St. Louis, MO – The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) announced today the launch of a new platform called H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech, the next generation of a proven incubator that will further accelerate technical resources and funding for the global agtech startup community.
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. (Harnessing Agricultural Research and Venture Ecosystems for Sustainable Technology) builds on the strong foundation of the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator’s (IN2) agtech track. IN2 is funded by Wells Fargo & Company and co-administered by NREL, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory. Since 2014, IN2 has supported 77 startups working across the built environment, agtech, and infrastructure sectors. To date, the 26 agtech companies have raised nearly $290 million in follow-on funding, and five have exited via acquisition or merger. These companies worked with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to validate and de-risk their technologies.
With today’s announcement at a joint event in Denver, Colorado, YLI is joining IN2 to carry the agtech programming into its next chapter. By continuing the shared mission of empowering the global agriculture startup community through research collaborations, field testing, and direct funding opportunities, promising innovations can reach the market faster. H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech will be administered by YLI in St. Louis, Missouri.
“IN2 is pleased to continue its commitment to agtech innovation by supporting this next chapter with YLI in St. Louis,” said Sarah Derdowski, IN2 program manager at NREL. “We’re confident this step will empower YLI and its partners to expand investment in agtech, create more opportunities for innovators, and help build a more resilient, adaptable future.”
“YLI is honored to have this unique opportunity to build on the incredible foundation of the IN2 agtech program and continue to invest in high-potential innovations through the newly established H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech platform,” said Stephanie Regagnon, executive director for the Yield Lab Institute. “YLI will learn from IN2’s success and ensure the core elements of the proven model stay intact including an internationally recognized external advisory board, a robust process for selecting cohort companies, and an expansive network of partners to refer companies into the pipeline. YLI and our partners also plan to expand the program in very meaningful ways in year one.”
H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech welcomes new partners, prepares for next steps
As part of today’s announcement, YLI introduced and welcomed two new technical partners for H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech. These partners are: North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (NC PSI) and University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR), which spans all campuses associated with the UC system. H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech preserves IN2’s model for validating and scaling advanced agricultural technologies and this move significantly grows the technology capability offering by expanding the breadth of research expertise available to startups.
“UC ANR is excited to serve as a value-added research-to-commercialization partner for the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech program,” said Gabe Youtsey, Chief Innovation Officer at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. “IN2 has a strong history of supporting agriculture startups and advancing scientific breakthroughs, and we look forward to leveraging UC ANR’s dominance in practical, in-field research and demonstration to enable H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech to bring solutions to the California and U.S. agricultural industry.”
“We are delighted to join H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech as a technical partner,” said Adrian Percy, executive director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative. “This collaboration will leverage our faculty’s research expertise and entrepreneurial leadership, creating a powerful opportunity to increase impact in the field. We look forward to working with The Yield Lab Institute and the broader network to help accelerate promising agricultural technologies into the marketplace.”
YLI also announced the launch of its inaugural Ecosystem Partner Network, a cornerstone of the new H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech program. Through this network, H.A.R.V.E.S.T. will collaborate with AgTech Nation to engage 12 regional ecosystems across the United States, while expanding for the first time into leading international innovation hubs in Argentina, Brazil, Israel, and the United Kingdom. Ecosystem Partners are trusted conveners that accelerate innovation by forging partnerships, referring companies into the pipeline, and strengthening the connective tissue that drives the sector forward.
Breakthrough Energy Discovery and NREL Foundation have joined as founding partners, providing critical support for H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech. In addition, the Missouri Technology Corporation provided early funding to ensure Missouri-based IN2 alumni can remain actively engaged in this next chapter.
More information about the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech program will be shared in the coming weeks online at: www.harvestagtech.org.
About The Yield Lab Institute
The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) is an agrifood think tank dedicated to supporting and advancing global agtech startups, entrepreneurs and ecosystems. YLI carries out its mission through open innovation, thought leadership and global ecosystem connectivity. Its current programs include: H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech and Cultivar. Headquartered in St. Louis, YLI is the non-profit affiliate of The Yield Lab Group, a family of global venture capital funds in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific investing in early stage agtech. For more information on The Yield Lab Institute, our mission and our programs, please visit: www.theyieldlabinstitute.org.
About Breakthrough Energy Discovery:
Breakthrough Energy Discovery is the pre-venture innovation arm of Breakthrough Energy, focusing on advancing emerging climate technologies at the earliest stages. Through its three core programs— Workshops, Ecosystem Grants, and the global Fellows program—BE Discovery provides philanthropic funding, tailored support, and connections to help innovators turn bold ideas into scalable solutions.
Media Contact: Kathryn Jamboretz | Jamboretz Public Relations | 314-484-9333