Plug and Play holds first animal health, ag tech pitch event

Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play recently held its first animal health and ag tech pitch event, in Topeka, Kansas. Ten early- and mid-stage startups from the United States, Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden pitched to corporate executives, venture capitalists and media.

Presenting companies have developed products such as smart health and GPS tracking software for dogs, smart ear tags for livestock and a universal pet identification microchip.

The program plans to bring startups from around the world to Kansas every six months. The companies will go through three-month “accelerator” programs to help them grow. Plug and Play reports a 70% average success rate, measured in follow-on capital raised, for companies that go through the group’s accelerator program.

“With this selection day, we begin the first chapter of Plug and Play Topeka,” said Katrin Bridges, senior vice president of innovation at Go Topeka. “Forging ahead alongside our influential and invaluable founding partners, Cargill, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Evergy, we are setting our sights on soon becoming a hub of innovation of the Midwest.”

A full list of the companies that participated in the recent event is available in Plug and Play’s announcement.