Leadership insights from Billi Hunt, executive director of America's Cultivation Corridor.
“Build trust with customers.”
“Establish strong and diverse networks.”
“Find partners that are a good fit with your team and product.”
Companies of all sizes receive this advice – and much more – every day and at every stage of building and scaling their business. In fact, members of the fifth cohort of Cultivo Virtual Academy have been hearing this exact advice from speakers in the first two sessions.
But what makes Cultivo – and Iowa – unique is that speakers not only gave the advice but provided concrete examples and offered to make connections that will help scaleups actually build the trust, establish the networks and find the partners they need as they enter the U.S. marketplace.
That’s the difference I’ve seen time and time again over my seven years at America’s Cultivation Corridor. Iowa is the epicenter of global agricultural production and research with industry-leading farmers, researchers and companies of all sizes, and the state’s culture of collaboration means that many of those leaders are willing to share feedback, ideas and connections to help develop the next generation of agricultural ideas and technologies.
I’m excited to see the connections we make with the nine UK-based scaleups participating in this Cultivo Virtual Academy cohort. They represent a diverse set of innovative technologies to improve crop production, soil health, animal care and productivity and much more.
Thank you to the United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for underwriting tuition of participating companies, and to presenting sponsor Iowa Economic Development Authority, and program sponsors Iowa State University Economic Development and Industry Relations, BioConnect Iowa and Beck’s Hybrids
Curious to learn more about Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem or future Cultivo cohorts? Reach out by email or follow our social platforms.
We’ll also be joining our partners at the Iowa State University Research Park, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Greater Des Moines Partnership and BioConnect Iowa at the 2025 World AgriTech Innovation Summit in San Francisco March 11-12. If you’re planning to attend, we’d love to connect. Complete this form and we'll be in touch to schedule a time at the event.
Published February 2025.