NEWS RELEASE: Applications Open for India Cohort of Cultivo Virtual Academy Hosted by America’s Cultivation Corridor

Interested companies are invited to attend informational webinars on July 17 and 31

America’s Cultivation Corridor® is currently seeking startup companies and entrepreneurs from India to apply for the sixth cohort of the Cultivo® Virtual Academy. The six-week virtual program will provide up to 12 participants with mentorship, interaction with Iowa’s agricultural leaders and an online curriculum focused on U.S. market entry, regulatory and financing systems, and customer perspectives. 

“Cultivo Virtual Academy is a focused opportunity for startup companies that have built a successful business in their home countries or regions to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the U.S. marketplace, learning from Iowa business leaders, researchers, farmers and more,” said Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor.  

Applications for the program are now being accepted through August 1, 2026. Interested companies are invited to participate in two informational webinars to learn more about the program and application process. Registration for both webinars is open at www.cultivationcorridor.org/about-us/cultivo.

- Friday, July 17 – 8:00 a.m. CDT/6:30 p.m. IST 
- Friday, July 31 – 8:00 a.m. CDT/6:30 p.m. IST

The six weekly sessions of Cultivo Virtual Academy will be facilitated by Iowa leaders and industry experts, covering a range of topics critical for businesses planning to enter the U.S. marketplace. Panel discussions and breakout sessions will focus on understanding the U.S. agricultural ecosystem, economics and the U.S. value chain, finance and tax strategies, U.S. regulatory and legal systems and real-world advice from startup founders and entrepreneurs.  

Selected applicants will be notified in August, and the cohort sessions are expected to begin in late September 2026.

America’s Cultivation Corridor will host and coordinate the Cultivo Virtual Academy in partnership with its investors and supporting organizations. The Iowa Economic Development Authority is the presenting sponsor of the program.

“Iowa and India are uniquely positioned to collaborate on the next generation of food, agriculture and bioscience innovation, and participation in Cultivo Virtual Academy will give entrepreneurs a head start as they make plans for a U.S. launch,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority. “The Cultivo program will provide unequalled access to the best and brightest minds in every sector of Iowa’s agricultural community, and help entrepreneurs build the network they need to reach their goals.”

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or cohort participation, visit www.cultivationcorridor.org/about-us/cultivo or contact Bill Hunt, executive director at America’s Cultivation Corridor at bhunt@cultivationcorridor.org. Applications must be submitted by August 1, 2026. 
 
Investors and partners of America’s Cultivation Corridor are working together to accelerate the development of new technologies, strengthen Iowa’s ag bioscience workforce, and attract economic development, all focused on meeting the challenge of feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way.

Stakeholders in America’s Cultivation Corridor include Ames Regional Economic Alliance, Chevron, Corteva Agriscience, Deere & Company, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa State University, KENT WORLDWIDE, MidAmerican Energy Company and Sukup Manufacturing Co.

More information is available at CultivationCorridor.org, or by following on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.