Source: Emergent Connect sent via AgPR–the news distribution service for agriculture
PLANO, Texas — Emergent Connext, Inc., the nation’s first carrier-grade rural IoT network and solutions integrator, announced today the successful close of its oversubscribed $5 million seed funding round. The seed round attracted a strong group of investors who share Emergent’s vision to digitally connect the most underserved industries of rural America–unlocking a new era of profitability, sustainability, and operational efficiency across agriculture, climate and energy, utilities and municipalities, and the broader rural economy.
The injection of capital will scale Emergent’s national network deployment, expand commercial operations, and accelerate sensor integration across agriculture and adjacent rural industries.
“Emergent was built to solve a massive connectivity challenge that has long held back rural innovation,” said Mike Roudi, CEO of Emergent. “Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, utility manager, or rural co-op operator, you need real-time data to make informed decisions. That starts with affordable, scalable connectivity–and the ability to integrate devices and data across complex, disparate platforms. This can lead to immediate ROI for users. For instance, a trial use of Emergent’s precision irrigation solution in collaboration with Cal.net at Terranova Ranch in California yielded water savings of 34 percent.”
The seed round was funded equally between agriculture and telecom investors. Bob Trogele, a global agriculture executive and renowned ag-tech investor who also is CEO of Verdelis Investments and ProAgInvest LLC, and Jim Timmer, a seasoned telecom and digital infrastructure executive with deep operational expertise in large-scale infrastructure deployments, led their respective investor groups. In all, Emergent’s seed round attracted more than 20 investors.
“Emergent is tackling the most fundamental obstacle to rural innovation: the lack of connectivity and digital integration,” said Trogele. “For years, agriculture has been promised digital transformation–but without a reliable data backbone, the tools can’t function at scale. Emergent is delivering the infrastructure we’ve been waiting for. It will fundamentally reshape how we farm, manage rural assets, and build resilience across the entire value chain.”
“Rural industries can’t digitize without a network operator that understands their unique challenges,” added Timmer. “Emergent has engineered a purpose-built solution for rural America. It’s rugged, scalable, and economically viable.”
Emergent has achieved several key milestones since its inception, including:
Network Deployment: Built and activated Emergent’s IoT network in California, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky
Product Development: Built a suite of solutions to support smart farming and rural communities that bundles world-class devices, persistent connectivity, and real-time interactive platforms.
Strategic Partnerships: Microsoft Airband, Tektelic Communications, multiple rural Internet Service Providers, and IoT solution providers.
With the seed round complete, Emergent is poised to continue its growth trajectory and expand its footprint across key agricultural markets and rural municipalities.
About Emergent Connext
Emergent is a pioneer in IoT network solutions, dedicated to improving the efficiency, reliability, and profitability of agricultural operations and rural communities. By partnering with rural internet service providers, Emergent addresses critical issues such as soil health, climate resilience, and water conservation, fostering a more sustainable and connected rural America.
Learn more at www.emergentconnext.com
