Berlin (Reuters)-The Berlin agricultural startup infarm, known for its indoor greenhouses, has taken $ 200 million for investors and has become a unicorn.
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) came from the state of Qatar, among others, the startup, founded in 2013, announced on Thursday.Inventory investors include the Fonds Atomico by Skype founder Niklas Zennström, Bonnier, Light rock and the Duisburg Family Holding Haniel.With the new money syringe, Infarm is rated with well more than one billion dollars and thus referred to in investment jargon as a unicorn.
With the fresh money injection, Infarm co -founder and boss Erez Galonska wants to expand his mainstay in the currently eleven countries - including Japan, the USA and Germany - to expand into other markets, especially in the Middle East and expand the variety of products.Infarm operates more than 1000 indoor greenhouses with salads and herbs that are in supermarkets, as well as 17 large-scale indoor greene."Next year, the number of varieties offered should increase by 40 from currently 75 - including new mushrooms and a cherry tomato," said Galonska to Reuters. Zu den Kunden von Infarm gehören Ketten wie Kaufland, Aldi Süd, Coop, Kroger oder Marks & Spencer.
"We have to ask ourselves how we want to feed ten billion people in 2050," said Galonska.Most would live in cities.For vertical agriculture a la infarm, less water and area are required and the cultivation is brought to the consumer as close as possible.
In the meantime, Infarm was traded as a candidate for a SPAC deal.There were many conversations, but Infarm will initially stay in private hand, said Galonska."The SPAC market is not for a startup like ours," added Galonska, who founded the company together with its brother Guy Galonska and Osnat Michaeli."We keep all the options open," he said with regard to a potential IPO.
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