Discovering the innovations of tomorrow, today: The Pearse Lyons Accelerator calls all Food and AgTech entrepreneurs

The Pearse Lyons Accelerator seeks to attract inventors, entrepreneurs and disruptors for its inaugural term. Set to run annually for five years, the program is a three-month intensive boot camp for food and agribusiness innovators with a proven technology that is ready for market. The program is designed to provide market opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop their fledgling agriculture, food and ag-tech plans. So if you have a business with a proven technology but need a boost when it comes to export market access, financing or marketing, then this program is for you.

Select innovators will have the opportunity to present their innovations at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, in May 2017, where more than 3,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries around the world converge. This high profile showcase will afford the opportunity to present to future customers as well as investors and potential collaborators.

With plenty of opportunities existing today in agriculture, farmers and producers need to be able to make decisions more accurately and scientifically with the help of ag-tech and big data. The program seeks game changers in the ag industry and opens today for applications. Following a selection process, successful applicants will commence the program in January 2017.

Alltech is investing up to $10 million USD in the accelerator program. Most of these funds will support the participation of select innovators in a three-month boot camp under the direction of Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer at Alltech, and other fellow industry mentors. Connolly is an adjunct professor of marketing at University College Dublin and China Agricultural University and is passionate about the commercialisation of innovative ideas and technology.

“Entrepreneurs have the potential to discover solutions today to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Connolly. “The Pearse Lyons Accelerator aims to discover the brightest ideas in agriculture, food and technology, and we want these future ag-tech entrepreneurs to be fully equipped to develop successful, sustainable businesses. Alltech is one of the few truly global companies positioned to assist in opening doors, such as routes to market and worldwide market access.”

The program aims to inspire entrepreneurs and contribute to the success of projects already in their final developmental stage. It will act as a stimulation platform, putting innovators in touch with highly skilled mentors and industry connections. Alltech, a leading innovator in animal health and nutrition, aims to build an innovation legacy and position itself as THE technology leader investing in food and agribusiness.

“Thirty-six years ago, I founded Alltech in my home with just $10,000 in my pocket, and that investment has grown into an international business of over $2 billion,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Alltech’s roots are in entrepreneurial innovation, and it’s an exciting time to be in agriculture. Some of the recent ag-tech applications on-farm today include automation, drones, soil sensors and big data. What next? Personally, I am looking forward to supporting and empowering rising entrepreneurs in making tomorrow’s innovations a reality.”

Applications for the Pearse Lyons Accelerator are available now and close Nov. 11, 2016. All projects may be considered; however, those in the agriculture, food and the ag-tech industry will have preference. For more information and to register for the Pearse Lyons Accelerator, please visit Alltech.com/Accelerator.