TechAccel hops in $3.2M round for Lincoln-based ag tech firm
March 9, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
Kansas City-based TechAccel is joining an investment round in a Nebraska agriculture tech firm that aims to improve crop yields.
The area venture firm is among a group of investors in Lincoln-based Epicrop Technologies Inc., which raised a total of $3.2 million in its Series A round, which was led by North Forty Ventures. TechAccel — which joined Nelnet, Speedway Properties and Allen & Company as investors — declined to disclose the value of their investment.
TechAccel said in a release that the firm is committed to support scientific advancements such as those produced by Epicrop, which developed an “epigenetic” technology. Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression, rather than altering the genetic code.
“We’re excited to have TechAccel in our corner, both as an investor and a research partner advancing our technology,” Epicrop CEO Dr. Michael Fromm said in a release. “Their expertise and support will help Epicrop accelerate its programs demonstrating the enormous potential of epigenetics to increase yields and stress tolerance in a variety of crops.”
Combining epigenetics with agriculture, Epicrop co-founder Dr. Sally Mackenzie created a technology that uses conventional plant breeding techniques with molecular markers, enhancing yield in select plants. Greenhouse trials show that Mackenzie’s technology increased yields and stress tolerance for soybeans, tomatoes and sorghum.
“The pressure is on all of us in agriculture to deliver higher performing plants in the face of challenges like climate change and increasing global demand,” Dr. Mackenzie said in a release. “This technology is a critical step forward in addressing those problems head on.”
In December, TechAccel announced a $250,000 partnership with Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a St. Louis-based nonprofit research institute. Founded in 2014, TechAccel specializes in ag and animal health technology. The firm invests in, sources and acquires early-stage innovations through collaborations with various institutions.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
2017 Under the Radar: OYO Fitness stretches its influence
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. A Kansas City startup originally established with NASA astronauts in mind continues to expand its orbit. OYO Fitness — which stands for On Your Own…
2017 Under the Radar: OneHQ ensures better decision making
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. Retain, recruit and grow your clientele. That’s the mission OneHQ’s tech aims to accomplish for a client base that’s growing around the nation.…
2017 Under the Radar: Sprout Solutions yields tools, tech for animal feed
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. For the agricultural industry, employees aren’t tied to a computer or in an office — they’re out in a field, said Gretchen Henry,…
2017 Under the Radar: MusicSpoke scores thousands of sheet music sales
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here. The sheet music publishing industry is worth more than $1 billion. Yet when working with traditional publishers, composers hardly see any of that…