John Deere’s recent acquisition of St. Paul-based ag tech company Sentera highlights the long-term value of public investment in early-stage innovation. Sentera had previously acquired Insight Sensing, a Minnesota startup that received National Science Foundation SBIR funding to develop advanced agricultural sensing technologies. That public funding helped Insight Sensing build valuable IP, which later became integrated into Sentera’s commercial offerings.
This acquisition is a clear example of how SBIR funding can support the development of market-ready technologies that attract private investment and acquisition. It’s a model that benefits the innovation ecosystem: public dollars support R&D, small companies grow without giving up equity, and successful technologies reach the market—delivering returns for both the economy and society.
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