Farmbucks keeps momentum rolling with Pitch for the Purse grand prize win

Lynn Dargis receives the grand prize cheque at the Pitch for the Purse event in Vancouver. Image credit: Farmbucks. 

An app developed by a St. Paul area woman continues to receive attention from entrepreneurs.

Lynn Dargis’ Farmbucks app, the Expedia for grain prices as she calls it, earned her the $25,000 grand prize at the Forum of Women Entrepreneurs’ Pitch for the Purse Finale in Vancouver on Feb. 20.

Dargis had to complete a three-minute pitch of her app to the panel, which compiles and sorts through grain bids in real-time to allow farmers to make the best bang for their buck.

She faced a women’s hygiene brand called Blume and a cookware company called Ensembl in the final stage.

“It’s stiff competition,” said Dargis.

“It’s not like I went in expecting to win, especially when you’re up against…some businesses that are much further along. They’re much better than me sometimes you think.”

It’s been a rough time for farmers recently.

Facing unprecedented challenges with trade disputes with China, coronavirus, many crops in the field covered in snow, and rail blockades have all made doing business more difficult for farmers.

She said her app is meant to empower families and also help navigate through these issues.

“The whole goal of helping farmers be more successful has rippling effects – it empowers families – communities – and economies. We all do better if farmers do better,” she said.

“If farmers have more capital to spend – they invest in innovations and technologies that enable them to produce nothing but the very best food for us to eat in the most sustainable way. It’s a win-win.”

The grand prize continues on Farmbucks’ forward momentum.

Last summer, she won the Telus Pitch Most Promising Startup award in Toronto, chosen by Facebook and Samsung executives.

“I guess the eye-opening part was also that once I put myself out there even though I might not be perfect, I may not have all the answers – What’s really been eye-opening is that there’s been so many people coming forward and reaching out to me that either have experienced or willing to help so there’s actually a huge support and community around me now, which is amazing,” she said.

Dargis plans to double down her efforts with the company with the prize money and continue strategic planning.

During the FWE’s Pitch for the Purse semi-finals, she was paired up with entrepreneur, Manny Padda, Founder & Managing Director of New Avenue Capital, who’s helped her hone in on her pitch.

“It’s really helpful to have someone with a lot of experience in this type of business-world, especially on the tech side because as you know if you watch Dragon’s Den, tech brings this whole other level of everything to it.

“How do you value these companies and all these things we’re going through, so it’s a big learning curve, but I enjoy every second.”

In a fitting end to the week, the Women of Influence Cold Lake Awards is Friday and Dargis will be a speaker where she will share the connection between the local awards and the national pitch competition.

“I don’t do what I do to be recognized at all. I just do it because I believe I can make a positive change and make a difference. I just got tired of waiting around for someone to do something.”