gener8tor Founder Series: Alex Chequim, Founder and CEO of DigiFarmz

At gener8tor, we’re proud to spotlight founders building innovative solutions in some of the world’s most essential industries. This week, we’re excited to feature Alex Chequim, Founder and CEO of DigiFarmz, a Brazilian agtech startup using digital intelligence to help farmers make smarter, more sustainable agronomic decisions.

We spoke with Alex about DigiFarmz’s growth from Brazil to the U.S. Midwest, his experience in the 2023 Illinois AgTech Accelerator powered by gener8tor, and what lies ahead as the company scales.

Turning Data Into Actionable Agronomic Decisions

DigiFarmz was born from decades of agronomic research. With a platform that transforms complex data into real-time, personalized recommendations, the company equips farmers, agronomists, and cooperatives to make more accurate decisions on crop management, especially for soybeans and wheat.

“We’re not just aggregating data,” Alex explains. “We’re providing real, actionable guidance on how to respond to that data—like which variety to plant, when to apply a treatment, or how to respond to changing weather conditions.”

Launched commercially in Brazil in 2020, DigiFarmz expanded to Paraguay shortly after. The team spent two and a half years validating their solution in the U.S. market before initiating pilots and partnerships throughout the Midwest.

Why Illinois?

When exploring U.S. expansion, Alex and the DigiFarmz team evaluated options on both coasts before ultimately choosing the Midwest—and specifically, Champaign and Peoria, Illinois—as their U.S. base.

“We realized the Corn Belt was where we needed to be,” Alex says. “The ecosystem here is strong, and the partnerships we made during the gener8tor accelerator were critical in helping us gain traction.”

Today, DigiFarmz has offices at EnterpriseWorks at the University of Illinois Research Park and at Peoria Next Innovation Center, with trials and pilot programs running in Iowa, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Impact of the gener8tor AgTech Accelerator

DigiFarmz participated in the 2023 Illinois AgTech Accelerator powered by gener8tor and supported by Serra Ventures. For Alex, the experience was pivotal.

“The program helped us challenge our assumptions and refine how we position ourselves in the U.S.,” he says. “We already had traction in Latin America, but gener8tor helped us adapt our messaging, sharpen our investor pitch, and better communicate with strategic partners.”

One standout component of the program was the mentor swarms.

“Those were incredibly valuable,” he says. “We got rapid, meaningful feedback from experts across agriculture, technology, and business. Some of the people we met are now partners and even friends. The speed at which those connections happened was something we couldn’t have done alone.”

Advice for Founders Considering Accelerators

Alex is no stranger to accelerators—DigiFarmz has participated in programs through Google, Plug and Play, and others. His advice to other founders is to be intentional about timing and fit.

“Every program serves a different purpose,” he says. “Make sure the accelerator aligns with your current stage and industry. Go in with clear goals, and give it your full attention. The more prepared and open you are, the more value you’ll gain.”

What’s Next for DigiFarmz?

DigiFarmz is now entering a new phase of growth. The company is raising funding to expand its team, scale operations, and continue building its U.S. presence. Alex is especially eager to connect with:

• Investors who understand the potential of agtech and are ready to support a company poised to scale

• Ag retailers, cooperatives, and crop advisors who are seeking cutting-edge tools to support farmers facing increasingly complex agronomic decisions

“The future of farming isn’t years away. It’s happening right now,” Alex says. “Our mission is to help farmers make the right decisions at the right time—and we’re excited to do that in both Latin America and the U.S.”

Watch the Full Interview

To dive deeper into Alex’s journey, insights on the agtech landscape, and how DigiFarmz is helping transform agriculture from the ground up, watch the full interview here: