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hexafarms is leveraging AI to optimize greenhouses and power the future of food production 🌽 Some 10 to 30% of food produced annually is lost between seed and harvesting – hexafarms wants to change that. The Berlin-based startup founded by David Ahmed, Felix Kirschstein & Huijo Kim harvests data and uses AI to monitor, control, and optimize controlled environmental agriculture in real time. The result? Customers halve energy and personnel costs and can predict crop yields 4 weeks ahead with up to 95% accuracy. Andreas Schwarzenbrunner, Partner in our Climate Tech & Industrial Tech investment team, says: "The agricultural sector is in urgent need of innovative solutions to address the pressure from climate change on commercial food production process and food insecurity. We have strong confidence in hexafarms and cannot wait to see them further develop their AI and machine learning capabilities and expand their team of experts. We are convinced that their app will transform commercial food production through optimization and digitalization." EU-Startups has more on the pre-Seed funding round led by Speedinvest with participation from Mudcake and Techstars. https://lnkd.in/d-Rd7dBr #agtech #agriculture #ai #startup #venturecapital

😅 Who would've known that looking after a huge cattle farm in your Private Equity job and researching all things alternative land use, crop optimisation and future of food would come in useful one day? 🌱 To my own surprise — yet massive excitement — that day came last year when I met the amazing David Ahmed, who told me about his vision for hexafarms Hexafarms is on a mission to empower commercial indoor growers by providing the most comprehensive data-driven toolkit for running and optimising greenhouses (AI-enabled, of course... 😉) 🤷♀️ So what, you might wonder? 👩🌾 With continued global population growth, yet mounting pressure on the agricultural industry due to climate change — efficient food production has never been as important 🤹♀️ Optimising yields, whilst managing waste & emissions and also keeping costs in check is a nearly impossible juggling act. Particularly if all you have to go off is the field-level experience of a dying breed of agricultural workers. 🧘🏼♀️ Hexafarms technology provides piece of mind for growers, supporting them every step of the way through insights & optimisation recommendations. Couldn't be more excited for the team to have such great VCs on board to help fuel their journey and stoked to be on board for the ride 👼

In my opinion, it’s not official until it’s in the Gisborne Herald! 😄 I’m incredibly excited and grateful to once again announce my collaboration with Whāngārā Farms. Together, we’re addressing real-life challenges to make this AI tool truly meaningful. One thing that stands out to me are: 👉 Why aren’t we, as a country, seeing more Agri-tech startups? We’re globally known for agriculture, yet in my opinion we’re not tapping into the $2.74 trillion AI market like we should. 👉 Excited to be using AI for good in helping to reduce emissions and improve land use, especially as the region experiences the harsh effects of Taiao when it goes wrong—like slash on the beaches, struggling sheep and beef markets, and an economy hit by government cuts. For me, this project is powerful because it aligns with my strengths as Māori & it’s not just about innovation; it’s about honouring our connection with the land (taiao), making decisions grounded in our cultural values, and creating solutions that support our communities. Whāngārā Farms is leading the way, and I’m proud to be part of this journey. 🌍💡

🚀 From Farming to Deep Tech: The Power of Ideas in Innovation In my latest article, I explore the crucial role ideas play in driving technological advancements. From the earliest agricultural innovations to the cutting-edge technologies of today, ideas have always been the seeds of progress. I dive into where these ideas originate and why it’s essential for us to continuously generate and nurture them. Check out my thoughts on how history can teach us about the future of innovation.

CORTMA recognises the advantages of implementing Gen AI in the agriculture industry. Global demand for nutrition is increasing, creating new economic pressures and opportunities for farmers. The agriculture industry is also moving toward more sustainable practices. Using rapidly evolving technologies like AI, incredibly generative AI (gen AI), and analytical AI can significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness throughout the industry. According to McKinsey & Company, leveraging Gen AI could create $250 billion in economic value for the $4 trillion global food production industry through on-farm economics and enterprise operations. Delve deeper_ ______ Follow our thinking At a glance:   At Mactur, we provide advisory services on corporate turnarounds (operationalising restructurings and enterprise-wide transformations). At CORTMA, we apply an entrepreneurial ecosystem-based approach to facilitate the lower mid-market (MSME) business transfer. Thank you for choosing my content curation. I hope you find it insightful and enjoyable. ______ #Growth #Marketing #Technology #Ecosystems #Turnarounds #Management #Entrepreneurship #Economy #Strategy #Leadership #Directorship #Data #businessContinuity #CortmaTranferOfSMEs #AI #AGI #BusinessTransformation #Agriculture

The Pragmatic Approach: Harnessing AI Innovation for the Heart of Canada As a nation, we've always been proud of our agricultural heritage. Farmers and small business owners are the backbone of this country, and it's high time we started recognizing their value. But in our enthusiasm to promote innovation, let's not forget the importance of common sense and caution. I'm all for harnessing the power of technology and AI to improve our agricultural practices. Precision farming, data analytics, and automation can be game-changers for farmers, helping them optimize yields, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. But we need to approach these innovations with a level head, recognizing that they're tools, not substitutes, for human judgment and expertise. We can't just impose top-down solutions on our farmers, dictating how they should use their land and resources. That's not how we do things in Canada. We need to work with our agricultural communities, listening to their concerns, and supporting them as they adopt new technologies at a pace that is not disruptive, but in harmony with all Mankind. And let's not forget, the real innovators in this country are the farmers and small business owners themselves. They're the ones who've been experimenting, adapting, and evolving their practices for generations. They're the ones who know the land, the climate, and the community best. So, as we move forward with innovations like AI in agriculture, let's make sure we're doing it in a way that supports and empowers farmers and the many industries that are peripheral to it, rather than trying to replace them. One misstep could lead to catastrophic outcomes (and FrankenBugs!). Let's recognize the value of their expertise, their hard work, and their commitment to the land. We need to be cautious about the unintended consequences of our actions, ensuring that our enthusiasm for innovation doesn't lead to the consolidation of farms, the loss of rural livelihoods, or the erosion of our rural communities. Informed Consent is essential. By taking a pragmatic approach to innovation, one that balances progress with caution and common sense, we can ensure that agricultural (and small business) remains the heart of Canada, beating strong and proud for generations to come. I was born on a farm. Thank you for reading. Carol

Revolutionizing Supermarkets: How AI and Hydroponics Are Changing the Future of Fresh Produce The future of agriculture is happening now, and it’s taking place in the heart of Swedish supermarkets. SweGreen, an agricultural tech startup, is transforming the way consumers interact with their food by growing fresh vegetables in-store using artificial intelligence

Revolutionizing Supermarkets: How AI and Hydroponics Are Changing the Future of Fresh Produce The future of agriculture is happening now, and it’s taking place in the heart of Swedish supermarkets. SweGreen, an agricultural tech startup, is transforming the way consumers interact with their food by growing fresh vegetables in-store using artificial intelligence

👀 Are you an expert in agri-tech? ⚡️ The world needs to produce 60% more food by 2050, but agriculture as one of the main producers of greenhouse gases and a driver of biodiversity loss 🌍 We need to find innovative ways to support smallholder farmers and build food security, while reducing its impact on the planet. It's a critical challenge of our time, and we don't underestimate the the complexity within. AI, machine learning and other frontier technologies offer opportunities to tackle these issues, and offer transformative solutions to development issues. With the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Research, Science and Innovation, we're looking to develop a new fund to support impactful frontier tech innovations to support smallholder farmers and related value chains. 🌾 This fund is likely to focus on pre-commercial, very early-stage innovations that are high-risk but also high potential and could bring about game-changing ideas that could transform the sector. Could you help? Please share with your networks! Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office GSMA Brink DT Global Results for Development Phil Outram Maureen McWhirter Michael Reddaway https://lnkd.in/eh4FkFrF

hexafarms, an AI-driven agricultural tech company, has secured €1.3 million in pre-seed funding from investors like Speedinvest, Mudcake, and Techstars, bringing their total capital to over €2.5 million. Hexafarms utilizes AI to optimize greenhouse food production, aiming to reduce variable costs and losses by nearly 30%. Their technology processes vast amounts of data from sensors and cameras to provide insights that improve crop yields and efficiency, particularly in controlled environment agriculture, which is essential for urban food supply. David Ahmed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Although the global agriculture industry plays a fundamental role on a vast scale, it’s dishearteningly under- optimized. Our mission is to revolutionize this landscape. With our constantly evolving AI models, we aim to unlock potential savings of nearly 30% in variable costs and losses." #Agritech #AI #FoodProduction #GreenhouseTech #SustainableFarming #Investment #MachineLearning #FoodSecurity #Innovation #ControlledEnvironmentAgriculture #SmartFarming #TechStartups #FutureOfFood #ClimateTech #AgInnovation