Nonghyup Fosters 7 Agtech Startups with 'EnHarvest X'

**Nonghyup-Startup Win-Win Model 'NHarvestX' Begins Its Agtech Innovation Journey** SoPoong Connect, a specialized accelerator for early-stage startup value-up, partnered with Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation) and the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) to successfully launch the in-depth 'NHarvestX' program, which will lead agricultural innovation, on July 15th at Heyground in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. This program connects Nonghyup's on-site demands with the innovative technologies of agtech startups, and will carry out demonstration projects over six months, having selected seven promising companies that will shape a sustainable future for agriculture, generating significant anticipation. **The Meeting of Innovative Technology and On-site Demand, NHarvestX** NHarvestX is a platform for open innovation that goes beyond simple support. By integrating startups' innovative technologies with the real challenges faced by Nonghyup affiliates, it seeks solutions through PoC (Proof of Concept). SoPoong Connect plans to proactively lead the entire process, from PoC planning and on-site verification to supporting startup growth, providing comprehensive support for the substantial growth of technology-based agri-food startups. **The Seven Selected Agtech Startups, Painting the Future of Agriculture** The seven companies recognized for their technology and market potential after a rigorous screening process are as follows: Refilli (eco-friendly grain packaging solution), Big Mobility (online/offline parking service exclusively for freight trucks), Lab2Bottle (premium alcoholic beverages based on local agricultural products), Dosigodgan (offline side-dish curated shop with local producers), Gyulmedal (Jeju citrus food development), Agro Solution Korea (strawberry vertical farm-based value chain model), and IOCrops (smart farm full-stack operation). Leveraging Nonghyup's extensive infrastructure and network, these companies will gain the opportunity to verify and advance their innovative technologies on-site. At the launch ceremony, officials from Nonghyup, EPIS, SoPoong Connect, as well as the selected startups and working-level staff from Nonghyup affiliates gathered, engaging in active collaborative exchanges, including program introductions, company presentations, and sharing PoC proposals. Participating companies will receive diverse benefits over the next six months, such as expert mentoring, technological advancement support, and connection to follow-up investments, focusing on resolving challenges in the agricultural sector and creating new business models. **Nonghyup and Startups, Realizing Sustainable Agriculture Through Win-Win Cooperation** Cho Hyun-sang, Head of Digital Strategy Department at Nonghyup, emphasized, "We hope that the selected agtech startups will actively utilize Nonghyup's infrastructure and resources to grow into key companies leading innovation in the agricultural sector, and we wish for NHarvestX to become a prime example of win-win cooperation between Nonghyup and startups." Choi Kyung-hee, CEO of SoPoong Connect, also stated, "It is very meaningful for startups to solve on-site problems and create new opportunities through a strong partnership with Nonghyup," adding that NHarvestX will be an important open innovation case that jointly shapes a sustainable future for agriculture. SoPoong Connect is a professional accelerator composed of early-stage investment and value-up specialists from SoPoong Ventures, driving growth by supporting early-stage startups in proving their marketability and technological viability, and even facilitating global expansion. NHarvestX is expected to inject new vitality into the agtech startup ecosystem by combining their expertise with Nonghyup's robust infrastructure.