UC ANR Connect is a grower-informed commercialization program for companies with commercially available agricultural technologies. We help teams strengthen their California market approach, build relevant relationships and gain a clearer understanding of what adoption requires. Run in partnership with Farmhand Ventures.
Applications now open
Applications are open through September 18, 2026. A virtual applicant information session will be held September 10, 2026, at 8 a.m. PDT.
Apply to UC ANR Connect Register for the information session
Technology can work and still miss the market
California agriculture is diverse, specialized and relationship-driven. A technology can perform exactly as designed and still struggle to gain traction if it does not fit a grower's operations, economics, timing, equipment or service expectations.
UC ANR Connect gives companies a structured way to understand those realities before trying to scale. It also gives growers and agricultural professionals a practical way to see relevant technologies, ask detailed questions and shape how companies approach their industry.
We start with the problem, not the pitch.
Each Connect cohort begins with needs identified by growers, UC Cooperative Extension advisors and agricultural partners. UC ANR Innovate then seeks commercially ready technologies that may address those priorities.
Selected companies learn directly from the people closest to the challenge, refine their California market approach and prepare a grower-focused field demonstration. That keeps the program centered on practical agricultural needs rather than assumptions about what the market wants.
What participating companies gain
Understand operational fit
Learn how growers evaluate implementation, workflow, economics, timing, service and value.
Strengthen your California market approach
Clarify your value proposition and communicate more effectively with the people who may use, recommend or support your product.
Build relevant relationships
Engage with growers, UC Cooperative Extension advisors, researchers, commodity groups and agricultural industry partners.
Demonstrate with purpose
Show your technology in an agricultural setting, answer practical questions and receive immediate feedback around a grower-identified need.
Is Connect right for your company?
Connect is built for companies with a technology already in the market, or close to it, that are working to establish or expand in California.
What you'll need
- ✓A commercially available agricultural technology
- ✓A clear use case connected to a California agricultural need
- ✓A solution that can be demonstrated safely and meaningfully in the field
- ✓Capacity to participate in program activities and a live field day
- ✓A willingness to listen and respond to candid feedback
Still developing your technology? If you are building a prototype, evaluating market potential or shaping a commercialization strategy, UC ANR Build may be the better starting point. Learn more
How it works
1
Identify priority needs
Growers, advisors and industry partners identify production challenges that could benefit from better solutions.
2
Select relevant technologies
Companies apply to crop- and challenge-focused cohorts. UC ANR Innovate evaluates commercial readiness, relevance to the cohort and readiness to engage with California agriculture.
3
Learn and prepare
Selected companies participate in customer-discovery conversations and feedback sessions. They refine their market positioning, grower-facing communication and field-demonstration plan.
4
Demonstrate and connect
The cohort culminates in a live field day. Companies demonstrate their technology, answer questions and hear directly from growers, researchers and agricultural professionals — and leave with practical feedback and relationships they can continue to develop after the program.
Grounded in real needs
An industry advisory board of growers, farm advisors, commodity groups and agricultural professionals sets the direction for each cohort. Members identify the production challenges that matter most in their operations and regions, review applicant technologies against those priorities, and stay engaged with companies through customer discovery and the field day. That structure keeps the program accountable to the field rather than to technology trends.
Our Impact
8
Program cycles
7
Host sites across California
55
Participating companies
1,000+
Field-day participants
Connect field days have taken place at UC research sites, a university research farm and a commercial farm across four agricultural regions: the San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, the North Coast and the Central Coast.
Past company guides
Connect participants have developed technologies spanning weed control, equipment automation, irrigation management, mechanical pollination, disease detection, harvest assistance and crop intelligence. Browse the company guides from past cohorts:
Questions?
Not sure whether your company is ready for Connect, or interested in participating as a grower, advisor or industry partner? Contact the program team.