Ag Startup Engine Invests in Terva

Two years ago, the Ag Startup Engine (ASE) was launched to bridge two fundamental gaps preventing ag start-ups and entrepreneurs from being more successful in Iowa – early, seed-stage investment and organized mentorship from successful Iowa and Midwestern entrepreneurs.

True to its mission, the Ames, Iowa, group, which is located at the Iowa State University Research Park, has made an initial seed investment in Terva. Referred to as the Zillow of agricultural real estate,

Terva’s central mission is to make the world’s farmland information more accessible. Through its online marketplace, the Ames, Iowa company is achieving that mission by streamlining the farmland sales and rental process by connecting landowners with farmers and real estate professionals so they can buy, sell, and rent farmland. “Growing up on a fifth-generation family farm, I was raised to solve problems,” says Steven Brockshus, CEO of Terva. “That’s exactly what we do at Terva. We’re using technology to tackle the issue of land access. I’m grateful to join the Ag Startup Engine and learn from the incredible network of agricultural leaders involved.”

Terva is the fifth Iowa-based start-up ASE has invested in since it was formed. Others start-ups in the Ag Startup Engine Fund portfolio include Performance Livestock Analytics, Nebullam, Gross-Wen Technologies, and Smart Ag. “We are investing in the emergent ag tech ecosystem in Iowa,” says Joel Harris, codirector of the Ag Startup Engine. “This is such an exciting space for investors and entrepreneurs to explore. We’re so happy to support the growth in Iowa.”

The ASE hopes to add five to 10 more ag tech start-ups – ranging from animal health to precision agriculture – to its portfolio over the next two years. Learn more by visiting agstartupengine.com.

Read the article at agriculture.com