AgTech’s best and brightest are in it for the more than the pay. They want to make a difference.

Take Kansas City AgTech startup Farmobile, led by its founder Jason Tatge. The company’s precision ag technology helps farmers gather, store, share and profit from big data obtained from devices installed in the cabs of working farm machinery.

After being combed through and analyzed, selected data can be used to bring about more efficient planting techniques and enhanced crop yields in a way that is also environmentally responsible.

“I’ve had the opportunity to take a tremendous amount of money for this company already and walk away,” Tatge said. “But we’re building something here that’s truly revolutionary in my mind. And that’s something that people like to be a part of.

“When you go to hire employees nowadays – and we are taking on some of the smartest developers that I have ever seen – there’s a lot of social responsibility that goes with the generation that we’re starting to hire. And having a cause that you work for that really matters is a big deal.”