2022 Winner

Congratulations to TheoryMesh, winner of the Dentons 2022 AgTech Pitch Competition. Thank you all participants, and to the 2022 AgSmart conference - https://agsmartolds.ca/ for hosting our final competition.

What is the 2022 AgTech Pitch Competition?

Its aim is to bring exposure to an important industry that is experiencing significant technological growth.

Agriculture is one of the foundational pillars to Canada’s economy, in addition to providing a secure food source for its citizens as well as those of importing countries.

Experts predict that all agricultural and agri-food exports from Canada will reach a value of CA$75 billion by 2025, making Canada one of the top five exporters of agri-food products globally.Through the Dentons AgTech Pitch Competition we strive to provide entrepreneurs with a platform to drive their concepts forward by connecting innovative new ideas with a traditional sector that is foundational to Canada.

What is AgTech?

Agricultural technology or agrotechnology (abbreviated argi-tech, agritech, AgTech, or agrotech) is the use of technology in agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture with the aim of improving yield, efficiency, and profitability.

As Canada’s provinces push for more diversity within their economies, many talented entrepreneurs are ready to take hold of those new opportunities.

Finalists for 2022 AgTech Pitch Competition

These were the three finalists presenting at the 2022 AgSmart Conference at Olds College, Alberta:

• WeavAir
• Grain Discovery
• TheoryMesh

Who is eligible?

Entrepreneurs can apply for the Dentons Agri Tech Pitch Competition if they have a start-up (including pre-seed, seed, early, and growth stage) in Canada.

The product or service does not need to be in the agricultural sector but must have innovative technology, products or services applications that can be customized to benefit the agriculture industry.
For example: database technology plus A.I. can be adapted to provide farmers with insights into how best to harvest their crops.

2021 Winner

Last year’s Dentons AgTech Pitch Competition was Sedna Technologies. Click here to listen to our podcast interview with the co-founder of Sedna Technologies.

Prize

The winner will receive a prize valued at CA$10,000, made up of CA$5000 cash and CA$5000 in-kind legal services from the Dentons Venture Beyond Start-up Package. For more details about the package, please email Chris Young, at chris.yeung@dentons.com.

(Note: In-kind legal services covers our standard Venture Beyond legal audit and follow up in-kind services based on that audit.) 

Deadline for application:

Deadline for the 2022 pitch competition has passed. Please check in later for details about our 2023 pitch competition

Feature content

• Dentons Agribusiness Podcast Series
• AgTech and AI – influential agribusiness trends in Alberta
• Updates to Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support
• Dentons lawyers get recognized in the inaugural Lexpert Special Edition: Agribusiness and Cannabis 2020

Resources

• Going public in Canada resource centre
• Employment and Labour webinar series: (COVID-19) - Legal update for Canadian employers
• Dentons Canada IP Podcast Series

Team

Morgan Camley	Heather A. Barnhouse	Tom A. Sides
Bennett Wong	Wesley Fairbanks