gBETA AgTech is one of two early-stage business accelerator programs offered by the Illinois AgTech Accelerator and accepts five companies per cohort.

CHAMPAIGN, IL- Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor is nearing the end of its gBETA AgTech Spring 2021 program and preparing for its Virtual Pitch Night ("Demo Day") at 4 p.m. CT on March 11. This event will be part of CU AgTech Week and the whole AgTech community is invited to attend the free virtual event.

gBETA AgTech is one of two early-stage business accelerator programs offered by the Illinois AgTech Accelerator and accepts five companies per cohort.

The gBETA AgTech Spring 2021 cohort kicked off Jan. 20 with five startups who worked for seven weeks with the gBETA team to meet mentors, gain customer traction, and pitch to accelerators and investors. The cohort graduates March 11 at Pitch Night, where each company will deliver a five-minute pitch to an audience of mentors, investors and community members. This is an opportunity to hear all about the innovative ideas coming out of our community and support these entrepreneurs. There will be time before and after the presentations to network with the startup companies and other attendees virtually, and giveaways during the event.

"We are fortunate to have had five incredibly talented teams working on impactful and meaningful solutions to our food supply challenges and opportunities," said Jack Marck, Managing Director of Illinois AgTech Accelerator. "These companies offer a glimpse of what the future of ag and food will be like, and the CU AgTech week is the perfect time to share these solutions with the world."

"We're thrilled for the opportunity to partner with gener8tor during the second-annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week and showcase the gBETA AgTech Spring 2021 cohort," said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. "The Illinois AgTech Accelerator - as well as resources like the College of ACES at University of Illinois, Parkland College, corporate partnerships in University of Illinois Research Park, and direct access to large grower networks - is why Champaign-Urbana is known as an ‘epicenter for AgTech'."

The gBETA AgTech program is offered thanks to the support of Serra Ventures, GEM Realty Capital, Fox Ventures, University of Illinois Research Park, and Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.

Startups interested in learning more about participating in the program should contact Illinois AgTech Accelerator Managing Director Jack Marck (jack@gener8tor.com). For more information or to register for Pitch Night, visit live.remo.co/e/illinois-agtech-accelerator-pitc/register.