Herdwatch partners with UCD on new Accelerator Programme to help AgTech start-ups

Herdwatch, the leading farm management solution in the UK & Ireland used on over 15,000 farms has partnered with University College Dublin, through the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, on the launch of a new accelerator programme dedicated to early-stage AgTech and FoodTech start-up companies.

The AgTechUCD “Agccelerator” Programme is an intensive 12-week programme that includes dedicated business development workshops, investor readiness training, mentoring from AgTech and FoodTech experts and business advisors, and facilitated introductions to AgTechUCD’s venture capital and business angel networks.

The programme, which begins in September, will see all participating start-ups pitch their businesses to a panel of investors with the opportunity to be awarded prize funding in a number of award categories.

As gold partners in the programme, Herdwatch will provide financial and mentoring support to participating start-ups enabling them to increase their visibility and attract new customers and investors and to develop new partnerships.

Herdwatch itself is a true Irish success story in the Agtech sector, having become the number 1 farm management software across Ireland and the UK since it was launched just 7 years ago as part of FRS Farm Relief Service, a farmer-owned co-operative. Since then it has reached an impressive 15,000 farmers on their software-as-a-service platform. They have made their name by delivering a simple, easy to use and reliable app which saves farmers an average of 3 hours a week on paperwork, according to a recent member survey by the company which received over 1,600 responses.

Herdwatch CEO & Co-Founder, Fabien Peyaud, said “Having a number of UCD Alumni on the team, including our Head of Innovation James Greevy, we are very excited to partner with AgTechUCD on this programme and support continuous innovation in the sector with the ultimate goal to make farmers’ lives easier and more sustainable.”

The AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme concludes in early-December when all participating start-ups will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors with the opportunity to be awarded prize funding in a number of award categories.

AgTechUCD Manager, Niamh Collins, concluded “Herdwatch is a brilliant role model example of how innovative technology for the agri sector can grow and scale over a relatively short period of time. AgTechUCD will support startup founders who are tackling current challenges in the agritech and foodtech value chain, as they build their innovative businesses into leading enterprises”.

For more information or to apply for the programme, visit www.ucd.ie/innovation/agtechucd-agccelerator-programme/