The challenge
The Ag Innovation Showcase, hosted at the Danforth Plant Science Center, had become a respected annual gathering of agtech innovators, but it stayed mostly under the radar outside the event itself. Larta Institute needed help expanding the conversation beyond the room: elevating early-stage companies, drawing attention to timely themes like AI and automation in agriculture, and positioning the Showcase as a leading platform for the future of farming.
The strategy
In partnership with Larta's communications and ag teams, I led pre-event media strategy and on-site communications, including press planning, narrative development, and real-time content support. I worked closely with the Danforth Center to coordinate messaging, encouraged participating startups to share launches and milestones, and helped frame the event around a timely theme: the intersection of agriculture and machine learning.
We also produced a robust social media campaign, including Facebook Live streams of spotlight sessions, founder interviews, and live updates that broadened reach well beyond the attendees in the room.
The outcome
- Coverage in 15+ key agriculture and innovation outlets, including AgFunder, the St. Louis Business Journal, and Brownfield Ag News
- Facebook content reached over 10,000 users, with 4,500 video views
- Twitter campaign reached 6.8M+
- Bayer R&D head Adrian Percy's keynote topped 3,400 views
- Showcased companies gained visibility in publications like Market Insider and The Lane Report