AGTECH ACCELERATOR Cohort 4 Kick-off Week
We kicked off our fourth cohort in the AGTECH ACCELERATOR program, April 6th through April 10th!
We were thrilled to welcome 15 of the most innovative and high-growth agtech companies from across Canada and the UK to Regina, reaffirming Saskatchewan’s growing reputation as a global leader in agtech innovation.
As part of our AGTECH ACCELERATOR Kick-off Week, Cohort 4 founders dove into a jam packed schedule filled with immersive workshops, hands-on mentorship, and meaningful networking opportunities. From new insights and strategic next steps, to invaluable connections, the week was filled with momentum and impact – making their time in Regina truly unforgettable.
Take a look at the highlights from Kick-off Week and see what these incredible founders were up to!
Farm Tour
To kick off the week, our founders arrived in Regina and we headed out to Be-Ver Farms in Sedley. It was a great chance for everyone to step onto a Saskatchewan farm, ask questions, and explore how agriculture here might connect to their own business. The group had some really thoughtful conversations, and it was a helpful way to ease into the week with a better understanding of the local context.
After the farm visit, we made our way back into Regina and stopped at Leopold’s Tavern, a local favourite! Since most of our UK crew had never even heard of poutine (shocking, we know), we couldn’t resist introducing them to this iconic Canadian comfort food. Crispy fries, gooey cheese curds, rich gravy—what’s not to love? The UK group didn’t need much convincing. One bite in, and they were hooked.
We wrapped up Day 1 a bit early so everyone could get a good sleep, adjust to the time zone, and be ready to start fresh on Monday!
Day 1
We started Day 1 bright and early with a marketing session with Ken Wong. Ken is a Distinguished Professor of Marketing at Queen’s University and a leading figure in marketing education, recognized for creating Canada’s first full-time, government-subsidized independent MBA program. With numerous awards and an extensive consulting career, he has contributed to global brands, government agencies, and academic research, focusing on marketing strategy, productivity, and brand profitability. Founders really enjoyed the session and found that they had many takeaways to apply to their own businesses.
Following Ken’s session, we heard from Murad Al-Katib, a longtime Kickoff Week speaker who always leaves founders inspired. A strategic business thinker in the international agri-food commodity trading space, Murad founded AGT Foods in 2001 and grew it from a Canadian start-up into a global, billion-dollar leader in value-added pulses, staple foods, and ingredients. As the visionary behind AGT Foods, Murad shared his journey, offering valuable lessons, tips, and inspiration to help guide founders on their own paths.
After Murad’s session, we dove into Industry Mentor Madness—where each founder participated in five 1:1 meetings with mentors who were carefully curated and matched based on individual needs, the market they operate in, and the mentors’ expertise. During this time, founders were encouraged to ask questions, collect feedback, and seek advice to guide their next steps in their companies.
We wrapped up a jam-packed Day 1 by heading to Mosaic Stadium. After a busy day of mentorship, the founders stopped at the AGT Lounge for our ‘Sask Supper,’ an intimate dinner where we welcomed partners, supporters, and the community of the AGTECH ACCELERATOR to close out the day.
We were honoured to receive greetings from several distinguished guests at the Sask Supper, including Mayor Chad Bachynski, Honourable Daryl Harrison, Minister of Agriculture, and Celina Philpot, CEO of Conexus. A special thank you to Robert Andjelic for offering his invaluable insights to our guests. As the owner of more acres of farmland than anyone else in Canada, Robert challenged us to expand our thinking and embrace bigger partnership opportunities within Saskatchewan. He also shared powerful lessons from his early career, emphasizing that the most resilient businesses are often forged during challenging times.
Day 2
Day 2 kicked off with a financing workshop led by Rob Russell, Partner at EmmerTech, followed by a legal session with Justin Young, Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. In the afternoon, we heard from Neil Zacharias, owner of Briggs Sales Coaching and Management. These sessions were all packed with valuable insights on business legalities, investment, sales, and more—essential knowledge for any growing business.
After a full day of learning, we headed to Liberty Kitchen for a casual dinner, giving the founders a chance to unwind and bond over some great food. To top it off, we walked over to Activate, where everyone could have fun, let loose, and get to know each other better.
Day 3
Day 3 kicked off with a Women in Tech Breakfast, where we invited our female agtech founders, as well as all female founders and team members from our START, BUILD, GROW, and SCALE programming. We even had male co-founders with female co-founders attend, creating a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere. During the breakfast, we heard from Alison Sunstrom, a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and CEO of CNSRV-X Inc. (Conserve X), a company focused on sustainable agricultural technology. Alison is also the Managing Partner at NYA Ventures which manages The51 Food and AgTech Fund, a $51 Million early-stage venture capital fund investing in founders transforming agriculture.
Following the Women in Tech breakfast, we moved into a Leadership Session with Todd Klink from FCC. Todd has been a fixture at Kickoff Week for many years and always brings immense value in guiding founders on how to show up as leaders and authentically be themselves. After Todd’s session, we held a panel discussion with our Director, Laura, Wanda Hunchak of Westcap Management, and Laurie Dmytryshyn of PIC Investment Group. They discussed the importance of knowing your numbers and understanding financials as a core component of business success.
The afternoon wrapped up with Producer Mentor Madness, another highlight where founders had the chance to connect with industry mentors who provided unbiased, raw feedback on their businesses. These curated connections are always incredibly valuable, giving the founders real insights from those with no vested interest in their companies. The evening culminated in the Community Social, where founders showcased their innovative solutions. This event also served as a sneak peek for the upcoming Demo Day at Ag in Motion, on July 14, giving the community a chance to hear from the founders before they take the stage.
Day 4
Founders got a bit of extra rest in the morning (or spent the time working on their businesses) before we kicked off the last day of programming. We started off with Brandon Franklin from Franklin Kinetics, who shared insights on agile decision-making. Next, we heard from Damon Johnson, a Cohort 1 AGTECH ACCELERATOR founder of Parametrics.ag, and farming enthusiast with deep roots in his family’s seed farm. Damon always has valuable nuggets of wisdom, and the founders appreciated hearing his story and advice.
After lunch, the founders dove into a Strategy and Goal Setting workshop with Marty Yaskowich of Lawrence & Co., where they got real about their business goals and operations. This was a crucial session to ensure they’re focusing on the right things to move their businesses forward. To wrap up the week, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner at Avenue in Regina, taking time to chat, reflect, and bond after a jam-packed week of learning and growth.
Saying goodbye to our founders on the final day was a bittersweet moment. After an intense week of stepping out of the day-to-day and working on their businesses, the energy was high – and so was the excitement to bring fresh ideas back home.
But the journey’s not over yet! Mark your calendars for July 13–17, when the founders return to Saskatchewan—this time in Saskatoon—for their finale week at Ag in Motion.
Until then, we’ll keep the momentum going with virtual sessions on a variety of topics, continuing to support each founder every step of the way.
Huge thanks to our incredible partners—this wouldn’t be possible without you! We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Innovate UK for their invaluable partnership and for bringing a delegation of companies to Canada. This collaboration has been a driving force in positioning Saskatchewan as a global agtech hub. Through the Global Incubator Programme, five UK-based companies have joined the AGTECH ACCELERATOR cohort—an exciting milestone that highlights the strength of international cooperation. Across these cohorts, we’ve witnessed the dynamic collision of UK and Canadian founders, sparking innovation and collaboration. We’re excited to see these relationships deepen and more reciprocal partnerships emerge through impactful missions like this one.
An additional thank you to the following members of our community who took the kickoff experience to another level:
