Hertz Associated Ltd. and Hertz Farm Management Join Ag Startup Engine Effort
AMES, Iowa, June 1, 2017 – Hertz Associates Ltd. and Hertz Farm Management (Hertz) have joined forces with the Ag Startup Engine (ASE) at the Iowa State University (ISU) Research Park to bring education, mentoring, and financing resources to young Iowa entrepreneurs and startups focused on agriculture technologies.
The Ag Startup Engine effort was launched two years ago to help address two fundamental gaps that prevent agricultural startups and entrepreneurs from being more successful in Iowa: early seed stage investment and organized mentorship from successful Iowan and Midwestern entrepreneurs.
“The Iowa State Ag Engine Startup fosters an excellent opportunity to connect agribusiness, entrepreneurs, and resources to create value for agriculture and make a difference,” said Randy Hertz, CEO of Hertz Farm Management.
“We are pleased to be part of the initiative.” This announcement comes only one month after Iowa Farm Bureau’s Renew Rural Iowa program, a statewide economic development initiative, joined the Ag Startup Engine effort. Hertz joins the growing member base of Renew Rural Iowa, Next Level Ventures, Summit Agricultural Group, Ag Leader Technologies, Ag Ventures Alliance, and Peoples Company.
“Hertz Farm Management is a great example of an entrepreneurial agricultural business,” said Kevin Kimle, director of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. “Hertz is supportive of agricultural entrepreneurs across the industry, so its investment in the Ag Startup Engine is a natural extension of that support.”
The Ag Startup Engine aims to provide agricultural entrepreneurs a structured means of moving from a startup concept to a seed-ready business. Working in partnership with ISU’s Startup Factory Accelerator, the program is implementing an infrastructure for mentoring, rapid prototyping, product development, financing, and customer acquisition.
“I’ve been extremely pleased with the growing excitement around financing and mentoring support from each of our partners, as it brings so much to our entrepreneurs in their early days,” said Joel Harris, co-director of the Ag Startup Engine.
“Each member brings something new to the table and brings a level of sophistication to our portfolio companies, which in turn sets the stage for the Ag Startup Engine to be truly successful.”
The ASE aims to continue growing its members and companies in the coming months.
About Hertz Associates Ltd.
Hertz Associates is a third generation family-owned company investing in professional services firms providing the highest level of service, advice and communication in the areas of Farmland Management, Farm Real Estate Brokerage, Valuation and Appraisal, Insurance services and Internet Technology solutions.
About Hertz Farm Management
Hertz Farm Management provides professional services for farmland owners and investors throughout the Midwest, with offices in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. Professional services include comprehensive farm management, farmland brokerage and auctions along with valuation and appraisal services.
About the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative
The Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative was created in 2005 to broaden understanding of entrepreneurship among faculty and students of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State by providing educational experiences to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills and increase interaction among students, faculty and agricultural entrepreneurs.
Contact: Joel Harris, Co-Director The Ag Startup Engine (319) 530-2757 joeletharris@icloud.com
Read the full press release at agstartupengine.com
