competition. The founders’ adrenaline was pumping as they sped through the race course driving electric go-karts. The action continued at the mini-golf course where the founders tested their patience.
Founders were slated to give back to the local tech ecosystem by volunteering as pitch scrubbers at 24 Hour Startup | Agtech, hosted by Cultivator at Canada’s Farm Show. This gave founders the opportunity to engage with the next wave of aspiring agtech enthusiasts and scope out Saskatchewan’s talent pool.
Tuesday was used as a night to kick back and relax. We wanted to ensure that founders were given all of the time they needed to prepare for Wednesday’s big pitch at Demo Day. Our team planned a special night to wind down with a restorative flow yoga class led by Charla Weber from Quan’s Hot Yoga. This evening session was held at the Hotel Saskatchewan– giving founders the opportunity to get comfortable, sip on tea and rest their bodies.
After an exciting afternoon on the Launch Pad stage of Canada’s Farm Show, founders were treated to a dinner at the Queensbury, where they were able to network and get to know more of the investors and community that watched their pitches at Demo Day. This dinner lead into a thrilling evening at the Professional Bull Riders Show. For many, it was their first time watching a live bull riding event! There was much excitement as founders enjoyed the entertainment and mingled with VIP guests of the Agtech Accelerator.
To wrap up the week, the Agtech Accelerator team organized a private event at The Docks of the Local Market. MELD Eatery prepared a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy together at long harvest tables. Tim and the entire team at Local Market were incredible hosts and made the night special with ties to local Saskatchewan products. With full bellies and warm hearts, founders hit the dance floor with live music from Paul Chesters + Ken Burton. Cultivator Program Manager, Hannah Castle, got everyone up and participating in a full line dance routine!
Throughout the week, the Cultivator team continued their tradition from the kick-off week of the Agtech Accelerator and handed out a CFL miniature game ball to ‘Founder of the Day‘. This was a special momento to highlight the spirit and passion exemplified in one of the Agtech Accelerator founders that aligns with Saskatchewan’s love for the Roughriders. Game balls were handed out to Charles Veys (Fotenix), Patrick Walther (AGvisorPRO), Katlin Lang (FarmSimple), and Ketan Kaushish (Ukko Agro).
With the majority of the Agtech Accelerator program delivered virtually, it was important for our team to ensure that when founders were visiting Regina we provided them with a memorable experience in our city. By filling their days with engaging events, we were able to provide an environment that fostered further connections between the cohort, founding partners, investors, mentors, and industry experts. We look forward to showcasing a full recap on the Agtech Accelerator sessions and Demo Day in the coming days! Stay tuned!