Aussie livestock tech company tags Johnson County for its new North American HQ
January 29, 2025 | Startland News Staff
An Australian leader in direct-to-satellite animal monitoring technology announced its plans Wednesday to establish North American headquarters at the Aspiria Campus in Overland Park — bringing a half-dozen jobs and paving the way for more tech innovators from Australia to land in the local market.
“The Kansas City region was the clear choice,” said David Smith, founder and CEO of Ceres Tag, which makes durable, solar-charged smart monitoring sensors that can be attached to wildlife or livestock. “This region offers the perfect environment to grow our presence and deliver our groundbreaking technology — poised to transform animal health science for businesses across North America.”
Founded by Smith and his wife, Melita, in 2016, the company offers insights previously unavailable to farmers, ranchers and wildlife managers to improve productivity, profits and conservation. By delivering plug-and-play solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing software systems, Ceres Tag empowers a variety of end-users with a scalable and less-intrusive approach to animal monitoring, boosting productivity and profitability.
Its new headquarters will initially support four to six employees, with additional sales representatives positioned strategically across the United States.
The move further strengthens the Kansas City region as a hub for animal health technology and innovation, said Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor, an affiliate of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
“Ceres Tag’s investment in our region reinforces our global reputation as a leader in animal health innovation,” she explained. “Representing 56 percent of total worldwide animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales, the Animal Health Corridor is home to some of the most cutting-edge technology in our industry, and we’re thrilled to welcome Ceres Tag to our robust network.”
With headquarters in Kansas City, Ceres Tag is actively seeking partnerships with businesses across the animal health sector to enhance insights and improve customer outcomes.
Young animal health professionals, digital natives with a heightened focus on animal welfare, represent a key demographic for Ceres Tag’s technology, the company said. By improving market access and providing unprecedented insights into animal health and performance, Ceres Tag equips ranchers, farmers and more with the tools they need to adapt to evolving industry demands and ensure optimized solutions for their own businesses and customers.
Click here to learn more about Ceres Tag.
Featured Business

2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Entrepreneurs pack Union Station as Chamber showcases diversity of KC’s small biz scene
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. A diverse cross-section of Kansas City small business owners filled the Grand Hall at Union Station with energy and enthusiasm Thursday, Vicky Kulikov said, noting a significant…
FanThreeSixty teams with national champs, turning data into actionable plays to boost revenue, KU fan experience
Another national championship title isn’t the only banner win the University of Kansas Athletics is adding to its rafters this year. Weeks after scoring the NCAA men’s basketball title, the university has partnered with Kansas City-dunked FanThreeSixty to better connect with its fanbase in seasons to come. “By partnering with FanThreeSixty, not only will Kansas…
His portable lab can detect COVID in saliva within minutes; how this former Navy SEAL’s startup is expanding its target
Foothold Labs is on a mission to develop a next-generation, portable diagnostics system that can not only rapidly detect infectious diseases in saliva within five-to-eight minutes, but also indicate deadly contaminants in other common substances, shared Sean McIntosh. “To get equivalent results to our technology, someone would need to submit a sample to a professional…
Meet 5 new Digital Sandbox-funded startups poised as the next wave of KC innovation
A just-announced first-quarter cohort of startups are set to receive more than just $20,000 each in project funding from Digital Sandbox KC, said Jill Meyer, emphasizing the holistic support headed toward selected founders. “Early-stage funding is just one piece of the puzzle that helps our founders succeed and our startups accelerate toward commercialization and follow-on…


