gener8tor, a nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator, in partnership with the North Dakota Growth Fund and 50 South Capital, has been working in our state to assist startups in our area and attract more businesses to North Dakota.
heir gBETA program runs multiple times every year in cities across the United States. Companies from a range of verticals are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in the free seven-week program.
Let’s meet five from the most recent cohort.
Applied Inetelligence
Q&A with CEO Ayman Sajjad Akash
Q: What is your company’s elevator pitch?
A: Applied Intelligence helps small and mid-sized manufacturers turn their untapped operational data into a competitive advantage. We deliver affordable, explainable, and scalable Al that bridges the gap for companies rich in data but without in-house data science teams, making advanced industrial intelligence accessible, practical, and ready to deploy use case by use case.
Q: How did you get the idea to start our company?
A: It started on the factory floor. As PhD researchers and faculty at NDSU’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering department, we visited dozens of facilities for academic projects. We saw a recurring pattern: manufacturers facing immense demand were sitting on goldmines of data- sensor logs, SQL databases, and operator notes that were completely untouched. They weren’t using this data because they were skeptical of the high cost of enterprise Al or felt they “weren’t ready” for it. We realized the problem wasn’t the manufacturers; it was the myth that Al on the factory floor has to be hard. We’re here to prove it doesn’t. We founded Applied Intelligence to build what they actually needed, an affordable, scalable, and explainable Al solution that meets them where they are.
Q: What does it mean to be a part of gener8tor’s cohort?
A: Being selected for generator is powerful validation that the “Missing Middle” in manufacturing is a massive, underserved market. It confirms that our approach, taking deep academic research and applying it to real-world industrial problems, has significant value. This cohort isn’t just about networking; it’s about proving that we are solving a difficult problem that many competitors are ignoring and doing the hard work to turn that solution into a scalable business.
Q: If your product/service was already being used by everyone globally, what impact would that have?
A: It would level the playing field for the global economy. Right now, only industrial giants can afford true predictive intelligence. If Applied Intelligence were used globally, every small and mid-sized manufacturer would operate with the efficiency, quality control, and foresight of a Fortune 500 company. We would see a massive reduction in industrial waste, significantly more resilient supply chains, and a workforce that is empowered, not replaced by intelligence.
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years?
A: In 10 years, Applied Intelligence will be the default intelligence layer for manufacturers across the growth spectrum, from small and mid-market factories to the industry leaders they become. A unified platform powering thousands of facilities as they turn data into better decisions, stronger performance, and more resilient operations. Our mission is to make advanced Al capabilities universal, not a privilege reserved for the largest players.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
A: Your data already holds the answers; you just need a way to unlock them. For manufacturers with years of unused data, we provide an affordable, explainable, and scalable Al platform that turns information into real operational gains. If you want intelligence without the complexity, we’re the partner you’ve been looking for.
CP AG Tech
Q&A with CEO Christian Perdigon
Q: What is your company’s elevator pitch?
A: Greenhouses rely on manual scouting, which is slow, inconsistent, and expensive. CP Ag Tech solves this with Dronwer-an autonomous robot that scans plants daily, analyzes health with Al, and gives growers instant visibility into crop performance.
Q: How did you get the idea to start your company?
A: By a need of one researcher here at NDSU.
Q: What does it mean to be a part of gener8tor’s cohort?
A: It means we’re receiving world-class mentorship, connections, and support to accelerate Dronwer’s growth and prepare CP Ag Tech for scale.
Q: If your product/service was already being used by everyone globally, what impact would that have?
A: Growers and researchers would eliminate hours of manual scouting, accelerate plant-health decisions, and dramatically increase crop productivity and consistency. It would make high-quality plant data accessible to every greenhouse in the world.
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years?
A: In 10 years, CP Ag Tech will be the global standard for automated plant-health monitoring systems-powering research greenhouses, commercial growers, and indoor farms with autonomous robots, Al-driven insights, and seamless crop-management automation.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
A: It’s important that we focus our global and national efforts on strengthening agricultural production. Greenhouses play a key role in that future, and we’re building the technology that will help make it possible.
Elevate Biotech
Q&A with CEO and FOunder Pooyan Vahidi Pashaki
Q: What is your company’s elevator pitch?
A: Elevate Biotech is a biomaterials and digital-health startup developing regenerative scaffolds and an Al- powered surgical decision platform. Our patented ACL scaffold mimics native ligament structure, supports vascular growth, and integrates seamlessly into minimally invasive procedures. We’re redefining soft tissue repair by combining breakthrough materials science with real-time surgical intelligence.
Q: How did you get the idea to start your company?
A: I started Elevate Biotech because I kept seeing the same problem in sports medicine and orthopedics: patients undergo ACL surgery and still face long, painful recoveries with a high chance of re-injury. Through my PhD research, I developed a new type of biomimetic scaffold that could actually replace the ligament over time and promote vascularization. Once I realized its potential, I knew this technology couldn’t stay in the lab-it needed to reach patients. Elevate Biotech is my way of bridging that gap and improving the future of orthopedic healing.
Q: What does it mean to be a part of gener8tor’s cohort?
A: Being part of gener8tor’s cohort means joining a community of founders who are committed to building high- impact companies. It provides access to mentorship, investor connections, and expert guidance that accelerates our growth far beyond what we could achieve alone. For Elevate Biotech, it’s an opportunity to refine our strategy, strengthen our business model, and bring our technology closer to patients who need it.
Q: If your product/service was already being used by everyone globally, what impact would that have?
A: If our technology were used globally, ACL repair and other soft-tissue surgeries would become safer, faster, and far more reliable. Patients would experience shorter recovery times, reduced re-tear rates, and improved long-term joint function. Surgeons would benefit from data-driven guidance, and healthcare systems would save billions through fewer complications and repeat surgeries. Ultimately, we would elevate the global standard of musculoskeletal care.
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years?
A: In a decade, we envision Elevate Biotech as a scaled biomedical company with multiple FDA-cleared products, strategic partnerships with major orthopedic device manufacturers, and widespread clinical adoption. Our biomaterial scaffolds and Al tools will serve surgeons and hospitals globally, driving both strong commercial growth and meaningful patient impact.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
A: Thank you for taking the time to learn about our work. We believe the future of medicine lies in combining advanced biomaterials with intelligent technologies to help people heal better and faster. We’re excited to be part of this journey and grateful for the support that allows us to bring meaningful change to patient care.
Ecogrow
Q&A with Founder Aditya Goyal
Q: What is your company’s elevator pitch?
A: EcoGrow turns water pollution into plant nutrition. We remove excess phosphorus from lakes, ponds, and wastewater using our calcium-peroxide-based technology, then upcycle that captured phosphorus into a slow-release, climate-smart fertilizer. Utilities and lake managers get cleaner water; farmers and growers get a new sustainable nutrient source.
Q: How did you get the idea to start your company?
A: I’m a Ph.D. researcher working on removing phosphorus from water using calcium peroxide nanoparticles. In the lab, I kept seeing two things at once: how serious eutrophication and harmful algal blooms are, and how wasteful it is to throw away the phosphorus we remove. EcoGrow came from a simple question: What if “pollution” could be converted into a product farmers actually want? That idea grew into a circular system that closes the phosphorus loop instead of just managing the symptom.
Q: What does it mean to be a part of gener8tor’s cohort?
A: Being part of gener8tor’s cohort means I’m not building EcoGrow alone. It gives us access to world-class mentors, investors, and operators who have already walked the path we’re trying to take. For me personally, it’s a chance to pressure-test our business model, sharpen our story, and turn deep technical research into a scalable company that can actually clean water bodies in the real world.
Q: If your product/service was already being used by everyone globally, what impact would that have?
A: If EcoGrow were deployed globally, harmful algal blooms and dead zones in lakes and rivers would be dramatically reduced. Cities and utilities would have a lower-cost, more sustainable way to meet nutrient-removal regulations. Farmers would rely less on mined phosphate rock-reducing the environmental footprint and geopolitical risk of fertilizer. Overall, we’d move from a “take-use-waste” nutrient system to a circular one that protects water, supports food production, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain.
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years?
A: In 10 years, I see EcoGrow operating as the leading circular-phosphorus platform, with systems deployed across North America, Europe, and key emerging markets. Our technology will be standard at wastewater plants, lake management projects, and ag drain systems, with EcoGrow fertilizer products on shelves for both large farms and specialty growers. We’ll be known not just as a water- treatment company, but as an infrastructure layer that quietly keeps nutrients in the economy and out of our lakes.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
A: If you care about clean water, food security, and climate, phosphorus is one of the most under-appreciated levers we have. EcoGrow is my attempt to turn years of lab work into something that actually changes shorelines, farms, and communities. I’m always open to collaborators, pilot partners, and critics-so if this resonates with you, I’d love to connect.
Bossin Hooks
Q&A with Founder & CEO Bossin Hooks
Q: What is your company’s elevator pitch?
A: Bossin Hooks creates handmade sensory toys that support emotional regulation for the children at home and in therapy. Most sensory toys are mass-produced and do not hold up to real day-to-day to day use. Our toys are designed with direct input from parents and therapists and built to actually help children stay calm, engaged, and connected.
Q: How did you get the idea to start your company?
A: I started this company because of my kids and the journey we were living every day. During postpartum recovery, crochet was the only place my mind slowed down. Granny taught me to crochet when I was seven, and it became the one thing that helped me breathe again. One day, during a meltdown, my son grabbed a crocheted octopus. He tugged it, twisted it, squeezed it, and his whole body softened. That moment showed me a way for him to feel safe again.
Q: What does it mean to be a part of gener8tor’s cohort?
A: For me, being part of gener8tor means not building this alone anymore. It means being surrounded by people who genuinely care about what we are creating and who want to see it thrive. It has connected me with mentors, investors, and founders who believe in my mission and are helping guide me forward. It has also been an incredible reminder that what I am building matters and that there are people out there who want to help bring it to life.
Q: If your product/service was already being used by everyone globally, what impact would that have?
A: I believe we would see more children feel safe in their own bodies, more families experiencing moments of peace, and a world that better understands sensory needs instead of judging them. The impact would be children who feel seen, supported, and understood wherever they are. That is the world I want to help build.
Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years?
A: In ten years, I see Bossin Hooks as the trusted name families and therapists think of when they need sensory support. I see our toys in homes, clinics, schools, and anywhere children need help regulating. My goal is to make sensory support available to every child who needs it, not just the ones who have access to therapy or happen to find us online. I want to be known not only for the quality of our toys, but for helping build a world where sensory needs are understood, accepted, and supported in everyday life.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
A: Thank you for taking a moment to learn about sensory needs and the children and families who live with them every day. Whether you are a parent, a therapist, or someone who simply cares about kids, your awareness and compassion make a real difference. My hope is that every child feels understood and supported, and that families feel less alone on this journey. If our story helps spark even a little more understanding out in the world, then this work is already creating the change we hoped for.
