Meet Line Ferriman, General Manager of the team behind the venture CowSmart. They are one of 22 teams taking part in the Sprout Accelerator Spring26 Cohort.
We caught up with Line for a quick-fire five questions in 5 minutes to learn more about CowSmart and what she hopes to get out of her time in the Sprout Accelerator.
1. Tell us about CowSmart. What are you building?
CowSmart started with a simple aim: to help dairy farmers get more value from the data their farm systems were already collecting. What began with wearable data and reporting has evolved into an independent service that brings information from different technologies together and filters out the noise. We help farmers and their vets reduce the noise, focus on what matters and get on with farming more efficiently.
2. What problem are you working to solve?
Dairy farmers are collecting more information than ever - from wearables, herd management systems, milk production, reproduction and animal health data. But much of it sits in separate systems, each showing only part of the picture. Farmers and the people supporting them are left to connect the dots, often while making time-critical decisions. This creates noise, takes time and means important signals can be missed - affecting animal health, farm performance and profitability. As more technology reaches farms, that complexity will only grow. Unless we close the gap between information and action, more data will not lead to better outcomes.
3. How does your solution work?
CowSmart takes the information dairy farms already generate and turns it into a clearer picture of what is happening in the herd. We work across different technologies, bringing the data together and using independent veterinary science to filter, interpret and prioritise it. The important information is delivered through the farmer’s own vet, combining continuous monitoring with knowledge of the farm. Together, this helps farmers and vets answer two practical questions: what matters now, and what should we do next?
4. What is the next important milestone for your venture?
Our next important milestone is demonstrating the measurable value CowSmart creates on farm. We want to better understand how the information we provide influences decisions and outcomes, so we can continue strengthening the service and show farmers and veterinary clinics exactly what CowSmart delivers.
5. What are you hoping to get out of your time with Sprout?
We came into Sprout with a service that works-and a belief that CowSmart could become something much bigger. As first-time venture builders, having experienced and visionary people around us to challenge our thinking and help us build the path forward is invaluable.
Find out more: www.cowsmart.co.nz