Anna Haldewang – A Syracuse, IN native and entrepreneur helping almond growers

Anna Haldewang, a local Syracuse native, is the founder of startup InsightTRAC™. And she's changing the game for almond growers in California and Australia.

Show Notes

 

• Anna Haldewang is a native of Syracuse––home of Lake Wawasee––in Kosciusko County.

• Although she grew up and resides in Kosciusko County now, Anna spent time in Savannah, Georgia during her college years and even spent some time in Fort Lauderdale for a couple years in the yachting industry.

• While studying industrial design/product design in Savannah, Anna was tasked with designing a self-sufficient object that could stimulate the growth of plants. That’s when Anna began exploring pollination, and designed a pollinating drone.

• After completing the design she was approached by CNN for a highlight, and Forbes to participate in the Forbes AgTech Summit. Anna knew she was on to something when she journeyed to California for the Summit with her makeshift prototype she’d put together––and people loved it. They were eager for the product release.

• Anna returned home to pursue her business, Plan Bee. While partnering with Purdue Foundry in doing market research, she identified her target markets––almond growers/orchards in California and Australia. She learned about challenges facing almond growers with rotten almonds or “Mummies” and the Navel Orangeworms that hibernate in the almonds, causing damage to the next crop. InsightTRAC is born. InsightTRAC is a robotic “Mummy” removal system. Anna has completed some beta trials with the prototype, and plans to go to market with the product later this year.

• When asked why Anna is still here and not living on the west coast she said her family lives here, she loves the area, the lakes and the small-town feel. She said, “As an entrepreneur here, everyone wants to help you, not just in Kosciusko County but at the State level there’s a lot of support for entrepreneurs.”

• Anna recommends checking out local spots: Village at Winona, Port Winona Wine + Market, 110 Craft Meatery, and Anthology Whiskey.