Viosimos Ag
Viosimos Ag
Viosimos Ag
BY DANIEL SCHACHTMAN
As a plant molecular researcher and professor, I co-founded VioAg because I saw a need in the agricultural industry. My journey to becoming an entrepreneur has been a roller coaster ride, but very enjoyable while meeting many interesting people along the way.
Chemicals have been the primary method of dealing with pests and diseases in the agriculture industry for years. These chemicals can be harmful to human health, and over time, pests and diseases can become resistant to them.
My colleagues and I wanted to change that. We wanted to develop a biologically-based fungicide that can help growers combat diseases in their fields in a safer, more sustainable way. Our biofungicides will also initially target diseases for which no current fungicides are available.
As a professor at the University of Nebraska, I have been excited to also join the entrepreneurial community in Lincoln and in Nebraska. This ecosystem of startups in Lincoln and the Combine Incubator as well as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development have been very supportive and beneficial during the initial stage of our company. In addition, the environment in Lincoln has provided a great place to launch our business.
Early challenges
One of my business partners began developing VioAg’s crop screening technology in the early 2000s, but it was never commercialized.
For many years we discussed starting a company together, and with the recent expansion of artificial intelligence innovations, we felt it was the right time to take our technology and molecular solution to market.
To ensure our product would be needed once developed, we participated in the National Science Foundation ICorp program and conducted 105 customer surveys.
We knew we had a strong foundation to enact positive change in the agricultural industry, but commercializing our product posed challenges.
It was difficult initially to secure funding, especially without strings attached, during our early rediscovery stage and focusing the product on high value crops.
Even though our molecule proved potent and successful in the greenhouses and labs, we didn’t have a track record of its efficacy in the fields to assure our investors.
At the same time, without funding, it was too expensive to create a prototype to test and prove our molecule’s potential.
It’s an entrepreneurial catch-22.
This is where the LaunchLNK grant made all the difference for us.
The grant gave us the ability to leverage funding to develop our prototype. The LaunchLNK grant was crucial for securing additional funding from the state of Nebraska.
Additionally, the grant provided resources, including free legal services, to strengthen all aspects of VioAg’s endeavor.
As a scientist, I am most familiar with working both in the field and the laboratory environment. Thus, I am grateful for all the guidance and expertise I’ve received from LaunchLNK’s partners who’ve helped advise me on the business side of our company.
LaunchLNK gave us the leverage we needed to leap ahead in our product development.
We were able to hire a young University of Nebraska – Lincoln graduate student that studied Plant Pathology to assist in our discovery process.
With her plant pathology experience, we’re testing molecules we discovered and discovering new molecules.
We believe VioAg has the potential to protect crop health and the environment, and we’re grateful LaunchLNK believed and invested in our mission as well.
The importance of community
I’ve appreciated all the opportunities to step out of the academic scientific community and to learn from people in the entrepreneurial ecosystem about how to develop a start up company.
Our success has been driven by connecting with the right people at the right time.
It takes a little bit of luck and a lot of planning, but we are so grateful for the support we’ve received.
Early on, I met with Matt Foley and then later Josh DeMers, the previous and current program managers at the Combine here in Lincoln. They have been instrumental in guiding and connecting us to other resources in the community.
Ben Williamson at Invest Nebraska has also been incredibly supportive in suggesting ways for our company to secure additional funding.
Kathy Andersen helped us access and take advantage of all the opportunities within the LaunchLNK grant, and she is also instrumental in promoting a prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lincoln.
Without the support of these individuals and organizations, our company’s growth would not be where it is today.
Building a company is hard work, but it’s so much more manageable and fun when you have a community of people who believe in you and want to see you succeed.
The grant gave us the ability to leverage funding to develop our prototype. The LaunchLNK grant was crucial for securing additional funding from the state of Nebraska. Additionally, the grant provided resources, including free legal services, to strengthen all aspects of VioAg’s endeavor.
Looking ahead
Our greatest win as a company came in finding two molecules that are very potent in inhibiting the growth of fungal pathogens.
We’ve done extensive testing in the lab and greenhouse, and our next step is to take our technology out to the field.
We’ll be going to Arizona in October to test the molecule for protecting lettuce from an important root fungal pathogen.
We’re so excited about the potential impact this molecule could have on the agricultural pesticide business, and grateful for the LaunchLNK’s support throughout our journey.
Thank you to the Lincoln community for believing in us and our business and thank you for helping us take the next step in our journey.
We look forward to innovating a stronger future for our farmlands with fewer pathogens and healthier crops.
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