Key Takeaways
- Neda Vaseghi transitioned from a long career in food safety to co-found Microclimates in 2019.
- Microclimates offers environmental automation software that integrates multiple farming systems into a unified dashboard.
- The company collaborates with institutions like Lethbridge College and Cornell University on advanced lighting and energy use optimization.
- Vaseghi emphasizes slow, sustainable growth in the AgTech industry, especially in light of recent company closures.
- Expanding access to under-resourced farming regions using wireless sensors and edge computing is a major future focus.
Neda Vaseghi’s Transition from Food Safety to AgTech
After more than two decades in food safety and M&A leadership roles—including at Mérieux NutriSciences—Neda Vaseghi made the leap into entrepreneurship in 2019. Her decision was fueled by a growing awareness of declining arable land and the potential of indoor farming.
“I was doing a lot of traveling and saw firsthand how agriculture was shifting. That’s when I learned about CEA,” Vaseghi shared.
Her early experience in microbiology, combined with a passion for public health, laid the groundwork for her move into agricultural automation. She co-founded Microclimates with longtime friend Lauren West, setting a foundation rooted in trust—formalized in a personal “friendship agreement” to prioritize their relationship over the business.
Burning Man, Friendship, and Founding Microclimates
Vaseghi’s collaboration with West began at an unlikely venue—Burning Man. Their shared love for music and community evolved into a business partnership after a conversation about indoor farming technology. Their shared values around intentional design and resilience ultimately shaped the startup’s mission.
Microclimates: Software-First Environmental Automation
Originally conceived as a hardware-software hybrid for cannabis growers, Microclimates pivoted in 2020 to a software-first model. The change came after deployment challenges highlighted the difficulty of managing physical infrastructure at scale.
“Our differentiator is being hardware agnostic. We integrate HVAC, lighting, sensors—everything—into one interface,” said Neda Vaseghi.
This approach allows Microclimates to serve both new operations and legacy farms seeking to unify siloed systems.
Ideal Clients and Real-World Impact
According to Vaseghi, ideal clients include startups designing new facilities and established farms dealing with disconnected systems. One key partnership is with Lethbridge College in Canada, where Microclimates replaced a legacy provider and enabled greater flexibility in sensor selection and integration.
The company is also working with Cornell University to implement smart lighting based on Daily Light Integral (DLI) metrics.
Neda Vaseghi on Energy Monitoring and Wireless Solutions
One of the company’s biggest priorities is helping growers understand and reduce energy consumption. Vaseghi pointed out that lighting and HVAC are typically the two highest energy draws in CEA operations.
“We’re pushing for more granular visibility into energy use with wireless sensors and edge computing,” she explained.
The company is also exploring partnerships with infrastructure providers like Trilogy Networks to bring digital tools to rural and under-connected regions, including upcoming projects in Indonesia and the U.S.
Lessons from a First-Time CEO
As a first-time CEO, Neda Vaseghi acknowledged the challenges of leadership, public speaking, and startup fundraising. She credits mentors in food safety and AgTech for helping her develop strategic clarity.
“It’s a constant decision between following your heart or following finances,” she admitted. “But every failure has brought us closer to what works.”
She’s also embraced thought leadership, sharing quick technical insights via LinkedIn videos to raise awareness and provide industry education.
Advice for the Industry from Neda Vaseghi
Vaseghi ended her podcast appearance with a clear message for her peers in vertical farming and AgTech: take a crawl-walk-run approach to building new ventures. “Too many companies are focused on scale before sustainability. Now’s the time to be nimble, think about resource use, and build businesses that last.”
