The Iowa Ag Expo, a trailblazer in advancing agricultural innovation and host of Innovation Hub – hosted their third Innovation After Hours event this month. Over 125 start-ups, investors, and executives from innovative ag companies and partners from across the country and beyond shared an evening of networking and innovation.

Iowa Innovation After Hours is presented by Farm Credit Services of America, Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association, Catch Des Moines, InnoVenture Iowa, BioConnect Iowa, Iowa State University, Start Something, Ag Startup Engine, AgVentures, and Stine Seed.

This year, 6 companies competed for cash prizes during the Startup Showcase:

Company (Headquarters) – Description (website)

  • Cross Plains Solutions (Wisconsin) – A manufacturing and scientific research company focused on producing a safe, environmentally friendly firefighting foam that contains no PFAS or fluorinated chemicals, made from rapidly renewable and sustainable soybeans grown by U.S. farmers. (crossplainssolutions.com)
  • Terraform Tillage (Iowa) – An ag technology company developing tools to identify and map soil compaction, helping farmers reduce unnecessary tillage, protect soil health, and improve efficiency and yield. (terraformtillage.com)
  • Renner Ag Solutions (Iowa) – An ag safety company developing a replacement for bin sweeps that saves farmers’ lives and limbs. The system automatically unloads a bin, eliminating the need for farmers to enter during the load-out process. (renneragsolutions.com)
  • Agribrink (Canada) – A CTIS (central tire inflation/deflation system) that allows farmers to adjust tire PSI on the go as they enter and leave the field. (agribrink.com)
  • Aerterra (Florida) – A clean-air company building renewable, corn-based HVAC air filters that improve indoor air quality while reducing environmental impact. (aer-terra.com)
  • Scanit Technologies (California) – An agtech scale-up founded in 2015 that autonomously detects airborne crop disease pathogens in near real time. (scanittechnologies.com)

Cross Plains Solutions was named the Startup Showcase Winner and received a $10,000 cash award sponsored by Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). Pictured of the left is Dave Garlie, CFO of Cross Plains Solutions. On the right, the “People’s Choice Award” $1,000 cash award winner, Caleb Renner, Founder and CEO of Renner Ag Solutions.

 

About the Iowa Ag Expo

The Iowa Ag Expo held in February annually at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, IA. Hours are 9:00am-4:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9:00am-3:00pm Thursday. Regular admission is $10 at the door. Visitors can register online and purchase tickets in advance to save $5 on admission. Registration information is used for demographic, sponsor, and marketing purposes. Student tickets are free with a valid student ID.

In addition to the hundreds of companies and exhibitors with cutting edge solutions at the Iowa Ag Expo, the Innovation Hubs host transformative ideas from 46+ ag start-ups and pioneering companies who demonstrate their exceptional ingenuity. This dedicated space offers an immersive experience where the latest innovations converge, spotlighting trailblazers redefining agriculture. The Hubs are a combined vision of the Iowa Ag Expo and various venture capitalists and is a catalyst for ag start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The Iowa Ag Expo is owned and managed by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). The show is sponsored by: Diamond Sponsors – Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect; Platinum Sponsor – Stine Seed Company; Gold Sponsor – Premier Chevy Dealers—“The Official Truck of the 2026 Iowa Ag Expo Sukup Manufacturing; Silver Sponsor – Spraytec.

For more details about the Iowa Ag Expo visit: https://iowaagexpo.com/

 

Contact
Cindy Feldman, Marketing Director
Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA)
M: 515.508.1313 | E: cindyf@ineda.com

 

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