Key Takeaways:
- Whit Allen founded SpectraGrow after identifying lighting gaps in vertical farming during an industry conference in 2017.
- SpectraGrow’s focus is on optimizing photon distribution in 3D vertical farming systems, especially for smaller and mid-sized operations.
- The company collaborates with system manufacturers and nonprofits to address lighting challenges and improve energy efficiency.
- Allen emphasized early involvement in farm design for improved lighting outcomes and ROI.
- Collaboration, not competition, is central to SpectraGrow’s approach to industry development and innovation.
Whit Allen on Founding SpectraGrow and the Value of Cross-Industry Experience
In an in-depth conversation on the Vertical Farming Podcast, Whit Allen, founder and CEO of SpectraGrow, shared how his diverse career path—from DJing to lobbying—shaped his approach to launching a horticultural lighting company. Allen’s upbringing in Texas with an international lens on agriculture also contributed to his understanding of global food systems.
“SpectraGrow is really a culmination of my background in electronics, clean tech policy, and early entrepreneurship,” said Whit Allen. “We saw a technology gap, and we knew we had the expertise to fill it.”
SpectraGrow’s Origin: From Conference Insight to LED Design Innovation
How Whit Allen Identified a Market Need
SpectraGrow’s origin dates back to a 2017 horticultural lighting conference in Denver. According to Whit Allen, he and collaborators from two other companies realized that LED technologies commonly used in other sectors were not being applied effectively in indoor farming.
An early pilot project with Altius Farms and Colorado State University helped clarify SpectraGrow’s focus: solving three-dimensional light distribution challenges in vertical growing systems, especially in constrained environments like urban farms.
“Our optical engineering allows us to deliver photons precisely where they’re needed, especially in vertically stacked systems where uniformity and intensity are critical,” said Allen.
Whit Allen on SpectraGrow’s Ideal Clients and Use Cases
Designed for Flexibility in Vertical and Retrofitted Spaces
SpectraGrow serves two key audiences: mid-sized to smaller urban farms working within existing buildings, and manufacturers of vertical growing systems who require integrated lighting design.
Many clients, according to Whit Allen, are nonprofits, schools, and small-scale commercial growers who operate in unconventional structures with low ceilings or fixed layouts. The company also collaborates with equipment manufacturers where SpectraGrow provides built-in lighting solutions.
“You might not see our brand on every product, but you might be growing with SpectraGrow inside,” said Allen.
Technical Features and Practical Considerations in LED Implementation
While the industry increasingly discusses spectral tuning, Allen believes intensity and photon placement remain the most critical factors today—especially when trying to avoid issues such as tip burn or leggy growth.
“We’ve seen projects where getting the lighting intensity right improved energy efficiency by over 50%,” said Whit Allen.
Though SpectraGrow offers Bluetooth control options, Allen noted that most projects benefit more from simple, reliable lighting setups rather than complex dimming features—except in use cases like LinkedIn’s European HQ farm where space limitations demanded more precision.
Whit Allen on Industry Trends, Energy Challenges, and Regional Activity
The Colorado Ecosystem and International Expansion
SpectraGrow is part of a growing AgTech network in Colorado that includes greenhouse controls, container farms, and robotics. Allen mentioned active collaborations with companies like Rooted Robotics and noted how trade shows such as Indoor Ag-Con have helped foster a local sense of community.
Looking globally, SpectraGrow plans to attend vertical farming exhibitions in Brazil, Amsterdam, and Dubai in 2025. Allen also touched on energy usage as a common concern—especially among European customers—highlighting the need to match lighting designs to both crop needs and utility costs.
Leadership, Intuition, and Industry Collaboration
Whit Allen’s Approach to Growth and Decision-Making
Now leading SpectraGrow as its CEO, Whit Allen shared that much of his time is spent working directly with partners and customers. He sees role alignment and team motivation as essential to the company’s progress.
“The question I’m asking myself now is whether to pursue more funding or continue with organic growth,” said Allen. “It’s not just a financial decision—intuition plays a role too.”
Allen concluded the episode with a call for deeper collaboration across the vertical farming space.
“There’s more we can create together than apart,” he said. “I’m a strong believer in the idea that if we get people together to share knowledge, the whole industry benefits.”
