Key Takeaways
- SVG Ventures | THRIVE has invested $500,000 in Cellar Insights through the Pioneer Fund.
- The funding supports commercialization of remote potato storage monitoring technology.
- Cellar Insights helps reduce post-harvest losses by detecting spoilage risks early.
- The company validated its technology through Alberta Innovates and FCC Innovation Farm Network.
- The investment supports Cellar Insights’ expansion across North America.
SVG Ventures | THRIVE Backs Cellar Insights Through Pioneer Fund
SVG Ventures | THRIVE, a global agri-food innovation and investment firm, has announced a $500,000 investment in Calgary-based Cellar Insights through the SVG Ventures Pioneer Fund. The funding is intended to support the continued growth and commercialization of the company’s smart, remote monitoring technology for potato storage.
Cellar Insights focuses on addressing post-harvest losses in the potato sector by providing real-time visibility into storage conditions, helping growers, processors, and storage operators protect crop quality and value during long storage periods.
SVG Ventures' Accelerator Roots and Commercial Validation
Cellar Insights’ development was accelerated through SVG Ventures’ Alberta-based accelerator program, delivered in partnership with Alberta Innovates’ Scaleup Gap Program. SVG Ventures initially engaged with the company through this program and continued to track its progress as the technology moved from pilot deployments to commercial traction.
“We first met the Cellar Insights team through our accelerator in Alberta,” said John Cassidy, Managing Director Canada at SVG Ventures | THRIVE. “That engagement gave us an early window into both the problem they were solving and how the company was executing. Their continued progress ultimately led us to invest through the Pioneer Fund.”
Technology Designed to Reduce Post-Harvest Loss
Smart Storage Monitoring for Potato Operations
Cellar Insights offers a Smart Storage Monitoring System that delivers alerts, trend analysis, and decision-support insights to identify early signs of spoilage risk. The system monitors indicators such as rot gas, temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, enabling earlier intervention before issues spread across an entire storage pile.
Storage losses in the potato sector are commonly estimated at around 5% or more, with manual monitoring often proving difficult to sustain across extended storage seasons.
“Storage is where crop value is protected or lost,” said Terry Sydoryk, CEO of Cellar Insights. “Our system delivers early warnings and clear insights so operators can act sooner to reduce shrink and spoilage risk.”
Field Deployment Through FCC Innovation Farm Network
A key milestone for Cellar Insights has been deployment at Farm Credit Canada’s Innovation Farm Network, specifically at the EMILI Innovation Farms potato site in MacGregor, Manitoba. Operated by J.P. Wiebe Ltd., the site represents the first potato operation included in the national network and provides commercial-scale validation under diverse regional storage conditions.
Cellar Insights has also validated its system in New Brunswick and Alberta and is now expanding deployments in Prince Edward Island, with early relationship development underway in Idaho and Washington.
Support From Alberta Innovates and Global Expansion
“Our mandate at Alberta Innovates is to help Alberta companies overcome the commercialization gap,” said Dr. Mike Mahon, President and CEO of Alberta Innovates. “Cellar Insights is a clear example of grower-driven innovation progressing from pilot to market traction with the right support.”
Beyond domestic validation, Cellar Insights has leveraged SVG Ventures’ global ecosystem, including participation in the Canada–Ireland Bridge delegation, to explore international partnerships and market opportunities.
SVG Ventures | THRIVE stated that the investment reflects confidence in Cellar Insights’ ability to address a critical post-harvest challenge in agriculture while scaling a data-driven solution across North America and beyond.
2 Comments