Technology Innovation Showcase

Register by October 25 for the showcase using the link below. The event is free to attend, but limited to 150 guests.

• 12:00-1:00 p.m. – Registration (no lunch provided)

• 1:00-1:30 p.m. – Welcome

• 1:30-2:00 p.m. – Keynote - Michael Jung, co-founder and manager partner, Grit Road Partners

• 2:00-2:45 p.m. – Innovation Spotlight Presentations

• 2:45-5:00 p.m. – Innovation Alley, Explore the museum (refreshments provided)

Michael Jung is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Grit Road Partners (www.gritrd.com). Since early 2020, Mr. Jung has been focused on creating, developing, and launching the Grit Road Partners. Grit Road is a Midwest-based investment platform that invests seed capital in high-growth AgTech start-ups, focused on solving Midwest producer problems. Since its launch in August 2021, Grit Road Ag-Venture has established itself as a leader in the agtech space through the partnership with Invest Nebraska as well as other industrial and multi-generational agricultural partners. Grit Road and its partners have strong Midwest roots and a proven track record in the investment and development of businesses in agricultural and technology-related fields.

It is Grit Road's goal to serve as a catalyst in strengthening and broadening the agtech ecosystem and to ultimately make the Midwest the Global AgTech Hub.

Michael currently serves as a Board Member and Board Observer for a number of Grit Road’s portfolio companies. He has also supported the growth in agtech as a panelist, key note speaker and pitch-competition judge at agtech conferences and workshops.

Outside of Grit Road, Michael is a member of the AgBuilders of Nebraska (www.agbuildersne.org), Corporate Advisory Board with the Jeff Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska (www.raikes.unl.edu), Board Member for InvestMidwest (www.investmidwest.org) and Chairman of Project Harmony (www.projectharmony.com)

Before his role with Grit Road Partners, Mr. Jung worked at Burlington Capital for 18 years and held the title CEO and President of Burlington Capital International. In his role, Mr. Jung was responsible for overseeing and managing Burlington's involvement in their agriculture and agribusiness-related business and investments. During his time at Burlington, Mr. Jung was responsible for helping expand Burlington's global focus from Russia and the Former Soviet Union into North America, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Michael received a Master of Business Administration from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and a Bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Michael is married to Emily Jung and has two beautiful daughters, Ellie (17) and Avery (15)

AI-LFA Reader
Inventors: Laura Miller, Doina Caragea
Innovation Alley

Aphid Detection and Sprayer
Inventors: Ajay Sharda, Rahul Harsha Cheppally, Sudan Baral, Jose Mateus, Nirajan Piya, Ivan Grijalva, Brian McCornack
Innovation Alley

BCG Monitor system
Inventors: Charles Carlson, Carl Ade, Dave Thompson
Innovation Alley

Canopeo-Hub
Inventors: Andres Patrignani, Tyson E. Ochsner
Innovation Alley

Chemical Prediction KG
Inventors: Hande McGinty, Mikel Ridgeway
Innovation Spotlight Presentation

CubeSat Project
Inventors: Paul Snider, Raju Dandu, Austin Tonovitz
Innovation Alley

DRIP: Daily Rootzone Irrigation Planner
Inventors: Andres Patrignani
Innovation Alley

DSSAT-Python
Inventors: Araya Berhe, Gaurav Jha, Prasad Jayant Deshpande, Udit Debanshi
Innovation Alley

Irrigation Dashboard
Inventors: Daran Rudnick, Chris Proctor, Josefina Lacasa, Rayhaan Kabenge, Kabateraine Tumwesige, Renee Jones, Kelsey Stremel
Innovation Spotlight Presentation

ML Enhanced Bull Breeding Soundless Prediction
Inventors: Todd Gunderson, Brad White, Robert Larson, Brian Vander Ley
Innovation Alley

NitroSense
Inventors: Suprem Das, Aarthi Kannan, Shreyansh Mishra
Innovation Alley

OLIVE
Inventors: Hande McGinty, Yinglung Zhang, Aryan Singh Dalal, Srikar Reddy Gadusu
Innovation Alley

Plotlytix
Inventors: Ajay Sharda, Aashvi Dua
Innovation Spotlight Presentation

SmallGrainIQ
Inventors: Ajay Sharda, Benjamin Vail, Rahul Harsha Cheppally, Sidharth Rai
Innovation Alley

SmartScout-AI
Inventors: Ajay Sharda, Brian McCornack, Rahul Harsha Cheppally, Sidharth Rai, Sudan Baral
Innovation Alley

Weather GenCast
Inventors: Prasad Jayant Deshpande, Gaurav Jha, Victor Braga Antiquera
Innovation Alley

If you are traveling from out of town, here are a few resources for you.

Airports

Manhattan Regional Airport is served by American Airlines, with non-stop flights from MHK to Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare International Airports. Located 10 miles from Manhattan, it is a convenient and affordable option.

Kansas City International is located two hours from Manhattan and is served by all major airlines.

Lodging

Visit the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau website for details on lodging options. Manhattan continues to grow, which means new hotels are being built.

Registration for this event gives consent for photographs unless the conference organizers are notified in writing before the event start date. Email id3a@k-state.edu for more information.

For participants who need accommodations due to a disability, early notification is requested to ensure appropriate accommodations can be provided. If you have questions or need additional information regarding special assistance or administrative policies, please contact id3a@k-state.edu.