Cultivo Virtual Academy

Innovative approach for global entrepreneurs

Cultivo® is a premier market-entry program designed for international startup and scaleup companies exploring opportunities in the U.S. agriculture, food and bioscience sectors.

Through a combination of virtual learning and one-on-one connection, participants gain direct access to Iowa’s industry leaders, researchers and innovation ecosystem.

A roadmap to market success

Over six weeks, participants engage in interactive workshops, expert-led discussions and targeted networking opportunities that provide practical insights into the U.S. marketplace. The program helps companies better understand regulatory requirements, financing, customer needs and business development strategies while building relationships that support long-term growth in the United States.

2026 Cultivo Virtual Academy

The Cultivo 2026 cohort will be focused on organizations from India.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Iowa Economic Development Authority as well as Beck's Hybrids and BioConnect Iowa for their sponsorship of the program.

To begin the application process, submit an interest form today.

Submit Interest Form

Applicants will be notified of status by September 4. Sessions to be held September - November 2026.

Meet the Cultivo team

Doug Moore, entrepreneur in residence for Cultivo.

Doug Moore is an Iowa transplant originally from Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1993, Doug founded EuroSource LLC to market a device he co-developed for the manufacture of composite wood products, the CasTalon blending tool. In the 25+ years, Doug has operated EuroSource, he has been able to travel extensively throughout the world in support of that product and its successors. Doug and his wife, Amy, relocated to Iowa from Chicago in 2006.

Doug served as President of Ames Seed Capital, Iowa’s oldest community-based venture fund.

Doug is a serial entrepreneur, having founded several businesses, as well as mentoring startups. He is a frequent guest lecturer at Iowa State’s College of Business on distressed assets and liquidation.

About the Program

Why is Cultivo based in Iowa?

Iowa’s leadership in agriculture, food and bioscience is unique and unmatched, making it the perfect host for a program to encourage solutions to global challenges. The combination of geographic location, abundant crop and livestock production and exports, along with leading companies, researchers and forward thinking farmers, researchers and companies make Iowa second to none for global agriculture.

The dominance of Iowa State University as a leading research university and the state’s growing ecosystem to support and develop ag and bioscience startup companies provide unmatched resources to companies looking to bring their innovations and technologies to the U.S. marketplace.

Curriculum overview

During each session, presentations and roundtable discussions will be led by Iowa business leaders and cover the following topics related to the U.S. marketplace:

Market dynamics, including sustainability and connectivity

Supply chain

Resources to build and grow business

Regulatory and IP systems

Finance and tax strategies

Workforce and immigration

Cultivo® Virtual Academy

As the epicenter of global agricultural production and research, Iowa is the perfect place for global entrepreneurs looking to bring their solutions to the U.S. marketplace.

Innovative approach for global entrepreneurs

Cultivo® is a premier market-entry program designed for international startup and scaleup companies exploring opportunities in the U.S. agriculture, food and bioscience sectors.

A roadmap to market success

2026 Cultivo Virtual Academy

To begin the application process, submit an interest form today.

A one-of-a-kind program