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KinoSol’s solar dehydrators now available in the U.S.

July 30, 2019

KinoSol — a five-year old Ames-based company producing solar-powered food dehydrators — has created a new version of their dehydrator that can now be used in the United States.

“Initially, when we were starting our international unit we were hearing a lot from our customers who were sponsoring units that it would be awesome to have this same product right here in the states,” said Rebecca Lyons, Operations Manager of KinoSol. “After hearing a lot of that feedback, we decided to engineer this new product and are super happy that it is now on the market

The new dehydrator has more holes in the base, increasing the overall airflow and allowing it to dehydrate foods at cooler temperatures.

Engineered for families, gardeners and sportsmen, the new domestic dehydrator is designed to meet the needs of environmentally-friendly, health-conscious consumers.

With dishwasher-friendly trays, a collapsible construction, and over three square feet of drying space, the solar dehydrator can be used to dry vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers.

Using only solar power and no electricity, the KinoSol dehydrator reduces users’ carbon footprint and improves family nutrition by preserving the nutrients already found in produce.

“We’re excited to now have a product that tackles food waste internationally and in our own backyard here in the U.S. We’ve been working on our domestic dehydrator for the past few years and are looking forward to helping curb consumer food waste,” said Mikayla Sullivan, co-founder and CEO of KinoSol.

KinoSol launched in September of 2014 and began delivering its first
product, the Orenda, worldwide in January 2017. To date, KinoSol has distributed over 550 Orendas to 42 countries.

Previous coverage

KinoSol wins $25,000 from Minnesota Cup -Oct. 12, 2017

KinoSol's solar dehydrators now available in the U.S. | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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