Moving ideas from lab to marketplace

At Purdue University, we have the unique expertise to develop and deliver technology, analyze data and use insights to drive value-driven innovation.

In order to drive innovation in the agricultural industry, it is critical to push ideas from the lab into the marketplace. We have the resources for faculty, researchers and students to build entrepreneurship skills and commercialize their ideas or products.

Our innovators can utilize funding resources, like Ag-Celerator, and programs through Purdue Foundry to develop the value in their idea and develop their go-to-market strategy.

Since 2014, the institute’s support in entrepreneurship has resulted in:

  • 23 startups.
  • $855,000 invested in fifteen startups through Ag-Celerator.
  • 15 undergraduate interns paid to advance soy-based products toward commercialization through research customer delivery activities.

Ag-Celerator Fund

Ag-Celerator™, created in 2015, is a $2 million plant sciences innovation fund designed to provide critical startup support for Purdue innovators who wish to commercialize patented intellectual property or Purdue "know-how" technologies. Funding is considered for innovations that impact the life sciences, such as advancing crop traits, generating higher yields, using big data to improve farm management, finding new uses of plants, using precision agriculture, and discovering advanced breeding techniques. Purdue students, faculty and alumni can receive up to $100,000 in funding through the program. Investments are made per semester on a competitive basis.

Ag-Celerator™ seeks to help Purdue entrepreneurs build momentum that will put them in a better position to gain customers, find development partners, and obtain more investment funding.

The fund is operated by Purdue Ventures, the capital access arm of the Purdue Foundry, with assistance from the Purdue College of Agriculture, Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology and Commercialization, and the agricultural industry.

To be considered for Ag-Celerator participation, a Purdue innovator and their team must review deadlines and complete the application form, including a business concept description and pitch deck.

SEE A LIST OF STARTUPS