GREELEY, Colo. — The City of Greeley has selected five startups to take part in its first-ever gBETA Greeley accelerator program! gBETA is a partnership between Greeley’s Economic Development Department and gener8tor, a startup accelerator.
The five chosen companies are:
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture (BOPA): Founded by Sarah Hinkley, BOPA offers small farmers eco-friendly, autonomous nano tractors to help with weed control, lower labor costs, reduce chemicals, and improve crop yields.
Colorado Cornhole Connection: Run by Don and Brooke Newvahner, this company builds and sells high-quality cornhole boards worldwide and is opening a new, advanced manufacturing facility in Greeley.
Rooted Robotics: Led by Maximilian Knight, this company creates affordable automation systems for vertical and hydroponic greenhouses. They offer machines for tasks like seeding, harvesting, and cleaning, along with expert advice for farm operations.
Proactive Safety: Founded by Nalleli Valverde, Proactive Safety offers multilingual safety training for workers and companies. The company is developing a digital platform for the oil and gas industry.
RV Fiber: Led by Philip Van Drunen, RV Fiber installs high-speed internet at RV parks and redesigns the electrical systems to improve automation and efficiency.
Through the gBETA program, these startups will receive coaching, connect with mentors, and get the chance to meet investors and customers from across the U.S. The program helps early-stage businesses grow, boosting the local economy and inspiring other entrepreneurs in Greeley.
"We’re thrilled to support these exciting startups and watch them grow," said John Hall, Greeley’s Economic Development Director. "This program is part of our ongoing effort to foster local talent and build a bright future for our community."
The gBETA program lasts seven weeks and does not take any equity. It helps connect them with valuable resources to grow their businesses.
gener8tor is a global network that helps startups, workers, artists, and musicians succeed. It partners with businesses, governments, and universities to run programs in more than 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Gener8tor has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the best workplaces for innovators in 2021 and 2022.
gBETA is a free, no-equity accelerator that helps early-stage companies grow through networking and mentorship. Since it began in 2015, gBETA alumni have raised over $700 million in funding and created more than 4,200 jobs across North America.
Greeley, Colorado, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and is becoming a major hub for healthcare, agriculture, business innovation, and education. The city’s Economic Development team works to attract new businesses and investments that help Greeley grow into a vibrant, sustainable community.