Continuum Ag, LLC announced as a semi-finalist in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is pleased to announce that Continuum Ag, LLC has been selected as a semi-finalist for the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021. Mitchell Hora, CEO of Continuum Ag started his journey in 2019 when he graduated from the University of Iowa Venture School in the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s spring cohort. Finalists will have a chance to win a share of $1,000,000 to help them advance their #TechForGood solutions. According to Cisco Global, this year was their most competitive challenge to date with 1,745 teams competing and 93 teams selected to compete in the semi-final round.
Continuum Ag incorporates a SaaS business model using their proprietary software called TopSoil. TopSoil imports soil data from many different sources and converts to universal format enabling it to benchmark metrics such as nutrients, organic matter, and CO2 for different geographies, soil types, and cropping systems. Not only does this capability quantify soil health, it identifies soil health drivers and gives growers a high confidence roadmap to soil improvement with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Current expansion plans include software development to give farmers a tool that will utilize soil health data and drivers but also give them a platform to monitor their progress, validate carbon credits and facilitate a buyer for those credits. TopSoil will become an end-to-end solution for farmers and will give them the insight, tools and additional revenues necessary to increase sustainable farming practices and decrease their overall carbon footprint.
In 2016, Cisco made a commitment to positively impact one billion people by 2025. 2021 is the fifth annual Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge and aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from early-stage entrepreneurs around the world. Finalists will be announced on June 2nd, 2021.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is the expert in rural business innovation and success. In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. We counsel both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. Contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu.
