San Francisco startup Hippo Harvest has secured $21 million in Series B funding to expand its automated greenhouse operations, Mobile Robot Guide reported April 16. The company plans to use the investment to drive growth in automated greenhouse operations and expand its operations. The product range will include a new category of leafy green vegetables.
Founded in 2019, Hippo Harvest uses closed-loop regenerative systems to grow fresh produce using controlled environment agriculture (CEA) methods. Using modular greenhouse designs, the company aims to reduce water, fertilizer and energy costs while bringing products closer to consumers.
Hippo Harvest, which operates a modified greenhouse in Pescadero, California, says it is scalable and cost-effective than traditional greenhouses. The company focuses on precision resource allocation through its irrigation systems, software and Zebra Technologies Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), ensuring cost-effective and resource-efficient production.
What’s more, Hippo Harvest claims its growing methods improve food safety and extend shelf life by supplying plants with customized nutrient mixtures from below, reducing the risk of pathogens and mold. The company uses specialized AMRs with special attachments to grow and harvest crops, providing precise levels of water and nutrients for healthier plants.
Unlike traditional pesticide use, Hippo Harvest maintains practices free of beneficial insects, natural oils and other pesticides, minimizing the environmental impact and quality fluctuations inherent in outdoor farming. The company also ensures that all products are packaged immediately on site, using 100% recycled plastic for packaging.
Standard Investments, a New York-based investment firm focused on the intersection of industry and technology, led Hippo Harvest’s Series B investment round. Congruent Ventures, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Hoson Food Ventures, Energy Impact Partners and others also participated in the round.
Hippo Harvest’s commitment to Amazon and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 underscores its commitment to addressing climate-related instability in the fresh food supply chain. The startup’s approach aims to significantly reduce water and fertilizer use even in resource-limited settings, while reducing methane emissions associated with traditional agricultural waste.
The company believes its approach can increase access to fresh, locally grown food, provide a cleaner environment and offer safer, more stable agricultural jobs in communities. San Francisco residents can find Hippo Harvest products at their local Gus’s Community Market or online at Amazon Fresh. There are plans to open additional stores in Northern California in the near future.
