california's  oldest  food  &  ag tech  incubator.

AgStart is a non-profit focused on accelerating the growth of innovative food & ag technology companies and strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.  We help member companies transition from concept to commercialization to cultivate the ag solutions of tomorrow.  AgStart’s network-centric incubation model offers mentorship and connections to early-stage startup companies and their founders, providing access to the resources they need to thrive.  AgStart is supported through membership fees from our client companies and the generous support of our corporate sponsors and other entities.

California’s Central Valley has long been a center for high-value agriculture, producing tens of billions of dollars of crops annually and making California the top state in the nation in crop production.  This diversity of fruit, vegetable, grain, and nut yield also anchors a thriving agricultural processing industry that produces billions more annually in manufactured and processed foods and beverages. 

Innovation in agriculture and food technology continues to drive high-value jobs and economic growth in the Sacramento region despite increased energy, environmental and labor regulation, water and labor shortages, and changing consumer preferences.  
 
The Sacramento area is home to thriving clusters of technology companies focused on seed breeding, biological crop protection, food-processing and food-safety technologies, and more.  UC Davis - the nation's top research institution in Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Science - anchors the region’s research and innovation in food & ag technologies.   

Together, AgStart and this cluster of industry and academic connections provide a fertile environment for food & ag innovators to blossom and grow.