RELEASE: Great Outdoors Foundation Launches Application for Convergence
Pitch competition to accelerate innovative conservation ag solutions
DES MOINES, IA (April 30) – The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator, a premier pitch competition designed to advance innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Convergence is part of Athene Watershed26, taking place June 30 – July 1.
Convergence will bring together entrepreneurs, farmers, and industry leaders to identify and accelerate high-impact solutions that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and drive measurable conservation outcomes across agricultural landscapes.
The competition will spotlight forward-thinking companies and organizations developing products, services, and technologies that support nutrient reduction, carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and farmer adoption of conservation practices, among other intervention strategies. Participants will represent a range of growth stages — from early pilots to scaling enterprises — and will be evaluated based on their ability to deliver tangible environmental impact.
Applications for Convergence open today, inviting innovators from across the Upper Mississippi River Watershed to submit for consideration. Selected applicants will undergo a competitive review process, with three finalists advancing to present live at Athene Watershed26.
Finalists will take the stage in a high-energy pitch event, showcasing their innovations before a panel of expert judges and a live audience of cross-sector leaders. The competition will culminate in the awarding of a $50,000 grant to support the continued growth and scaling of the winning solution.
“Convergence represents a powerful opportunity to connect innovation with implementation,” Hannah Inman, Great Outdoors Foundation CEO, said. “By bringing together the right partners and ideas, we can accelerate real-world solutions that benefit both the agriculture sector and natural resources.”
As part of Athene Watershed26, Convergence reinforces the Great Outdoors Foundation’s commitment to fostering collaboration and driving investment in conservation agriculture. The broader event will convene leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address water quality challenges through a collaborative, multi-disciplinary lens.
For more information about Convergence, click here.
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About the Great Outdoors Foundation
The Great Outdoors Foundation exists to advance conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. We are the foremost fundraising professionals in the conservation and outdoor recreation sector. Together, we activate meaningful, accessible initiatives that enhance our environment and improve quality of life. Over the last few years, we have invested more than $250 million in conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, and we’re just getting started.
