Companies
THRIVE IV Accelerator 2018 Cohort Announced
(Contributed)
May 24, 2018 – Salinas, CA
Over the 10-week accelerator program agtech companies will be provided live and virtual coaching covering go-to-market strategy, supply chain, field deployment, fundraising and global expansion.
The THRIVE IV cohort will receive $900K investment divided between each of the nine companies.
Entering its fourth year, the THRIVE Venture & Innovation platform announces the nine 
finalists and investment in its spring 2018 accelerator cohort.
The THRIVE Venture & Innovation Platform also welcomes latest partners Coca Cola and Wilbur-Ellis alongside its existing partners Wells Fargo, Trimble, Taylor Farms, Land O’Lakes, Western Growers Association, Verizon, City of Salinas, Corteva Agriscience, Driscoll’s Berries, Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory, Produce Marketing Assocation, Sun World Innovations, Orrick, JV Smith, and Turatti.
THRIVE’s partnership with Coca Cola aims to sustainably source 100% of the Fortune 500 brand’s priority agricultural ingredients by 2020 and build a healthy agricultural supply chain. In order to meet the expectations of its consumers, customers, and stakeholders, Coca Cola is committed to finding new innovation that protects land and other natural resources in the communities it operates in and sustainably source agricultural ingredients at the core of its products. The partnership between SVG Partners and Wilbur-Ellis, a leader in precision agriculture technology and the marketing and distribution of plant protection, seed and nutritional products, is focused on accelerating and scaling emerging agriculture technology through the company’s extensive testing and research facilities, as well as through their marketing and distribution capabilities.
Selected from 200 applications from 30 geographies around the globe, the THRIVE IV cohort will receive $900K investment- divided between each of the nine companies. The finalists will be showcased before THRIVE corporate partners, investors, growers and agriculture leaders at the historic Salinas firehouse for the THRIVE Innovation Showcase, a celebration highlighting the city’s agtech economic development strategy launched in 2012 in partnership with SVG Partners. THRIVE alumni and other AgTech companies with office space at the Western Growers Innovation Center will also showcase during the evening.
John Hartnett, CEO and Founder of SVG Partners and the THRIVE Venture & Innovation platform said: “This is a tribute to the world class AgTech hub brought to life over the course of the past five years with the help of the City of Salinas and local industry leaders from Taylor Farms, Driscoll’s Berries, JVSmith, and Western Growers Association, as well as Coca Cola, Wilbur-Ellis, Land O’Lakes, Trimble, Wells Fargo, Forbes, Verizon, and others. Together, we have created a globally recognizable agtech hub in the Salinas region, made up of the THRIVE accelerator and fund, marquee events like the Forbes AgTech Summit, educational programming including Coder Dojo, Digital Nest and Young Innovators, as well as workforce programs launched out of CSUMB and Hartnell College.”
Over the course of the 10-week accelerator program, kicked off at seed camp and culminating with THRIVE’s Demo Day at the Forbes Agtech Summit, companies will be provided live and virtual coaching covering go-to-market strategy, supply chain, field deployment, fundraising and global expansion. Additionally, each company will have access to horticulture, supply chain, and business domain expertise as part of paired mentor meetings, co-working space at the Western Grower’s Innovation Center in Salinas, CA, field trials with partners and growers, global press and media during the Forbes AgTech Summit and Demo Day, legal advice provided by Orrick, access to AWS and Hubspot, and initial seed capital. Following seed camp, companies will remain in the Bay Area to travel between the Silicon and Salinas Valleys for introductions to field and supply chain operations at Taylor Farms and Driscoll’s Berries, as well as visit technology partners in Silicon Valley.
“Each year, we are continually impressed with the acumen and innovation of our startup teams” John Hartnett said, “we are excited to help develop the next generation of agtech technology and scale it through our platform, partners and mentors in the coming months.”
Introducing the THRIVE IV 2018 cohort
Continue reading article here: http://thriveagtech.com/thrive-news/2018/4/18/svg-partners-announce-thrive-iv-accelerator-cohort-and-latest-corporate-partners
Request an invitation to Demo Day here: http://thriveagtech.com/thrive-demo-day
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Tagged agtech, Salinas, Thrive Accelerator
