Applications have now closed for our Agcelerate Oklahoma and Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1
Applications for our 2024 Agcelerate Oklahoma cohort and Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1 closed March 1.
Activate Oklahoma Cohort 2 applications will open in June 2024.
Innovators who applied for our 2024 program year will be contacted when a decision is made, and for innovators selected to advance in the next step of our decision-making progress, applicant interviews will be held:
- Activate Oklahoma: April 2 and April 3 (via Zoom)
- Cultivate Oklahoma: (April 9 and April 10) via Zoom
Accepted parties will be notified by April 4 if accepted into Activate Oklahoma and April 11 if accepted into Cultivate Oklahoma.
Who we are
The Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program is a collaborative rural development initiative from Oklahoma Farm Bureau along with national and state-level partners that develops Oklahoma-based innovators creating ideas, technologies and products creating economic opportunities in rural Oklahoma.
What we do
Innovation tracks
The program has two tracks to help spur agricultural innovation and rural innovation development for companies and ventures based in communities with a population of 50,000 or less.
The Agcelerate Oklahoma pipeline, formerly Cultivate Oklahoma, focuses on innovations and technologies that have an on-farm or production agriculture application in an effort to diversify opportunities for farmers with a farmer-focused and farmer-led development program. The Agcelerate Oklahoma track prepares businesses to apply for the AgLaunch365 national accelerator program, which offers assistance with on-farm innovation testing and more. For founders who aren’t quite ready to hit the national stage, Agcelerate Oklahoma can be a launchpad for an agriculturally-enriched version of our Activate Oklahoma program.
The Activate Oklahoma pipeline connects innovative rural Oklahoma businesses with numerous resources and assistance with curriculum supported by Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers. The Activate Oklahoma track is designed for any rural-based business with an innovation or product that will bring economic opportunities to Oklahoma’s rural communities.
Oklahoma-based innovators and businesses can apply to participate in either track, and successful applicants will become part of the pipeline cohort that best suits their innovation. Each track includes a multi-day hybrid development session for cohort members, followed by additional programming.
Equity investment
When innovators complete the Activate Oklahoma pipeline, they qualify for an opportunity to pitch their innovation, technology or venture at the Activate Oklahoma Demo Day to a collaborative investment committee representing Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Cortado Ventures for a chance to receive equity investment in their enterprise, resulting in official graduation from the program.
Ventures that complete Agcelerate Oklahoma have the opportunity to be selected by a panel of Oklahoma farmers and their peers in the farmer network to participate in the AgLaunch365 accelerator and potentially receive pre-seed stage equity investment. Innovators who are selected to participate in AgLaunch365 and successfully graduate the program pitch their market-ready concepts to a committee of investment partners who evaluate the pitches and could offer equity investment in ventures that both meet the program’s mission and have marketplace viability. Agcelerate Oklahoma participants who join our Activate Oklahoma pipeline will have the opportunity to pitch their idea or innovation at our Activate Oklahoma Demo Day.
Together with our program and investment partners, the Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program is giving Oklahoma’s best and brightest the boost they need to change our world – starting right here in rural Oklahoma.
Our Pipelines
AgCelerate Oklahoma
Accelerating ideas that grow
Agcelerate Oklahoma, a pre-accelerator, provides an agriculture-focused curriculum to bring innovations that have on-farm applications to reality through a farmer innovation model.
From supporting transformative ideas and technologies through collaboration with a network of farmers to preparing innovators for the national AgLaunch365 accelerator, Agcelerate Oklahoma brings the next generation of agricultural innovation to life.
Activate Oklahoma
Accelerating hometown innovation
Activate Oklahoma combines an innovation bootcamp, pre-accelerator and business accelerator to connect rural entrepreneurs and innovators with resources from Oklahoma’s world-class business development community to build an even brighter future for rural Oklahoma.
With roots in rural Oklahoma and a mission to help innovators reach new heights, Activate Oklahoma helps local, hometown visionaries bring their ideas to life all across our state.
Our Partners
Applying for the program
Applications for our 2024 Agcelerate Oklahoma cohort and Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1 closed March 1.
Activate Oklahoma Cohort 2 applications will open in June 2024.
Please check back at a later date for information on our next round of program applications.
Who should apply
The Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program accepts businesses with operations, investment or impact in Oklahoma. Businesses and innovators should be based in a community with a population of 50,000 or less to qualify for either track.
The Agcelerate Oklahoma pipeline helps bring agricultural innovation to life. Innovations and technologies in this pipeline have an on-farm or production agriculture implementation that enhances agriculture.
The Activate Oklahoma pipeline works with businesses and entrepreneurs that have an innovation or technology with a business location or focus in rural Oklahoma.
Program cost
There is no cost for successful applicants to participate in either the Agcelerate Oklahoma or Activate Oklahoma pipelines. Travel, lodging and other costs must be paid by participants for their involvement, and any product or innovation development costs resulting from participation in either track is the responsibility of program participants.
Time commitment
Successful applicants are required to attend the hybrid cohort training for their specific track. Some trainings will be held in Oklahoma City or El Reno with in-person attendance, while other trainings will be live-streamed for cohort members’ remote participation.
Important program dates for 2024 include:
Agcelerate Oklahoma 2024 notable dates
- Applications Open: January 1
- Applications Close: March 1 at 11:59 p.m.
- Interviews: April 9-10, via Zoom
- Notification of Acceptance: April 11
- Pre-Meetings: April 26; May 3, 10, 17
- Bootcamps: May 21-23
- Subsequent programming to follow
Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1 2024 notable dates
- Applications Open: January 1
- Applications Close: March 1 at 11:59 p.m.
- Interviews: April 2-3, via Zoom
- Notification of Acceptance: April 4
- Pre-Meetings: April 12, 19, 26
- Bootcamps: April 29 – May 2
- Subsequent programming to follow
Additional programming will be provided after the initial cohort meetings. Agcelerate Oklahoma programming will conclude by Labor Day. Activate Oklahoma programming is scheduled to conclude in September, subject to change depending on program needs.
Activate Oklahoma Cohort 2 applications will launch June 2024.
Please note: Dates and programming details are subject to change based on program changes and cohort needs. Selected participants will be notified of any changes as they arise.
How to apply
Applications for our 2024 Agcelerate Oklahoma cohort and Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1 closed March 1.
Activate Oklahoma Cohort 2 applications will open in June 2024.
If you would like to be contacted by email when the next round of Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerator applications are available, please complete the form below, and we will email interested innovators when the next application process begins:
Sign up to be notified about upcoming application openings
Interested innovators and businesses can apply online using the form on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website during the application window.
Applications for the 2024 Agcelerate Oklahoma Cohort and Activate Oklahoma Cohort 1 were open from January 1 through March 1. Activate Oklahoma Cohort 2 applications will open in June 2024.
Agcelerate participants will be notified no later than April 11. Activate participants will be notified no later than April 4.
Contact OKFB’s rural economic development coordinator
Questions about the Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program? Use the form below to contact Amarie Bartel, Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s rural economic development coordinator