AgTech Events
10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit Convenes the Sector’s Brightest Ideas and Minds
What: 2025 AgTech Innovation Summit
When:Thursday, March 6, 9 am – 6 pm
Where: Illinois Conference Center, 111 St. Mary’s Road, Champaign, IL
Why: The University of Illinois Research Park hosts the AgTech Innovation Summit to connect the brightest minds in agtech. The AgTech Innovation Summit features a unique mix of investors, large corporations, prominent academics, and startups to provide a well-rounded perspective on the hottest topics in the sector. This marks the 10th annual event, which has become a signature conference on the agtech circuit.
Who: Media are welcome. Please check in at the front desk or text me (217-417-6671) for assistance.
NOTE: There will be a press conference at 12:15 p.m. with award winners; Startup World Cup winner will be announced at 4:45 p.m.
AGTECH SUMMIT 2025 HIGHLIGHTS:
The first Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional pitch competition, featuring 10 companies from around the country vying to compete at the Startup World Cup finale in October, for a $1 million investment grand prize.
Panels covering the intersection of agtech with fintech, biomanufacturing, and advanced computing.
Three fireside chats with thought leaders from the State of Illinois, industry, and startup
The event concludes with a showcase of agtech startups.
Two award presentations:
Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism (awarded to an innovative grower/producer).
The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize, which goes to a startup company.
The generous sponsors who make the AgTech Summit possible are John Deere, Frenzy Ag, AGCO, University of Illinois College of ACES, GDM, University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo, Intersect Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau and Champaign County Farm Bureau, Serra Ventures, and NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region. The AgTech Summit is programmed by the University of Illinois Research Park.
About the Research Park at the University of Illinois
The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.