Part I: Online Application Form – Business Profile and Background

This section provides reviewers with a foundational understanding of your agribusiness—who you are, what you do, and how your operation contributes to South Carolina’s agricultural economy. Applicants should use this section to clearly describe the structure, scale, and focus of their business, establishing credibility and readiness to implement an innovation project.

Be concise but thorough. Use factual information and avoid jargon so reviewers unfamiliar with your specific industry can easily understand your business. When completing this section, focus on the following:

• Business Profile: Provide complete and accurate details about your legal structure, ownership, years in operation, number of employees, and primary location of activities in South Carolina. 

• Agribusiness Category: Identify your applicant category, specifically your sector (e.g., specialty crops, livestock, aquaculture, food processing, ag-tech, etc.) and briefly describe your primary products or services.

• Background and Summary of Business Operations (300 words): Summarize your company’s history, mission, and core activities. Highlight what makes your operation distinctive—such as innovations you’ve already adopted, partnerships, or markets you serve. Describe your current scale, annual revenue range (under $5M), and any recent growth or milestones.

 

Part II: Innovation Proposal (800-word limit)

This section is the heart of your application. It should clearly explain the innovative project idea you want to pursue, why it matters, and how it will make a difference for your business and South Carolina agriculture. Reviewers are looking for originality, practicality, and clear potential for measurable impact.

Your proposal should tell the story of your innovation—what problem you’re solving, what your solution is, and why it has strong potential to succeed. Avoid technical jargon when possible and focus on clarity, evidence, and results. In addition to describing your innovative idea, outline a specific project you propose to carry out with the program’s support that will advance or validate this innovation.

When completing this section, address each of the following areas:

• Problem Identification: Describe the challenge or opportunity you are addressing within your business or the wider agricultural sector. Explain why this issue matters and how it affects your operation or community. Your proposal should demonstrate not only creativity but also a realistic pathway to implementation within your existing resources and timeframe

• Proposed Innovation: Present your idea clearly. What makes it innovative or significantly improved compared to existing practices? Describe your concept, product, process, or business model and how it works.

• Project Implementation Plan: In addition to describing your innovative idea, outline a specific project you propose to carry out with the program’s support that will advance or validate this innovation. This project should represent a concrete step toward making your idea operational — such as developing a prototype, testing a new process, piloting a service, or implementing an on-farm improvement — and demonstrate how the award will help you achieve measurable progress.

• Expected Impact: Explain how this innovation will benefit your business and others in the agricultural community. Describe the potential outcomes—such as improved efficiency, cost savings, new revenue, environmental gains, or job creation. Indicate the benefits to the agribusiness, sector, and SC economy.

• Alignment with Program Goals: Connect your innovation to the Cultivating Innovation Program’s mission of fostering growth and sustainability in South Carolina agribusiness.

Your Innovation Proposal should demonstrate creativity, feasibility, and a strong connection between your idea and the real-world challenges facing South Carolina farmers and agribusinesses.

 

Part III: Business Viability & Capacity (800-word limit)

This section helps reviewers understand your readiness to carry out the proposed innovation and sustain it beyond the program. It should demonstrate that your agribusiness has the operational capacity, financial stability, and market awareness needed to successfully implement your project and translate it into real impact.

Use this section to show that your team, resources, and business fundamentals position you for success. Be transparent and specific—reviewers are not looking for perfection, but for a clear, realistic picture of your strengths, preparedness, and ability to grow through the Cultivating Innovation Program.

When completing this section, address the following areas:

• Operational Capacity: Demonstrate that your business has the staff, facilities, systems, and time to carry out the proposed innovation project effectively.

• Market Viability: Provide an indication of your market opportunity. Even preliminary information about your target customers, market size, or competitive landscape helps reviewers assess the innovation’s potential success.

• Team Capability: Briefly describe the experience and roles of your core team members. Explain why they are well-suited to execute the proposed project.

• Financial Overview: Summarize your current revenue, profitability, and funding sources to show a solid foundation. Highlight any financial practices or partnerships that support long-term sustainability.

Your goal in this section is to give reviewers confidence that your agribusiness has both the capacity and commitment to turn an innovative idea into a viable, lasting success.

 

Part IV: Program Alignment & Need (800-word limit)

This section allows you to explain how participation in the Cultivating Innovation Agribusiness Program—and the accompanying award—will directly help you achieve your innovation and business growth goals. Reviewers will use this information to assess whether your project is a strong fit for the program’s objectives and resources.

Be clear and practical. Show that you understand how to apply the program’s training, mentorship, and funding to move your idea forward. A well-defined plan that connects your needs, goals, and the program’s support will strengthen your application significantly.

When completing this section, address the following:

• Use of Award Funds: Provide a clear and reasonable plan for how the award will be used to advance your innovation.

• Project Budget:  Include a simple, realistic budget that outlines how the award will be used to carry out your proposed project — highlighting key expenses such as materials, equipment, testing, labor, or other costs directly tied to advancing your innovation.  Provide a brief justification for each item, explaining how it directly supports the successful implementation and advancement of your innovation. Reviewers will be looking for thoughtful, well-justified spending plans that demonstrate a clear link between costs and project outcomes

• Growth Goals: Outline your short- and medium-term goals for the next 1–3 years related to your innovation. Explain how the award and program participation will help you achieve measurable business results such as expanded production, new markets, or increased efficiency.

• Program Fit: Describe what you hope to gain from the cohort—specific knowledge, skills, connections, or mentorship—and how these align with your innovation and long-term vision.

• Strategic Alignment: Demonstrate how your project supports the broader mission of the Cultivating Innovation Program: fostering sustainable and growth-oriented agribusiness innovation across South Carolina.

Your goal in this section is to help reviewers clearly see the connection between your needs, your innovation goals, and the program’s ability to accelerate your success.

 

Part V: Letter of Commitment

This section confirms your dedication to fully engaging in the Cultivating Innovation Agribusiness Program and seeing your proposed project through to completion. The Letter of Commitment helps reviewers assess your level of seriousness, accountability, and readiness to make the most of this opportunity.

Your letter should be signed by the business owner or CEO and written on company letterhead if available. It should communicate your willingness to commit the time, effort, and resources necessary to actively participate in the program and successfully implement your innovation project.

When completing this section, include the following:

• Program Participation: A clear statement confirming your full participation in all aspects of the program—webinars, mentorship sessions, peer learning opportunities, and the in-person Capstone Innovation Showcase & Awards event.

• Commitment to Project Success: A brief statement expressing your dedication to implementing your innovation and using the award responsibly to achieve measurable results.

• Letters of Support: You may include one to three letters from partners, collaborators, or community organizations that reinforce your project’s credibility, feasibility, and potential.

 

Part VI: 5-Minute Video

The video component is your opportunity to bring your innovation to life. It allows reviewers to see your operation, understand your passion, and visualize your idea in action. The goal is not professional production quality—it’s clarity, authenticity, and enthusiasm.

Your video should help reviewers connect your written proposal to the real-world context of your agribusiness. It should clearly show who you are, what you do, and how your innovation will make a difference.

When preparing your video, include the following elements:

• Overview and Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself, your business, and the problem or opportunity your innovation addresses.

• Show Your Operation: Give reviewers a quick tour of your facilities, equipment, or production space to demonstrate your capacity to carry out the project.

• Demonstrate or Describe the Innovation: Clearly explain or show the product, process, or idea you are proposing. Highlight what makes it innovative and how it will create value.

• Impact and Vision: Conclude by describing the impact you hope your innovation will have on your business, your community, and South Carolina agriculture overall.

Keep the tone conversational and genuine. The best videos show your excitement, commitment, and practical understanding of your innovation’s potential. Simple smartphone or tablet recordings are completely acceptable—focus on content, clarity, and authenticity, not polish.  Simple smartphone or tablet recordings are encouraged. Ensure good lighting and clear audio so reviewers can easily understand your presentation.

Optional: Supporting Materials (e.g., product photos, website link, media mentions, brief bios of key team members).