The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) is reaching two significant milestones this year, underscoring its role in fostering agricultural innovation and bridging the gap between academic research and real-world application. The Seed2Grow program, a year-old entrepreneurship initiative, will celebrate its first graduate from the ag tech incubator while launching a new 12-week workshop series designed to sustain momentum in the sector.
Seed2Grow was created to ensure that discoveries made at NC State University translate into tangible benefits for farmers, consumers, and the broader agricultural industry. The program provides startups with critical resources: access to specialized labs, proximity to university talent, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and support in business development. For companies licensing NC State technology or founded by recent alumni, the initiative offers a structured pathway to commercialization.
The program’s success so far is evident in its growing footprint. A 2,500-square-foot incubator space within the Plant Sciences Building now hosts four startups, and a student pitch competition has further energized the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Kathleen Denya, N.C. PSI’s Director of Innovation Partnerships, notes that ag tech startups face unique challenges compared to other industries, often requiring longer timelines to bring products to market. Seed2Grow’s tailored resources—including a Commercialization Advisory Council (CAC) of industry veterans—help navigate these hurdles. Mark Brooks, a venture capital leader and CAC member, emphasizes the broader impact: “There are few industries more impactful to food security, global trade, and planetary health than agriculture.”
One of the program’s early successes, Hoofprint Biome, is set to graduate from the incubator after securing over $15 million in funding. The company, co-founded by NC State Ph.D. graduates Kathryn Polkoff and Scott Collins, develops enzyme-based feed additives that reduce methane emissions from cattle while improving milk and meat production. Polkoff credits Seed2Grow with providing essential support, calling the N.C. PSI ecosystem “a key role in helping us grow quickly and thoughtfully.” Their departure opens space for new startups, with Bayer Crop Science sponsoring a competition for a year-long incubator residency, including lab access and mentorship.
Beyond incubation, Seed2Grow’s member companies are already making waves. Soteria Formulations, which repurposes crop residues to enhance agrichemical performance, won NC State’s VenturePack Challenge. Ceretune LLC, producing biodegradable floating islands to combat water pollution, earned recognition from the Ocean Exchange and the Wilson College of Textiles. Elysia Bio, leveraging plant-based compounds for livestock solutions, secured an Activate Fellowship and a Spark Grant.
The program’s expansion reflects a broader push to strengthen North Carolina’s ag tech sector. By combining university research, industry expertise, and entrepreneurial support, Seed2Grow is positioning the state as a hub for agricultural innovation—one where scientific breakthroughs don’t just stay in the lab but reach the fields, farms, and markets where they’re needed most.
The upcoming workshops and incubator opportunities signal a continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of ag tech solutions, ensuring that North Carolina remains at the forefront of an industry vital to global sustainability.