Innovate UK seeks innovative Agri-Tech companies to participate in an acceleration programme to support growth by exploring the potential of the USA market.
Innovate UK will fund and organise group flights, group accommodation and group airport transfer fees for successful applicants, who will also benefit from an intensive 9 to 12 months three phased programme and bespoke support from an Innovation and Growth Specialist throughout.
Note: This opportunity is fully funded support and not monetary funding.
The Global Incubator Programme, organised by Innovate UK, will include two week-long visits to California in July and October 2026. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK Business Growth Specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond. This initiative will be delivered physically and will include virtual activities.
Targeted agricultural sectors:
- Horticulture: fruit production, vegetable crops and protected cropping
- Pastoral: dairy systems, livestock monitoring and management
- Arable: precision crop management and soil health technologies
In partnership with SVG Ventures | THRIVE
SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a leading global agri-food innovation and investment firm headquartered in Silicon Valley. Our ecosystem brings together leading agriculture, food and technology corporations, universities, investors and a community of more than 15,000 startups across over 100 countries. Through our platform, SVG THRIVE invests in and accelerates early-stage companies while providing entrepreneurs with unparalleled access to global markets, industry partners and capital to scale solutions addressing the world’s most pressing food and agriculture challenges. Our corporate innovation programs work with Fortune 1000 companies to accelerate innovation, support strategic transformation and connect them with breakthrough technologies shaping the future of food and agriculture. SVG Ventures currently invests globally in Seed to Series A stage startups through two active venture funds.
To find out more, register for the Applicant Briefing event on Friday 10 April (at noon GMT).
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To apply, you must:
- Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
- Be a company with fewer than 250 employees
- Have a focus on Agri-Tech
Innovate UK reserves the right to take a portfolio approach to the selection process.
Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups.
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In order to be eligible for the Global Incubator Programme, you must be a small or medium sized company based in the UK. We are looking for businesses with the ambition and commitment to scale globally. The programme best suits businesses that already have some traction and sales in the UK that are now looking to innovate their products and services through building global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate their growth and scaling journey. A senior person from the company needs to commit to being involved in all stages of the programme.
The three stages of the programme are as follows:
Prepare
You will be allocated an Innovate UK Business Growth Specialist to work with in the UK who will work with you on your strategic action plan for the programme. You will receive an overview of the innovation and sector landscape of the country’s market, a full briefing on the programme and working with the incubator, and support to better present your business and the value proposition.
Pursue
This 4-6 months stage of the programme is about working with the incubator. A typical programme will see a visit to the market at the beginning, providing the opportunity to consider technology and market fit, preliminary customer validation and an introduction to ecosystem players. This will be followed by regular (weekly or fortnightly) virtual sessions with the incubator team, mentors, and experts, to do a deep dive into understanding what it takes to be successful in accessing the market. The final part is a second visit to the market, including a demo day to showcase the achievements of the cohort, continuing to raise the profile and make connections for the businesses involved.
Exploit
You will work with your Innovate UK Business Growth Specialist to continue to exploit the programme with the necessary understanding and networks to accelerate your global growth and scaling journey. The team will also be here to support you to build on all the connections, knowledge, and expertise gained. At the end of the programme, an alumni event will be held to celebrate successes and further develop your progress.
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The United States is home to one of the world’s most dynamic and expansive agricultural markets, making it an unmissable opportunity for Agri-Tech startups looking to connect, collaborate, and scale. With over 900 million acres of farmland and a food and agriculture sector worth trillions of dollars, the US offers immediate commercial opportunity at a scale few other markets can match. A thriving startup ecosystem — spanning Silicon Valley, the Midwest’s growing Ag Tech Corridor, and beyond — brings together ambitious founders, specialist investors, world-class research institutions, and tech-ready farmers all working in pursuit of a more productive and sustainable agricultural future. For Agri-Tech startups with global ambitions, the US is the perfect launchpad.
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The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy identifies Agri-Tech as one of the frontier manufacturing industries with the greatest potential for economic growth and global impact. The strategy recognises that the UK’s expanding strengths in precision technologies are well-positioned to meet rising global demand for advanced farming solutions – driving productivity in domestic food production, building climate resilience, and reducing agricultural emissions.
To realise this opportunity, the strategy commits to supporting UK Agri-Tech businesses and innovators to develop and scale precision technologies across four key areas: controlled environments, robotics and automation, advanced sensors, and AI and data systems. These technologies are intended to serve both domestic and international markets, while also unlocking mutual benefits from the growing application of engineering biology to agriculture.
A particular priority is the significant expansion of automation in key farming sectors to reduce reliance on seasonal labour and improve long-term sector resilience.
This competition has been designed to accelerate that ambition, inviting solutions that pioneer new approaches to agricultural productivity and sustainable food production across domestic and global supply chains.
We are currently inviting applications for up to 8 innovative companies in the Agri-Tech sector, with an ambition to scale in the US, to join our programme with SVG Ventures | THRIVE in California. We would welcome applications from Agri-Tech technologies improving productivity, sustainability and resilience.
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Key focus areas include but are not limited to:
- Controlled environment farming:
- Indoor and vertical farming
- Protected horticulture
- Climate-resilient growing
- Robotics & Automation:
- Harvesting and planting automation
- Seasonal labour substitutions
- Automated irrigation and nutrient delivery
- Advanced Sensors & AI Systems:
- Crop growth and monitoring sensors
- Yield prediction and soil health
- Livestock monitoring technologies
- Supply chain & traceability solutions
- Engineering Biology for agriculture:
- Bio-based crop protection & crop nutrition
- Microbial soil health protection
- Enhanced plant resilience and productivity
Targeted agricultural sectors:
- Horticulture: fruit production, vegetable crops and protected cropping
- Pastoral: dairy systems, livestock monitoring and management
- Arable: precision crop management and soil health technologies
- Controlled environment farming:
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Funded Market Access: Group Flights, Group accommodation, Group in-market travel, and conference fees are all covered, removing a significant financial barrier to international market entry.
Two In-Market Visits to California: Two week-long visits to Silicon Valley in July and October 2026, providing direct access to one of the world’s leading Agri-Tech ecosystems.
Dedicated Expert Support: Each business is paired with an Innovate UK Business Growth Specialist who provides bespoke, one-to-one strategic support throughout the full 9–12 month programme.
Access to SVG Ventures | THRIVE Ecosystem: Direct connection to a globally recognised agri-food innovation and investment firm, including in-market programming, virtual programmes, 1:1 mentor engagements and THRIVE team check-ins.
Market Validation and Customer Discovery: Structured opportunities to test technology and market fit, conduct preliminary customer validation, and gain a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in the US market.
Investor and Partner Connectivity: Introductions to ecosystem players, mentors, and potential investors.
Demo Day Profile: A dedicated showcase opportunity to present achievements to key stakeholders, raising the company’s profile within the California Agri-Tech community.
Long-Term Alumni Network: Ongoing support and an alumni event at the programme’s conclusion to sustain momentum and continue building connections beyond the programme itself.
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To learn more about the Programme, including hearing how this has worked for previous participants, register for the Applicant Briefing event on Friday 10 April (at noon GMT).
Key Dates:
- Applicant briefing: Friday 10 April 2026 at 12pm (GMT)
- Closing date for applications: Tuesday 28 April 2026 at 5pm (GMT)
- Shortlist Interviews: Tuesday 12 May – Thursday 14 May 2026
- Successful Applicants notified: Friday 15 May 2026
- Virtual programme kick-off: Friday 5 June 2026
- Market Visit: In-Person kick off (Silicon Valley): 29 June – 3 July 2026 (27 Jun – 4 Jul with travel)
- Market Visit: Silicon Valley Week: 12 – 16 October 2026 (8–17 with travel)
- Incubation Programme (Virtual): July 2026 to December 2026
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Innovate UK will fund and organise group flights, group accommodation and group airport transfer fees for successful applicants. One representative from each company will be funded.
On acceptance of the offer, a commitment fee of £2,000 will be obtained from each delegate. It will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed work plan. Non-completion or breach of conduct after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fees.