Applications are open until Sept. 30 for agtech startups to join the 2026 Farmers Tech Adoption Challenge, part of the Spur AgConverge conference in central Nebraska. 

The conference, back for its second year, aims to better connect farmers with new technologies and give startups more effective feedback for their products. It will be held Nov. 17-18 in Grand Island.

Startups that are chosen will get eight minutes to pitch followed by one-on-one conversations during farmer roundtables. Those conversations will let farmers ask more in-depth questions and give startups a better understanding of their product-market fit.

Cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 are available, with farmers able to sign an adoption commitment to be a guaranteed customer for the companies.

The Farmers Tech Adoption Challenge “is not a pitch competition,” the application form says. “Producers report their verdicts to an independent panel, and prize money goes to the farmers to fund adoption of the technologies they choose.”

Last year, nine startups pitched the Spur AgConverge conference, with five receiving farmer commitments to adopt their technology. Companies that apply will be told by Oct. 10 if they are accepted. Startups must attend both days of the conference to be eligible.

“I love the idea of the new format and the opportunity for us as startups to get the direct feedback from our customers,” said Jessi Korinek, CEO of Nave Analytics, at last year’s Farmers Tech Adoption Challenge.

“Rather than having to make the connections on our own and drive out and go try to find a time to talk to a farmer individually,” Korinek said, “we got access to several opinions all at the same time.”