Last week, the Irrigation Association recognized the winners of its 2025 New Product Contest and Startup of the Year Award.
New product contest
This year’s contest featured 22 new products and technologies entered in three categories: agriculture irrigation, landscape irrigation and landscape lighting. Official judging took place during the 2025 Irrigation Show and Education Week in New Orleans, and winners were announced during the General Session.
Agriculture irrigation category
Winner: Orion PC™ by Netafim
Orion PC is a true thin-wall pressure-compensated dripline, featuring an advanced, compact dripper and patented multi-slot design delivering precision and durability across diverse field shapes, slopes and water qualities. Orion PC brings high-uniformity irrigation to seasonal and single-use growers who were previously excluded from PC technology.
Landscape irrigation category
Here, awards were presented in two tiers based on company annual revenue.
Companies with annual revenue less than $20 million:
Winner: SIMPro - Always Connected Irrigation Controller by Grüngard
SIMPro is an alkaline battery-powered GSM irrigation controller, designed to make smart irrigation simple and accessible. SIMPro connects directly to the cloud, offering always-connected operation and enabling remote control and automation through the Grüngard Cloud or mobile app.
Companies with annual revenue equal to or greater than $20 million:
Winner: Pro High-Efficiency Nozzle by Hunter Industries
Pro High-Efficiency Nozzles deliver precise, even water distribution while saving time and reducing waste. With a matched precipitation rate of 1.6 inches per hour, they ensure uniform coverage across adjustable arcs from 0° to 360° while producing a smooth, well-defined spray pattern for healthier landscapes with less overspray.
Landscape lighting category
Here, awards were presented in two tiers based on company annual revenue.
Companies with annual revenue less than $20 million:
Winner: Command Series by Brilliance LED
The Command Series redefines smart outdoor lighting with a self-contained control network that requires no Wi-Fi, hubs or repeaters. It delivers instant response for dimming and adjustable Kelvin temperatures, while maintaining secure, reliable performance even offline.
Companies with annual revenue equal to or greater than $20 million:
Winner: Terra™ TN60 and TG60, Hunter Industries
The Terra™ TN60 In-Grade and TG60 Ground Wash are durable, brass-built outdoor lights engineered for tough environments. They feature IP67 and IP68 ratings for superior water protection, are drive-over-rated, and include tamper resistance to stay securely in place.
“What stood out this year is how these new products answer real needs in irrigation,” says IA CEO Natasha Rankin. “The New Product Contest winners show how our industry is advancing the wise use of water and natural resources, delivering practical solutions that make work easier, improve water outcomes and help irrigation professionals deliver better results for growers, contractors and communities they serve.”
The Startup of the Year Award
IA's inaugural Startup of the Year Award debuted during the General Session at the 2025 Irrigation Show and Education Week. This award recognizes the most innovative irrigation startup company featured in the Startup Showcase, a dedicated exhibit space highlighting emerging businesses shaping the future of irrigation technology.
The Startup of the Year Award celebrates companies that demonstrate exceptional creativity, forward-thinking solutions and a commitment to advancing water efficiency and sustainability. Participating startups were evaluated by a panel of IA member judges based on their application materials and in-person booth review during the show.
IRRISketch earned the distinction of Startup of the Year for its approach to developing innovative irrigation planning solutions that simplify the design process and improve water efficiency. The IRRISketch platform enables professionals to create precise, tailored irrigation plans quickly and easily, helping deliver optimal results for landscapes of any size. This innovation exemplifies the ingenuity and vision driving the irrigation industry toward smarter technology and sustainable water management.
“This year’s Startup Showcase highlighted how emerging companies are tackling real world challenges in irrigation,” Rankin says. “Congratulations to our 2025 Start Up of the Year: IRRISketch. They help raise the bar on turning smart ideas into practical solutions for landscape irrigation professionals and drive growth of the irrigation industry.”
