VIPC’s Virginia Venture Partners invests in Babylon Micro-Farms to make sustainable food production accessible

Virginia Venture Partners, the equity investment program of Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), has announced an investment in Babylon Micro-Farms. Charlottesville, Virginia-based Babylon enables anyone to grow fresh, sustainable produce at the touch of a button on a vertical farming platform. Babylon will use this investment to continue its nationwide expansion.

Consumers increasingly demand high-quality fresh organic produce and are shifting away from produce made with GMOs and pesticides. However, many communities across the US lack access to affordable and fresh organic food due to long and expensive distribution from where the produce is actually grown. Babylon Micro-Farms enables small growers and businesses to take control of their supply of fresh organic produce with a variety of scalable indoor farming modules

“At Babylon, we believe everyone should have access to fresh and affordable foods and we are proud to have a part in making sure that is possible,” commented Alexander Olesen, CEO & Co-Founder. “We are grateful to VIPC for their continuous support and investing in our growth as we continue to share the world's easiest-to-use micro farm.”

Babylon offers over 45 varieties of nutrient-dense and ultra-fresh leafy greens, herbs, micro-greens, and edible flowers on an IoT platform that automatically and remotely controls food growth cycles. Every customer has access to remote management, a digital support library, and real people for a full-service solution that is proactive instead of reactive. The app alerts them, along with step-by-step instructions and videos, when to plant, transplant, clean, and harvest their produce. This makes the solution extremely easy to use and not overwhelm those who have never planted produce before.

“As Virginia Venture Partners' original investment in Babylon Micro-Farms in 2019, the company has achieved amazing growth, and results," added Alex Euler, VIPC Senior Investment Director of Virginia Venture Partners. "The team is truly committed to creating the best indoor farming experience with the least environmental impact. The platform is very user friendly and makes indoor farming available for everyone. We are excited to contribute to their success and see the continued impact they make on the produce industry.”

Babylon Micro-Farms received previous investments from Virginia Venture Partners in 2019 and 2021 and a grant from VIPC’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) in 2021. Babylon received additional assistance through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Virginia Jobs Incentive Program (VJIP) and the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program in 2022.

VIPC’s investment in Babylon Micro-Farms draws upon funds made available through the U.S. Treasury Department State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program.