Phytoform Labs Secures Golden Ticket to NC State’s Seed2Grow Ag Tech Incubator
19 January 2026, North Carolina: Phytoform Labs, a U.K.-based plant biotechnology company, has been selected as the winner of Bayer’s Golden Ticket program, becoming the first startup from outside North Carolina State University’s research community to join the Seed2Grow agricultural technology incubator under the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative.
As part of the award, Phytoform Labs will receive 12 months of access to Seed2Grow’s shared laboratory facilities in NC State’s Plant Sciences Building, along with business and technical mentorship and networking opportunities. The company is also the first international startup to participate in the Seed2Grow incubator.
The Golden Ticket program, co-sponsored by Bayer and the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, provides one selected ag-tech startup with a year-long residency at Seed2Grow. The support includes laboratory bench space, office facilities, and access to Bayer’s global innovation network, alongside the broader resources of the Seed2Grow program.
“Our partnership with Bayer continues to expand the reach of Seed2Grow and strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative. “We welcome Phytoform Labs to the Seed2Grow community and look forward to supporting the company as it scales its innovations.”
Seed2Grow is an entrepreneurship program run by the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative at NC State University. It supports researchers and early-stage startups in translating plant science research into commercial solutions by offering shared laboratory and office infrastructure, access to faculty and student talent, business mentoring, networking opportunities, and guidance on commercialization pathways that benefit farmers and the food system.
“The Golden Ticket program reflects our collaboration with the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and our shared focus on advancing agricultural innovation,” said Raphael Dumain, Global Head of External Innovation & Partnerships at Bayer Crop Science. “Supporting Phytoform Labs through Seed2Grow helps accelerate technologies that can contribute to productivity and sustainability in agriculture.”
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