Plano-based Emergent Connext, which calls itself the nation’s first carrier-grade rural IoT network and solutions integrator, has closed an oversubscribed $5 million seed funding round.

“Emergent was built to solve a massive connectivity challenge that has long held back rural innovation,” CEO Mike Roudi said in a statement. “Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, or co-op, 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, leading to immediate ROI. At Terranova Ranch, Emergent’s precision irrigation trial with Cal.net yielded water savings of 34%.”

Round features 20+ agriculture and telecom investors

Emergent said its seed round attracted a group of more than 20 agriculture and telecom investors who share its vision to digitally connect underserved industries of rural America and unlock “a new era of profitability, sustainability, and operational efficiency across agriculture, climate, energy, utilities, municipalities, and the broader rural economy.”

The new capital will scale Emergent’s national network deployment, expand operations, and accelerate sensor integration across agriculture and adjacent rural industries, the company said.

The seed round was led by Bob Trogele—a global agriculture executive, ag-tech investor, and CEO of Verdelis Investments/ProAgInvest LLC—and Jim Timmer, a telecom and digital infrastructure executive with expertise in large-scale infrastructure deployments.

“For years, agriculture has been promised digital transformation—but without a reliable data backbone, tools can’t function at scale,” Trogele said in a statement. “Emergent is delivering infrastructure we’ve been waiting for. It will fundamentally reshape how we farm, manage rural assets, and build resilience across the entire value chain.”

Timmer added: “Rural industries can’t digitize without a network operator that understands their unique challenges. Emergent has engineered a purpose-built solution for rural America. It’s rugged, scalable, and economically viable.”

Emergent said it has achieved several key milestones, 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 its seed round complete, Emergent said it’s now poised to expand across key agricultural markets and rural municipalities.

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