After winning the first-ever Farmers Den pitch competition at the Pacific Agriculture Show in January, Insporos Technologies secured second place and $25,000 at the inaugural INNOVATEwest Conference in April, where the Grizzly Pursuit pitch competition saw 25 startups from across the country pitch to a roster of judges.
Today, Insporos is a Top 10 Finalist in this year’s NVBC Competition.
Unlike these first-time affairs, however, the New Ventures B.C. Competition is a well-seasoned event.
The NVBC comp started in 2000 under the direction of Wal van Lierop to encourage regional innovation in tech and has been an icon of the local ecosystem ever since.
This year, $250,000 in cash and prizes are at stake.
Finalist Insporos, out of Vancouver, is targeting inefficiencies around seed planting and growing, an industry where many seeds fail to mature and seed-borne diseases impact yields.
An intelligent seed sorting system from Insporos analyzes each seed for defects and diseases before planting. This precision ensures only viable seeds are planted, increasing the predictability of yields and reducing the spread of disease, according to cofounders Mallory Flynn and Amanda Ackroyd.
Such technology is unprecedented in the market, the pair claim, unlocking a new level of stability for greenhouse growers and nurseries.
A slogan for the company reads “Grow Predictably.” To the layman, the tagline borders on boring—but for farmers with razor-thin margins for error in an uncertain field, it packs a heftier punch.
Ultimately, Flynn and Ackroyd envision a more sustainable food system through the optimization of food production and the supply chain. They posit that farmers need access to the latest commercial technology available in order to gain actionable insight as well as to reduce waste.
At a minimum, there is something compelling to the company’s pitch: in addition to the aforementioned accolades, it’s worth noting that the fledgling firm also found success in pitch challenges at StartUp Canada’s BC Tour and at the Global AgTech Summit in Regina.
On September 19, at an in-person event at the Stanley Park Pavillion, New Ventures BC will reveal the winner of this year’s competition.
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