The 2025-2026 Bluegrass AgTech Challenge Grant application is officially open. Deadline to Apply: 2/15/26
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Cultivating Agricultural Innovation in Kentucky

The 2025-2026 BADC Challenge Grant application is officially open!

 

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Our mission at Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp is to make Kentucky the agtech capital of the United States. To do that, we are looking for the next generation of startups ready to transform the industry. Whether you are already here or looking to join our ecosystem, this is your chance to scale your business with significant support.

 

We are offering up to $100,000 in grant funding to selected startups. This is not just about the capital. Winners also gain access to the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp which provides mentorship, networking, and connections to our partners across the state.

Here are the key details you need to know:

  • Funding: Applicants can request up to $100,000. This requires a dollar-for-dollar match, which can include in-kind contributions like salaries.

  • Focus Areas: We are seeking solutions that address specific challenges. These include Solutions for Mid-Sized Farming, Sustainable Food Systems, Food as Health, Future-Proof Animal Protein, and Kentucky Traditions (like equine and distilled spirits).

  • Eligibility: You must be a registered startup with a scalable business model. If you are not currently in Kentucky, you must be willing to establish a material presence here for at least two years if selected.

  • Deadline: Applications are due by 11:59 PM on February 15, 2026.

We want to see innovations that improve profitability and sustainability for farmers. If you have a product, service, or technology that fits, we want to hear from you.

 

 

Please feel free to forward this to any entrepreneurs or startups in your network who would be a good fit. Let's work together to drive the future of agriculture in Kentucky.

 

Best,

Jacob Ball

Executive Director

Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp

jacob.ball@bluegrassagtech.org 

 

APPLY HERE
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The Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and Alltech, aims to transform Kentucky into the agricultural technology capital of the United States.

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Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp, 824 Bull Lea Run, Suite 219, Lexington, Kentucky 40511, United States

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