Scale-up Interview: Aponix vertical barrel
Vertical barrel / 3D-NFT for soilless cultures, alternative to rack setups. Modular living WallSystem.
How would you describe your business idea to a potential investor (who is not an expert in your particular profession)?
Aponix regards all their parts as being infrastructure components and collaborates with product and implementation partners globally, who are the ones designing and selling the actual more targeted applications and products using the parts. The mission is to translate what works already well in large scale horticulture into the urban context with max modularity and versatility. We own the patents and already created unique solutions with a high degree of engineering manufactured in Germany with the highest quality materials available.
Aponix Vertical Barrel System
What problem do you want to solve, what is your goal?
Growing more plants in urban areas solves multiple problems and contributes to more sustainability and a more sustainable behaviour of citizens. We design dedicated horticulture infrastructure components that utilize what is being used in horticulture in a more modular and versatile urban version. We already designed two solutions that are selling globally.
How did you come up with your idea/concept?
Upcoming vertical farms mostly use proprietary farming setups mostly racks. The urban space typology is diverse and complex and requires a set of infrastructure that helps set up grow spaces in this 3D realm that efficiently integrate. This niche has not really been addressed so far.
What is your business model?
We design and manufacture our components and ship preferably larger consignments (palettes and containers) to our product partners.
Where can your scale-up be used?
We are mainly seeking for integration/product partners who can integrate our components into their own solutions based on a white label scheme. Our solutions are designed in a general infrastructure way and can be used for many applications. The plan is to extend the existing platforms (vertical barrel + WallSystem) while working with product/integration partners on their real world implementations.
Aponix Vertical Barrel – Nymphus
What other benefits does it offer and why is it worth to invest?
Aponix demonstrated its unique view and ability to translate technical horticulture equipment from existing large scale standards into the urban context. We believe that a dedicated clever infrastructure is needed in the urban space that will enable urban entrepreneurs and communities to have significant impact on greening this space and make hyperlocal food production the norm.
Why did you decide to apply to Scaleup4Europe?
It seemed like a very good platform where potential product partners also from other sectors might take note of us as provider of unique urban farming infrastructure components.
Get more information about Aponix on their website or connect with the team on LinkedIn or Facebook.
Aponix is part of the
Scaleup4Europe AgTech Lab.
You want to join one of the four Scaleup4Europe Labs as well?
Get more information and apply at scaleup4.eu.
