Key Takeaways:
- Hexagro, an Italy-based agtech startup, has entered liquidation after being unable to close a recent funding round, ending an eight-year effort to make urban farming more accessible.
- Founded in 2016, Hexagro was built on the vision of democratizing healthy food access, using technology to help people grow produce in urban environments.
- The company launched three hardware lines and two proprietary IoT platforms, delivering over 4,000 units across Europe and the U.S.
- Hexagro gained recognition as one of Italy’s leading agtech startups, navigating pandemic disruptions and market challenges in consumer-facing innovation.
- Co-founders plan to continue work in agtech and sustainability, including through Siembra Vertical in Colombia and consulting via FHV Design.
Hexagro Announces Company Closure After Eight Years in Urban Farming Innovation
Hexagro, the Milan-based agtech startup known for its vertical farming systems and IoT-based urban agriculture solutions, has announced it will enter liquidation. The decision follows the company’s inability to secure additional capital during its most recent funding round.
The announcement was shared by one of Hexagro’s co-founders, who reflected on the company’s journey from a university thesis project to an internationally recognized name in sustainable agriculture.
Hexagro Vision Rooted in Accessible, Sustainable Food Systems
From Concept to Impact
Originally conceived in 2012 as a bachelor’s thesis, Hexagro was founded on the belief that technology could help address the growing challenges in food accessibility linked to climate change, urbanization, and supply chain instability. The company’s core mission was to enable anyone, anywhere to grow and access healthy food, and this remained central throughout its operations.
Over the course of eight years, Hexagro:
- Launched three lines of consumer hardware
- Built two proprietary Internet of Things (IoT) platforms
- Delivered over 4,000 units to customers across Europe and the United States
- Earned accolades as one of Italy’s top agtech ventures
Hexagro’s Challenges in a Difficult Market Environment
Despite early traction and industry recognition, Hexagro encountered scaling difficulties common to hardware-focused startups, particularly in the post-pandemic economy. Supply chain disruptions and investor uncertainty in the consumer agtech space contributed to the decision to cease operations.
“Without the necessary capital, we can’t continue developing the company,” one of the co-founders stated. “But what we built still matters.”
Next Steps: Continued Focus on Sustainability and Social Impact
New Ventures in Agtech and Product Design
While Hexagro will no longer operate, its co-founders plan to continue their work in sustainable agriculture and technology. New initiatives include:
- Siembra Vertical, a Colombia-based social enterprise focused on providing smallholder farmers with affordable, tech-enabled growing tools.
- FHV Design, a consulting venture supporting startups in product strategy and design for manufacturing, particularly those at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and impact.
