AgSharks competition sparks funding offers to startups

   Left to right: Chuck Templeton, managing director of S2G Ventures; Matthew Walker, principal in S2G Ventures; Sanjeev Krishnan, managing director and CIO of S2G Ventures; Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers; Bruce Rasa, CEO of AgVoice; Aidan Mouat, CEO of Hazel Technologies Inc; Edwin Camp, president of D.M. Camp & Sons; Rob Yraceburu, president of Wonderful Orchards LLC; Ryan Talley, farm manager and co-owner of Talley Farms stand together at the AgSharks pitch competition during the Western Growers annual meeting.

Investment group S2G Ventures made offers to AgVoice and Hazel Technologies during the AgSharks pitch competition Oct. 31 at the Western Growers annual meeting.

S2G offered to invest $2 million in Hazel Technologies, which makes products designed to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, according to a news release. The Chicago-based company has also received two grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Our success at the AgSharks event is the latest market validation point for Hazel Technologies,” CEO Aidan Mouat said in the release. “We are grateful that Western Growers and S2G gave us this platform to show how Hazel Tech increases returns, reduces labor cost and opens new markets for grower-shippers.”

S2G also offered to invest $250,000 in AgVoice, which has developed technology designed to allow industry members, particularly those with hands-on roles, to take notes simply by speaking rather than by writing on a clipboard or a tablet.

“These are specialists like agronomists, plant breeders and crop inspectors who provide support to the farmers, ranchers and growers who feed our nation and world,” CEO Bruce Rasa said in the release. “Prior to AgSharks, our team had never seen this type of live negotiation event take place in the ag tech community, and we are so thankful that Western Growers and S2G had the bold vision to bring it to fruition.”

Both startups accepted their respective offers, and the deals are in the process of being finalized.