Project summary

Vertical farms can dramatically reduce famine risk as they are protected from weather events. They require 90% less water and fertilizer, but need more electricity and infrastructure. We will establish a profitable vertical farming business that can be scaled to reduce or eliminate famine risk in the coming years.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

We seek to establish the cheapest and most resource efficient vertical farming technology on earth. We have already established an early farm, and are working on optimization, miniaturization, and automation. Our farms can provide most essential nutrients for human nutrition, and we intend to further enhance this profile through genetic engineering.

How will this funding be used?

The funds will allow us to optimize and scale our technology in New York City, where fresh and local produce is in high demand.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

My cofounder is Sebastian Cocioba - a veteran plant biologist and genetic engineer who was recently featured in Wired Magazine.
My background is genomics and genetic engineering; I have published with world-class scientists across Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and MIT. I have contributed to multiple patents across academia and industry.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

It may take us time to attract consumers, as our first products are proven but niche ingredients. For this reason, we intend to adapt our farms to produce valuable oils used in cosmetics - a much larger and proven market.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

None