View from the Cab: Seed funding challenge

By Kent Casson

The Illinois Soybean Association has announced the launch of the SpringBoard Seed Funding Challenge, an initiative designed to find new uses for soy by identifying and supporting early-stage innovations in soy-based, non-food applications.

The announcement was part of the inaugural SpringBoard Event, held at the state-of-the-art Distillery Labs innovation hub in downtown Peoria, Ill. The event also united researchers, industry leaders and investors to fuel collaboration, accelerate commercialization, and expand market opportunities for ag-based products.

Teams are invited to submit from across the United States and the world. Concept papers are due Friday, May 30, at 5 p.m. CDT

An initiative of ISA’s Soy Innovation Center (SIC), the SpringBoard Seed Funding Challenge is designed to foster early-stage innovations and cross-sector partnerships that can unlock new markets for soy-based, non-food products. The challenge follows the 2024 launch of the SIC, which brings together academia, entrepreneurs and industry to invest, scale and commercialize sustainable alternatives developed from U.S. soy.

“Soybeans grown by Illinois farmers can help solve pressing material challenges if we connect the right innovators with the right resources,” said John Lumpe, ISA CEO. “The SpringBoard Seed Funding Challenge brings that opportunity into focus—linking researchers and entrepreneurs with the support to drive meaningful change.”

ISA and the SIC aim to reshape industrial supply chains by promoting soy as a renewable platform for innovation. Many byproducts of soy production—such as hulls, glycerin, and soy protein—currently lack commercial use, but hold significant potential to replace fossil fuel-derived inputs in products ranging from bioplastics and lubricants to textiles and PFAS substitutes.

“This Challenge is more than just a funding vehicle—it’s about cultivating a community of innovators to help commercialize the next generation of sustainable materials,” said Todd Main, ISA’s Director of Market Development.