KAAPA

What KAAPA does

KAAPA is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska, founded in 1996. It is organized as a member-driven vehicle to identify, evaluate, and co-invest in value-added agriculture opportunities on behalf of its 400+ members, who are predominantly Nebraska-based producers. The cooperative structures its investment activity through successive fund vehicles (KAAPA I, II, and III), with KAAPA Investments III formed in 2021 to access Burlington Capital's Ag-Venture Fund alongside Invest Nebraska Corporation, an approximately $11 million vehicle targeting Nebraska ag-tech and value-added agriculture ventures.

Operationally, KAAPA runs the Gateway Farm Expo as a member-facing platform to surface and assess potential investment opportunities. Revenue mechanics are straightforward: the cooperative collects $175 in annual membership dues from each of its 400+ members and supplements operating capacity through grants and partnership economics, with reported member-leveraged funding described as nearly doubling member contributions. The cooperative employs between 11 and 50 people, supporting fund administration, deal sourcing, and member services. There is no indication of a proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability; the underlying "product" is access to curated, pooled investment exposure in value-added agribusiness that individual farmers could not access independently.

The business model is cooperative rather than venture-backed: members are owners, returns flow to participants, and the entity itself is sustained primarily through membership dues and grant support. Capital deployment decisions are made collectively, and the cooperative's value proposition centers on three decades of operating history, relationships with regional agribusiness partners, and the ability to participate in institutional-scale investment vehicles such as the Ag-Venture Fund.

Name

KAAPA

Legal name

Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance (KAAPA)

Website

https://kaapacoop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KAAPA is a farmer-owned cooperative in Kearney, Nebraska, founded in 1996, that pools capital from 400+ members to invest in value-added agriculture opportunities through successive fund vehicles. It charges $175 annual dues and partners with Burlington Capital and Invest Nebraska on ag-tech and value-added agribusiness ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Cooperative Investment Services

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funds (FSANAJAE)

Keywords

• Agricultural cooperative
• Value-added agriculture
• Agricultural investment funds
• Farmer-owned alliance
• Ag-tech venture investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kearney

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: KAAPA generates operating revenue through annual membership dues of $175 per member, invoiced each January. These dues cover administrative expenses (office, phones, postage), staff wages, due diligence activities, legal fees, early-stage project development expenses, and consulting or professional fees. Membership dues are also used as matching funds required by grants awarded to KAAPA Coop.
2. Investment Fund Management: KAAPA facilitates investment opportunities through structured investment vehicles such as KAAPA Investments III, LLC. Members invest in funds that are deployed into value-added agriculture projects. Returns are distributed to investors as portfolio companies are sold or distribute profits. KAAPA Coop itself invests the first $50,000 in new fund vehicles to anchor the investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KAAPA is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative that provides its 400+ members access to value-added agriculture investment opportunities through structured investment funds (KAAPA Investments I, II, and III/LLC). Members pay $175 in annual dues and gain exposure to private offerings in bio-based products, solar energy, ag-tech startups, and other agricultural innovations, with proceeds distributed as portfolio companies exit or distribute profits.

Product overview

KAAPA is a farmer-owned cooperative offering a membership-based platform for value-added agriculture investment opportunities. The core offering is the KAAPA Coop Membership program, which provides access to private investment funds (KAAPA Investments I, II, and III/LLC), project showcases, and member benefits including diversification of assets and exposure to private offerings. The organization also coordinates the Gateway Farm Expo, an annual agricultural exhibition. The product portfolio centers on connecting agricultural producers with investment opportunities in innovative agriculture technologies and projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gateway Farm Expo: An annual farm show held in Kearney, Nebraska since 1969, featuring over 400 exhibitors showcasing agriculture technology and advancements. As of January 2021, now employs its own coordinator.

Products and services

• KAAPA Coop Membership Annual membership program offering access to value-added agriculture investment opportunities, project showcases, and member benefits including diversification of assets and exposure to private offerings restricted by the SEC. Membership dues are $175 per year, invoiced in January.
• KAAPA Investments I Investment fund allowing KAAPA members to invest in value-added agriculture projects and private companies, offering diversification and potential earnings to members.
• KAAPA Investments II Investment fund allowing KAAPA members to invest in value-added agriculture projects and private companies, offering diversification and potential earnings to members.
• KAAPA Investments III, LLC (KI3) Investment vehicle created to allow KAAPA members to invest in the Burlington Capital Ag-Venture Fund with a $10,000 minimum (compared to a $100,000 direct investment requirement), targeting up to 24 high-growth Ag-Tech start-ups in the Midwest.
• Gateway Farm Expo Annual agricultural farm show held in Kearney, Nebraska since 1969, featuring over 400 exhibitors showcasing agriculture technology and advancements, managed by over 150 volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership dues leveraged into nearly double their value through grants and other financial support

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Invest Nebraska: Nebraska-focused venture development organization that co-created the Ag-Venture Fund alongside Burlington Capital. KAAPA is already a partner via KI3, making Invest Nebraska the closest peer in mission (Midwest ag-tech investing) and structure (fund facilitation).
• Ag Ventures Alliance: Iowa-based farmer cooperative investing in agricultural innovation and value-added ag ventures. Directly comparable to KAAPA as a member-driven cooperative that pools farmer capital into ag-tech and value-added agriculture projects in the Midwest grain belt.
• Burlington Capital: Midwest-based investment manager that co-created the $11M Ag-Venture Fund with Invest Nebraska. KAAPA's KI3 vehicle is built specifically to give its members access to Burlington's ag-tech deal flow — making Burlington a direct peer in ag-investment fund management.
• Plains Angels: Nebraska-centered angel investing network that pools accredited investors to fund early-stage companies, including ag-tech. Comparable to KAAPA in being a regional angel network in the same geography with overlap in agricultural deal sourcing.

Broad incumbents

• AgCountry Farm Credit Services: Large Farm Credit System association serving farmers and agribusinesses across the upper Midwest with lending and financial services. A broader incumbent serving overlapping agricultural customers in the same geography, though it focuses on credit rather than equity investment.

Others

• Center for Rural Affairs: Midwest-based nonprofit advocating for rural communities, small farms, and value-added agriculture. Adjacent to KAAPA in serving rural agricultural producers in the same geography, though it focuses on policy and education rather than investment vehicles.

Emerging players

• Iowa's Cultivation Corridor: Iowa-based public-private partnership focused on growing ag-tech innovation and investment in the Midwest. Comparable to KAAPA in mission and regional focus on value-added agriculture, but operates as an ecosystem convener rather than a member-driven fund.
• AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute): Minnesota-based nonprofit that develops new uses and value-added opportunities for agricultural commodities. Comparable to KAAPA's value-added agriculture mission and portfolio themes (bio-based products, ag diversification), though it is a research institute rather than an investor cooperative.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kaapacoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaapa-coop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KAAPA