HudsonAlpha and gener8tor kick off sixth AgTech Accelerator cohort with 10 startups

HUNTSVILLE – HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in partnership with venture firm and startup accelerator gener8tor, has launched its Fall 2025 AgTech Accelerator featuring 10 startup companies selected for the cohort.

This 7-week pre-accelerator non-investment program will provide concierge support and connections for early-stage agricultural startups to advance their technologies, attract investment and grow their businesses.

“This cohort of ten companies is our biggest group yet,” said Dillon Fritz, vice president for Economic Development and Commercialization at HudsonAlpha. “They represent what it means to innovate in the agtech industry. Seventy percent of this cohort has roots in Alabama, and two of the companies have international founders.

“We’re covering the breadth of the industry with innovators ready to leverage the expertise of HudsonAlpha and HudsonAlpha Wiregrass and the resources of gener8tor’s network.”

For the accelerator’s kickoff, the startup founders were invited to Dothan, the site of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, which has a key focus on agricultural research, education and innovation.

While in the Wiregrass, founders connected directly with farmers, investment opportunities, and a keystone community of agriculture in the state.

“The HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator selects the best and brightest startups, and this group is no exception,” said Chris Udall, managing director of the Accelerator. “This pre-investment accelerator group landed in Dothan for our kickoff with a passion for finding solutions to improve the livelihoods and yields of our farmers.”

Together, gener8tor and HudsonAlpha are helping bring economic diversity and job growth to Alabama. The HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator is supported by the Innovate Alabama Tax Credit Program through Innovate Alabama.

The cohort will conclude Dec. 18. Investors, mentors and community members interested in connecting with this cohort are encouraged to contact Udall at [email protected].

The following companies are participating:

• Aerhart
  Founder & CEO: Kevin Burns
  [email protected] | aerhart.com |
  Headquarters: Malibu, Calif.
  Aerhart is an aerospace technology company focused on pioneering designs for improved aircraft performance and experimental methods of advanced propulsion. Building on NASA-validated aerodynamics and NSF-funded research, Earhart reduces the footprint of flight for hard-to-reach and rural logistics.
• AgriSoleil LLC
  Founder: Ernst Cebert
  [email protected]
  Headquarters: Harvest
  Agrisoleil’s mission is to merge cutting-edge solar technology with regenerative farming to transform underutilized land into thriving agrivoltaic ecosystems. The company already has a partnership with Whole Foods Market for a pilot program, and is evaluating agrivoltaics as a potential source for Whole Foods’ sustainable produce supply chain.
• Agriwater
  Founder & CEO: Dr. Bianca Bailey
  [email protected] | agriwater.tech/
  Headquarters: Knoxville
  Agriwater is an agtech firm specializing in the installation of on-site wastewater treatment systems tailored for livestock farmers to alleviate waste management challenges. The company’s technology ensures environmental compliance, establishes an additional water source for farmers, and can fuel ongoing revenue streams through the sale of earned carbon credits.
• EqGrow
  Founder & CEO: Isabella Bernal Colpas
  [email protected] | eqgrow.mydurable.com/
  Headquarters: Birmingham; Madrid, Spain
  EqGrow empowers farmers to unlock new venue streams by expanding their impact with a digital bridge between farmers, food buyers, and renewable energy partners. The company is currently focused on the agrovoltaics industry.
• Hypogenica LLC
  Founder & CEO: Reilly Blackwell
  [email protected] |  linkedin.com/company/hypogenica/
  Headquarters: Tuscaloosa
  Hypogenica LLC is a sustainable materials company transforming carbon capture through industrial biomaterials. The company’s bacteria-driven process precipitates calcium carbonate from atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the resulting high-purity calcite can industrial applications in plastics, cosmetics, and drug delivery.
• Khaya Biosciences
  Founder & CSO: J. Sebastian Garcia-Medina
  [email protected] | khaya.bio/
  Headquarters: New York City
  Khaya Biosciences has a platform and process to convert industrial food and agricultural waste into high-performance bacterial nanocellulose, which can be transformed into alternative plastics, leathers, and other sustainable materials for the cosmetics, agriculture, fashion, and packaging industries.
• Omfeonix Agritech
  Founder & CEO/CTO: Kelly Ochuko Egode, MSc
  [email protected] | omfeonix.com
  Headquarters: Kent, UK; Huntsville
  Omfeonix Agritech Ltd is developing AquaECO AI, an intelligent control layer for sustainable agriculture that serves as an AI-powered copilot for aquaponics and controlled-environment farms. AquaECO AI autonomously optimizes energy use, water quality, and system performance.
• SouthGen Solutions
  Founder & CEO: Scott Devers
  [email protected] | southgen.org
  Headquarters: Midland City
  SouthGen Solutions helps farmers maximize profits through precision agriculture by using specialized Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) equipment with traditional crop monitoring to pinpoint, strategize, and correct crop areas in need.
• Vacavision
  Founder & CEO: Bryan Ramierz Galindo
  [email protected] | vacavision.co
  Headquarters: Boston
  Vacavision is an AI-powered livestock management platform that helps farmers continuously monitor the behavior and health of their livestock. Vacavision enables farmers to better detect and monitor illnesses, fertility, and stress, therefore reducing losses, boosting productivity, and addressing the critical labor shortage in the livestock industry.
• Yellowhammer Co-op
  Founder & CEO: Mark Liles
  [email protected]
  Headquarters: Auburn
  A multi-stakeholder agriculture cooperative, The Yellowhammer Co-op, will accelerate the lab-to-market pipeline for sustainable animal and plant health solutions. The Co-op will combine distribution, marketing, and validation services to deliver science-backed innovations to growers, livestock producers, poultry farmers, and retailers.