Which vertical farming startups raised capital?

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Vertical farming has weathered a brutal funding winter, but specific startups are still attracting serious capital from strategic investors.

Despite high-profile bankruptcies like Bowery Farming and Plenty, investors deployed over $400 million across select vertical farming companies in 2024-2025, focusing on proven technologies, premium crops, and geographic expansion strategies. And if you need to understand this market in 30 minutes with the latest information, you can download our quick market pitch.

Which vertical farming startups raised funding in 2024 and so far in 2025?

Six vertical farming startups secured significant funding rounds between 2024 and mid-2025, representing a stark contrast to the sector's broader consolidation.

Oishii raised the largest round at $150 million in Series B funding, closing in November 2024 after initially announcing the round in February. Planet Farms followed with a €200 million ($227 million) strategic joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers in April 2025.

Zordi secured $20 million in Series B funding on May 1, 2025, led by Khosla Ventures. Avisomo raised €5 million ($5.45 million) in pre-Series A funding on January 29, 2025, with €1.6 million coming from Innovation Norway as a grant. AeroFarms emerged from bankruptcy with a $4.98 million seed round in April 2024, marking its first significant external equity since inception.

Gooddrop, a vertical cotton farming startup, raised £1 million ($1.27 million) in seed funding in October 2024 from angel investors including co-founders Simon Wardle and Andrés Perea. This represents the first major funding for vertical fiber production, expanding beyond traditional food crops.

How much capital did each startup raise and when did the rounds close?

The funding amounts reveal a clear hierarchy of investor confidence, with premium crop producers commanding the highest valuations.

Planet Farms' €200 million joint venture represents the largest single commitment to European vertical farming infrastructure. Swiss Life Asset Managers committed up to €125 million for facility development across EMEA markets. Oishii's $150 million Series B valued the company at $615 million post-money, reflecting investor appetite for proven berry production at premium pricing.

Zordi's $20 million Series B supports their robotics foundation models for agricultural automation. The round included participation from Yanmar Ventures, DSC Investment, and Tech Council Ventures alongside lead investor Khosla Ventures. Avisomo's €5 million pre-Series A combined government grant funding (€1.6 million from Innovation Norway) with €3.4 million from existing private investors.

AeroFarms' $4.98 million represents a restart rather than growth capital, as the company emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. Gooddrop's £1 million seed round established initial proof-of-concept for vertical cotton production with University of Nottingham research partnerships.

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Which startups received the most funding overall and which saw their first significant raise?

Planet Farms and Oishii dominate total funding, while AeroFarms and Gooddrop represent market re-entry and category creation respectively.

Planet Farms' €200 million joint venture represents the largest single vertical farming investment in European history. The deal structure provides up to €125 million in infrastructure capital from Swiss Life, with Planet Farms contributing technology and operational expertise. Oishii's $150 million Series B brings their total disclosed funding to over $200 million since founding.

AeroFarms' $4.98 million seed round marked their first significant external equity since the company's original formation. The funding enabled their emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and restart of operations under new leadership. This represents a dramatic reset for a company that previously raised over $230 million before financial difficulties.

Gooddrop's £1 million represents the first major funding specifically for vertical cotton production. The company aims to disrupt traditional cotton farming by reducing water usage by 95% and land requirements significantly. Their approach targets fiber production rather than food crops, opening new market categories for vertical farming applications.

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What are the names of the main investors backing these startups and how much did they contribute?

Strategic investors from insurance, technology, and government sectors led most rounds, replacing traditional VC funding patterns.

Are major food producers, agtech giants, or cross-industry VCs backing vertical farming companies?

Cross-industry capital dominates recent vertical farming investments, with insurance funds, equipment manufacturers, and government agencies replacing traditional food industry investors.

Swiss Life Asset Managers represents the most significant cross-industry investment, bringing insurance fund capital to infrastructure development. This reflects vertical farming's evolution toward real estate and infrastructure investment rather than pure technology plays. Innovation Norway's €1.6 million grant to Avisomo demonstrates government backing for automation technologies that reduce labor dependency.

Yanmar Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the agricultural equipment manufacturer, invested in Zordi's robotics platform. This signals traditional agriculture companies betting on automation rather than direct farming operations. Khosla Ventures brings Silicon Valley deep tech expertise to agricultural robotics, representing the intersection of AI and farming applications.

Notably absent are major food producers and traditional agtech giants. Companies like Cargill, ADM, or John Deere have not participated in these recent rounds, suggesting continued skepticism about vertical farming's scalability from traditional agriculture players. The funding sources indicate vertical farming is attracting capital from technology, infrastructure, and government sectors rather than established food industry participants.

What are the top-funded startups building - leafy greens, berries, tech platforms, or full-stack systems?

Premium berries and automation platforms command the highest valuations, while leafy greens attract infrastructure-focused investment.

Oishii focuses exclusively on premium strawberries and cherry tomatoes using large-scale robotics-driven indoor farms. Their $150 million Series B supports expansion of berry production facilities that achieve premium pricing through controlled growing conditions. The company operates research facilities in Tokyo alongside production farms in New Jersey.

Planet Farms specializes in leafy greens through automated 20,000 square meter facilities designed for replication across European markets. Their €200 million joint venture enables facility rollout rather than technology development, indicating proven operational models. Zordi develops robotics foundation models for precise harvesting and crop scouting, initially targeting berry applications but designed for broader agricultural automation.

AeroFarms produces microgreens via aeroponic systems, emphasizing taste and nutritional density over commodity production. Avisomo creates "no-hands" modular hydroponic systems for lettuce production, targeting large retailers and research collaborations. Gooddrop pioneers vertical cotton fiber production, representing the first major funding for non-food crop applications in controlled environments.

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Where are these startups geographically based and are there funding clusters by region?

North America and Europe dominate funding locations, with specific clusters around technology hubs and agricultural research centers.

United States companies secured the largest individual rounds, with Oishii ($150M) based in New Jersey and Zordi ($20M) operating from Boston. AeroFarms ($4.98M) operates from Virginia following bankruptcy restructuring. These locations reflect proximity to research universities and target consumer markets for premium produce.

European funding centers on Nordic innovation hubs and agricultural technology clusters. Avisomo (€5M) operates from Oslo, Norway, benefiting from government innovation grants and Nordic sustainability focus. Gooddrop (£1M) is based in Hull, UK, with research partnerships at University of Nottingham. Planet Farms' €200M joint venture targets facility development across Italy, UK, and Scandinavia.

The geographic distribution reveals funding concentration in regions with strong agricultural research infrastructure, government innovation support, and access to premium consumer markets. Asian markets appear in expansion plans rather than startup origins, with Planet Farms planning Middle East facilities and Oishii maintaining Tokyo research operations. No significant funding rounds emerged from traditional agricultural regions, indicating vertical farming's alignment with technology ecosystems rather than conventional farming areas.

What stage are the funding rounds - seed, Series A, or later-stage growth capital?

Series B and strategic infrastructure funding dominate recent rounds, indicating market maturation beyond early-stage technology development.

Two major Series B rounds (Oishii $150M, Zordi $20M) represent growth capital for proven business models rather than technology validation. These rounds support facility expansion, market penetration, and operational scaling rather than research and development. The Series B stage indicates investor confidence in established unit economics and market demand.

Strategic infrastructure funding through Planet Farms' €200M joint venture represents a new funding category beyond traditional venture capital stages. This structure combines real estate investment with operational expertise, enabling facility development without equity dilution typical of VC rounds. The model suggests vertical farming's evolution toward infrastructure asset classes.

Early-stage funding remains limited to specific applications and restart scenarios. AeroFarms' $4.98M seed round represents bankruptcy emergence rather than initial startup funding. Gooddrop's £1M seed round establishes proof-of-concept for vertical cotton production. Avisomo's €5M pre-Series A combines government grants with private investment for automation technology development.

The stage distribution indicates reduced availability of early-stage capital for unproven vertical farming concepts, while established companies with operational facilities attract significant growth and infrastructure investment.

What technologies, systems, or R&D breakthroughs are attracting funding?

Automation, robotics, and specialty crop production drive current investment interest, replacing earlier focus on LED optimization and growing medium innovations.

Zordi's robotics foundation models represent the most advanced automation investment, developing AI-powered systems for precise harvesting and crop monitoring. Their technology targets berry applications initially but enables broader agricultural automation. The $20M Series B supports scaling from research prototypes to commercial deployment across multiple crop types.

Avisomo's "no-hands" modular hydroponic systems eliminate manual labor through automated seeding, growing, and harvesting processes. Their €5M funding supports automation technology that reduces operational costs while maintaining production quality. The system design enables rapid facility deployment with minimal training requirements.

Specialty crop genetics and growing protocols attract premium investment rather than commodity production optimization. Oishii's $150M supports proprietary strawberry varieties and growing techniques that achieve retail prices 10-15 times higher than conventional berries. Their research facility in Tokyo develops new varieties specifically for controlled environment production.

Sustainability metrics drive infrastructure investment, with Planet Farms achieving 95% water reduction and 99% pesticide elimination compared to conventional farming. Gooddrop's cotton production targets 95% water savings and elimination of land-use intensive fiber production. These environmental benefits attract ESG-focused investors alongside operational efficiency gains.

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What deal terms, valuations, or strategic partnerships have been revealed publicly?

Public valuations remain limited, but disclosed terms reveal focus on infrastructure partnerships and government support rather than traditional equity structures.

Oishii's Series B achieved a $615 million post-money valuation, representing significant premium for premium berry production capabilities. The valuation reflects proven market demand for high-priced strawberries and expansion potential across berry varieties. The round structure included participation from existing investors NTT, Bloom8, McWin Capital, Mizuho Bank, and Japan Green Investment Corp alongside new investors.

Planet Farms' joint venture structure provides up to €200 million in facility development capital without traditional equity dilution. Swiss Life Asset Managers contributes up to €125 million for infrastructure development, while Planet Farms provides technology and operational expertise. This partnership model enables scaling without sacrificing company control or equity ownership.

Government grant structures appear in multiple rounds, with Innovation Norway providing €1.6 million of Avisomo's €5 million total funding. This hybrid structure reduces investor risk while supporting technology development aligned with national innovation priorities. The grant portion typically targets specific R&D milestones rather than operational expansion.

AeroFarms' bankruptcy emergence involved debtor-in-possession financing structures rather than traditional venture funding. The company secured $4.98 million in seed funding after clearing bankruptcy proceedings, enabling operational restart under new management and reduced debt obligations.

What is the total estimated capital invested in vertical farming globally in 2024 and year-to-date 2025?

Total vertical farming investment reached approximately $582.5 million in 2024, with over $300 million deployed in major rounds during the first half of 2025.

The 2024 indoor farming funding total of $582.5 million included Oishii's $150 million Series B as the largest single round. Additional disclosed rounds include AeroFarms' $4.98 million seed funding and Gooddrop's £1 million seed round. These major rounds represent concentrated investment in proven business models rather than broad sector deployment.

Year-to-date 2025 funding through July exceeds $300 million across major disclosed rounds. Planet Farms' €200 million ($227 million) joint venture represents the largest single commitment, followed by Zordi's $20 million Series B and Avisomo's €5 million pre-Series A. This concentration indicates continued investor selectivity rather than broad market enthusiasm.

The funding totals exclude numerous smaller rounds under $5 million and private funding arrangements that remain undisclosed. Industry estimates suggest total global investment including undisclosed rounds may reach $800 million to $1 billion annually, but public data reflects only major institutional commitments.

Investment concentration in fewer, larger rounds indicates market maturation and investor focus on operational scale rather than technology experimentation. The shift from numerous small seed rounds to major growth capital deployments reflects reduced early-stage funding availability and increased emphasis on proven business models.

Based on current trends and investor behavior, what can we expect for vertical farming funding in 2026?

2026 funding will likely consolidate around infrastructure partnerships, operational acquisitions, and specialty crop applications rather than traditional venture capital expansion.

Infrastructure funding models like Planet Farms' Swiss Life partnership will become more common as vertical farming approaches real estate investment characteristics. Insurance funds, pension funds, and infrastructure investors will replace traditional venture capital for facility development. This shift enables scaling without equity dilution while providing stable returns for institutional investors.

Operational consolidation will drive merger and acquisition activity as financially strong companies acquire distressed assets from the 2023-2024 bankruptcy wave. Companies with proven unit economics will expand through facility acquisition rather than greenfield development, reducing capital requirements and accelerating market penetration.

Specialty crop applications will attract niche investment as food crop commoditization pressures continue. Vertical cotton, pharmaceuticals, biotech crops, and high-value plant ingredients will drive new funding categories beyond traditional leafy greens and berries. These applications command premium pricing while avoiding direct competition with conventional agriculture.

Geographic expansion will focus on EMEA and Asia markets as European models prove replicable and Asian consumer markets demonstrate demand for premium produce. Government support through grants, tax incentives, and regulatory frameworks will influence investment location decisions and partnership structures.

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Conclusion

Sources

1. Contain.ag - Oishii's Latest Funding Round
2. Edible Planet Ventures - CEA Industry News
3. Fundz.net - AeroFarms Funding Round
4. Contain.ag - Vertical Cotton Farming Backing
5. IGrow News - Gooddrop Secures Funding
6. EU-Startups - Avisomo Funding
7. Contain.ag - Zordi Series B
8. Bloomberg - Swiss Life Investment
9. Robotics and Automation News - Planet Farms Investment
10. Contain.ag - Indoor Agriculture Funding Trends
11. NJBiz - Oishii Series B Funding
12. AgFunder News - AgTech Reckoning