GrowUp! Urban Farming
by Startacus Admin
GrowUp! Urban Farming...
Last week we featured the innovative and inspiring 'Manchester Veg People' and we were really impressed with their local approach to fresh veg and their determination to give people the opportunity to know where their food has come from.
So inspired were we in fact, that we decided to dig a little further into the public’s growing obsession with their food’s journey and we unearthed something very interesting indeed- lettuce fill you in…(ba dum tss)
Sustainable commercial urban farming
Wait a minute...commercial urban farming...surely it’s not possible? Well, actually thanks to innovative new startup GrowUp and its ingenious creators Kate Hofman and Tom 
Webster, it might just be around the corner! GrowUp aims to demonstrate how sustainable, commercial farming can be achieved in urban areas through the use of vertical growing systems and a method known as aquaponics.
Aquaponics...huh?
Check out the image with the happy cabbages and fish...it really is as simple as it looks. GrowUp are able to produce veg and fish in a closed loop system where the only human input is the food used to feed the fish. In short, the fish eat the food, and then excrete nutrients into the water which in turn feeds the plants - no soil, no chemicals, no fertilisers and no pesticides - just local, eco-friendly, sustainable crops and fish. Best of all, these farms are perfect for locating in disused urban spaces such as brownfield sites or the rooftops of buildings so can even play a role in urban regeneration!
So far GrowUp has been met with great enthusiasm, evidenced by the fact that their recent crowdfunding campaign raised £16,000, which allowed them to create a 'GrowUp Box' an upcycled shipping container furnished with the aquaponic system. This box has given the pair the ability to demonstrate the potential of their system and educate local people about the processes behind commercial food production- the pair have since been showing off their fab new ideas to the public at various events including the Chelsea Fringe Festival in May/June.
We think GrowUp is a brilliant idea and we can think of at least a hundred places where this system could work really well. This is exactly the kind of thinking that we at Startacus like to see - clever people identifying a problem and finding a feasible solution which fits in with the way we live today. Best of luck GrowUp!
For more information on GrowUp, check out their website and if you want to know more about crowdfunding have a look at our previous article.
If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...
 Daniel Dierkes, David Schara, and Maximilian Geißinger 2.jpeg)
Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.
.jpg)
Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.
SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future
A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated
Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 22nd September 2013
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
