AGTECH ACCELERATOR Cohort 5 Finale Week
We wrapped our fifth cohort in the AGTECH ACCELERATOR program!
July 19–24 | Saskatoon, SK
From meaningful founder connections to showcasing innovations at one of Saskatchewan’s largest agricultural events, Finale Week in Saskatoon marked an exciting milestone for Cohort 5.
The week was all about celebrating progress—connecting founders with investors, producers, and industry leaders, highlighting the companies they’ve built, and reflecting on how far they’ve come since Kickoff Week. Packed with impactful sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and a few memorable moments along the way, Finale Week was the perfect way to wrap up another incredible AGTECH ACCELERATOR cohort.
Take a look at the highlights from Finale Week and see what Cohort 5 accomplished!
Arrival + Kick Off
The cohort arrived in Saskatoon on Sunday and kicked off Finale Week with a true taste of Saskatchewan agriculture.
Our first stop was Colborn Farms, where founders experienced a working Saskatchewan farm firsthand. From table egg production and grain, oilseed, and pulse crops to beef cattle and replacement heifers, the tour offered valuable insight into the diversity and scale of modern farming operations. It was an opportunity to connect the technologies they’re building with the producers they’re ultimately creating solutions for.
After the farm tour, the group headed to Loqui for a welcome dinner featuring locally inspired cuisine. Known for showcasing the incredible ingredients grown and raised across Saskatchewan, Loqui provided the perfect setting for founders to reconnect, reflect on their journey through the program, and prepare for an exciting week ahead.
Monday: Ecosystem Tours + Demo Day
Monday was all about exploring Saskatchewan’s agtech ecosystem and connecting founders with the organizations helping drive innovation forward.
The day began in Clavet with a visit to the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), where founders learned about the centre’s work in beef cattle, bison, and forage research. A big thank you to Dr. Scott Wright for touring the group through the facility and answering questions along the way.
Next, the cohort visited the Food Centre to learn how food and ingredient innovations are developed, tested, and brought to market. Thank you to Emily Nickel for showing founders around and sharing how the Food Centre supports food processors and agri-businesses.
The group then headed to Innovation Saskatchewan for lunch and a Lunch & Learn with Jeff Bertholet from the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan. Founders gained insight into Saskatchewan’s crop research and the work being done to advance agriculture.
After lunch, Paula Ghiglione, Business Development Manager at Innovation Saskatchewan, led the cohort on a walking tour of the innovation ecosystem. The day continued with a visit to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), where founders learned how research is being translated into real-world solutions for agriculture and food. Thank you to Chelsea Platzke, Mackenzie Siemens, and Jennifer Boyle for sharing their expertise.
The day wrapped up at the Global Agri-food Advancement Partnership (GAAP), where Alejandra Castillo Toro introduced founders to the support available for growing agtech companies and the role GAAP plays in helping innovative technologies move forward.
Then it was time for Demo Day where founders pitched their companies to a room full of investors, ecosystem supporters, and partners. The growth and polish on display was a powerful reflection of the journey these founders have been on since April.
Tuesday: Investor 1:1s + Sales Strategy
The day started with investor 1:1 meetings, where founders engaged in personalized discussions with funders from across Canada. These conversations unlocked valuable insights and connections for what’s next.
Following Mentor Madness, the cohort had the opportunity to learn from some of agriculture’s most respected leaders during the panel discussion, “Decades of Experience Investing in Ag.”Moderated by Fred Wall Executive/Board Leader, CAAIN, the panel featured Jim Taylor Founder/Managing Director Forage Capital Partners, Laura Kilcrease Chair, CAAIN and Ray Bouchard President and CEO, Enns Brothers LTD, who shared valuable insights drawn from their extensive experience in agriculture, business and investment. Founders had the opportunity to ask questions, gain practical advice and spend time learning directly from some of the most influential names in the agriculture industry.
The afternoon continued with Patrick Honcoop Founder & CEO, Ag-Tech Pro, who returned for his second appearance in the program to lead a high-energy workshop on distribution and agtech sales channels. Drawing on his extensive global experience, Patrick guided founders through the complexities of bringing agricultural technologies to market, helping them explore distribution strategies, strengthen their sales approaches and better understand the channels available to reach customers. We were thrilled to welcome Patrick back the following morning at the Agtech Breakfast, where he joined fellow industry experts for a panel discussion at Ag in Motion.
The networking didn’t end there. Tuesday evening wrapped up with an investor social at the scenic Glen at Crossmount, bringing together great food, fun and meaningful connections. Organized in collaboration with SREDA and SVG Ventures, the event brought partners together to welcome investors visiting Saskatoon and create new opportunities for connection across the ecosystem. Founders had the chance to network, play lawn games and build deeper relationships with investors and ecosystem partners in a relaxed setting.
Wednesday: Ag in Motion
Wednesday brought founders directly into the heart of Canada’s agriculture industry at Ag in Motion, Western Canada’s largest outdoor farm show.
The day began with the Agtech Breakfast, where select founders pitched their companies to an audience of agriculture leaders, investors and ecosystem partners. The morning also featured a panel discussion with industry experts moderated by Lane Stockbrugger Farmland Specialist, Hammond Realty; Terry Aberhart Visionary, Aberhart Farms, Chris Paterson Executive Director, AgSphere and Patrick Honcoop, who shared their perspectives on agricultural innovation, producer adoption and the value of industry events in connecting emerging technologies with the people they are designed to serve.
Throughout the day, founders showcased their solutions at a shared booth with Conexus, connecting directly with producers, partners and stakeholders from across the agriculture ecosystem. Between live demonstrations, impromptu pitches and meaningful conversations, founders gained valuable exposure, gathered firsthand industry feedback and built connections with potential customers and collaborators.
Thursday: Cohort Wrap Up
Thursday morning kicked off with Justin Funk Managing Partner, Agri Studies Inc, and his session, “Decision Dynamics: Aligning the Go-to-Market Strategy with the Customer Journey.”
Drawing on his experience leading go-to-market strategy for FCC’s AgExpert and developing sales education programs for agribusiness organizations across the industry, Justin helped founders examine how customers make purchasing decisions. The session encouraged founders to think more intentionally about their customer journeys and align their sales and go-to-market strategies with the needs, behaviours and decision-making processes of their target audiences.
The morning continued with Pathways to Trials: Smart Farm Madness, a new spin on the program’s Mentor Madness format. The session created intentional, high-value introductions between Smart Farm partners and accelerator companies, helping founders explore opportunities for on-farm trials, strategic partnerships and long-term innovation adoption.
Founders connected with representatives from AIVA, EMILI, Grand Farm, Suncrest, Olds College, WHIN and LFCE to discuss their technologies, receive targeted feedback and identify potential pathways to validate their solutions in real-world agricultural environments. 
Following lunch, Sean O’Connor, CEO of 4Ag joined the cohort for a Founder Confidential focused on fundraising. The candid session gave founders a trusted space to ask questions, discuss the realities of raising capital and gain practical insights to help them approach the fundraising journey with greater clarity and confidence.
The week concluded with a final cohort wrap-up and a chance to reflect on everything the founders had accomplished together. Founders revisited the goals they set at the beginning of the program and shared their biggest wins, favourite learnings and most memorable moments from the week. Plaques were presented before the cohort headed out for a walk and one final dinner together at local favourite Taverna—bringing an action-packed week of learning, connection and growth to a meaningful close.
Finale Week marked an exciting milestone for Cohort 5 of the AGTECH ACCELERATOR, bringing their program journey to a close with a packed week of learning, meaningful connections and hands-on industry experiences. From candid conversations with agriculture leaders and investors to showcasing their innovations at Ag in Motion, founders gained valuable insights, strengthened relationships and celebrated everything they accomplished together in Saskatoon.
A heartfelt thank you to the partners, investors, mentors and community members who helped make Finale Week possible. Your time, expertise and continued support play an essential role in advancing agricultural innovation in Saskatchewan and around the world.
To our Cohort 5 founders: thank you for bringing your ambition, resilience and generosity to this experience. You have each made a lasting impact on the AGTECH ACCELERATOR community, and we look forward to seeing where your journeys take you next.
An additional thank you to our partners and the following members of our community who took the Finale experience to another level: