2026 Land Grant Startup Launch Competition

Penn State's startup competition supports early-stage food and agriculture ventures focused on sustainability. Eligible teams (with at least one student) can win $50,000 investment. Companies must be formative-stage with products in testing or early revenue. Application deadline: February 1, 2026.
Honorees included Ibrahim Quagrine (second from right), chief executive officer, Thomas Tawiah Baah (second from left), chief technology officer, as well as Corey Phelps (right), John and Karen Arnold Dean of the Smeal College of Business, and Travis Lesser (left), director of Smeal’s Center for the Business of Sustainability, coordinator of Smeal’s Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship and an instructor in the Department of Management and Organization.
Credit: Photo by Tracey Mariner. All Rights Reserved.

2026 Land Grant Startup Launch Competition Winner

The inaugural Land Grant Startup Launch Competition concluded in March 2026 at Penn State’s Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Atrium, showcasing early-stage ventures advancing sustainability in food and agriculture through innovation and commercialization.

Cocoa Potash was named the winner, recognized for its transformative process that converts agricultural waste from cocoa, coconut, and palm nut into low-carbon organic potash with applications across multiple industries, including agriculture, food processing, cosmetics, electronics, and water treatment.

The company received a $50,000 investment from the Garber Venture Capital Fund to support scaling and growth.

Finalist teams included Chainparency, Kipos Tech, and LECOSPEC, each presenting innovative solutions for sustainable agricultural systems.

The competition is a collaboration between the Smeal College of Business and the College of Agricultural Sciences, supported by industry and university partners committed to advancing sustainable entrepreneurship.