IRVINE, CA - We reported at the end of last month that Western Growers (WG) and S2G Ventures had announced the five agtech startup companies that were selected to participate in their 2021 AgSharks® Competition, which took place yesterday, November 9. The winner has been named, as 3Bar Biologics received a $250,000 equity investment offer to take its microbe technology from development to market.

“In an industry forced to shoulder the crushing weight of poorly designed regulations, perpetual labor shortages, and water supply insecurity, innovation is essential,” said Western Growers President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Puglia. “3Bar Biologics embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that will help our farmers overcome these challenges and continue to feed the world.”

3Bar Biologics will also receive international recognition, mentoring from WG and S2G, potential access to farm acreage to pilot its technologies, and exposure to WG’s expansive network of leading fresh produce companies.

During the competition, five agtech startups pitched to six expert judges and a live audience and were evaluated on the strength of their solution, their potential to scale, and more. The panel of judges, which was composed of venture capitalists and leaders in the agricultural industry, provided feedback to each contestant and ultimately advanced 3Bar Biologics.

"The AgSharks Competition continues to bring together leading growers and entrepreneurs in the space," said Aaron Rudberg, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, S2G Ventures. "We're thrilled to have selected 3Bar Biologics at this year's competition. The biologics market is rapidly growing, but struggles with issues of efficacy and stability and 3Bar's innovative solution is poised to solve many of these challenges. We are excited about investing in Bruce and his team and being their partner in their growth."

The winner of this prestigious competition, 3Bar Biologics is a global leader in customized technologies and bio-manufacturing solutions for living agricultural microbe products, a press release explained.

"We are so excited to win this year’s AgSharks among such an outstanding group of agtech startups,” said 3Bar Biologics Chief Executive Officer Bruce Caldwell. “The access at this conference to industry leaders, venture capitalists, and western produce growers has been exceptional. Our business is all about partnerships, and this event is helping us to expand our network and increase our impact on agriculture and the world. I would like to thank Western Growers and S2G Ventures for putting on such a high impact event."

The judges’ panel included:

• Alexandra Allen, Compliance Counsel, Main Street Produce
• Audre Kapacinskas, Vice President, S2G Ventures
• Frank Maconachy, President and CEO, Ramsay Highlander
• Dominic Muzzi Jr., CEO/COO, Muzzi Family Farms
• Cristina Rohr, Principal, S2G Ventures
• Aaron Rudberg, Managing Director and COO, S2G Ventures

The AgSharks competition was hosted by Stuart Woolf, President and Chief Executive Officer of Woolf Farming & Processing, and held during the Western Growers 2021 Annual Meeting. The audience members were able to ask questions and vote via mobile app to "buy, try, or deny" each of the finalists' technologies after their presentation. Naïo Technologies was the audience winner.

Congratulations to 3Bar Biologics on this incredible win!

Western Growers S2G Ventures 3Bar Biologics