Hi there, Welcome to Talent Unseen!
In the world of startups where dreams become reality through passion, this blog, Talent Unseen, shines a spotlight on those remarkable individuals who turned their cool ideas into startups.
I am excited to share the journey of another innovator, Jiri Zeman, who, with unwavering passion, and interest in technology and gardening, founded Aquager Technologies Incorporated.
Although Jiri had various interests, including rockets, space mining, robots, drones, gardening, and farming, he decided to focus on the most important one, hydroponic farming and built a company around it.
Journey of Aquager Technologies Incorporated: Home Farming Breakthrough
Jiri explained that it all started with an article he read in the summer of 2021 about vertical farming and hydroponics. This created the connection between his interests in gardening and modern technology. Determined to break new ground, he became obsessed with discovering more about it, leading him to reinvent agriculture and home farming through innovative hydroponic farms.
Without delay, he made a bold move by founding Aquager Technologies Incorporated. His dedication to exploring hydroponics resulted in transformative advancements in modern agriculture.
To grow the company and fuel his interest in hydroponics, he quickly joined the Startup Studio at Illinois Tech, where he currently studies, and eventually enrolled in Startup Accelerator twice. These steps have driven Aquager towards a future where it is seen as a leader in the new way of home farming.
Introducing the Support System: A look inside
After joining Startup Studio in the Fall of 2021, Jiri attended Startup Accelerate and met Matthew, his co-founder, who is also an Illinois Tech student. Jiri and Matthew initially connected at Kaplan Institute‘s Startup Accelerate program and have worked on the company since then.
According to Jiri, their team has schedules for every significant project, and it’s critical to record any roadblocks as a way to learn from the past. Aquager is concentrated on rapid prototyping and innovation to constantly provide their customers with high-value products and be a leader in the industry. Jiri also stated that his family and friends have been his greatest support since he decided to start his own company.
Next-Gen Farming: Utilize Aquager to unlock the best Hydroponic Farms
Hydroponic Farms: The cutting edge technique of hydroponic farming substitutes a nutrient-rich water solution for soil during the plant growth. This method allows plants to grow directly in water enriched with vital nutrients, creating ideal conditions for growth, resulting in much larger and faster yields that are organic. Additionally, hydroponics consume 95% less water than traditional agriculture, making them ideal for our changing global climate.
Hydroponic systems can be installed anywhere because they do not require soil, even in urban areas and places with poor soil quality. This adaptability reduces the risk of pests and diseases transmitted through the soil.
Jiri explained that because hydroponic farms don’t use pesticides, the produce is safer to eat, often resulting in healthier plants. With these advantages, hydroponic farming offers a productive and sustainable alternative compared to traditional farming methods.
Aquager Revolution in Hydroponic Home Farms:
Aquager Technologies Incorporated specializes in providing hydroponic home farms that are assembled at your place for convenience using superior wood and plastic parts. Each farm covers only 3 ft2 (25 plants per farm) and up to 4 farms can be stacked on top of each other, allowing customers to grow up to 100 plants at once. The main goal is to allow customers to become grocery store independent in terms of microgreens, herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers. All plants are grown directly in the nutrient-rich solution using an organic and biodegradable grow medium, with seeds already placed inside so the customer does no work.
Once the grow medium is placed in the farm and the system is loaded with water, you can cultivate your plants precisely and effectively. This approach guarantees healthy pesticide-free crops while improving yield outcomes, making it a productive and sustainable option for people to become grocery store independent.
Advantage of Aquager over Competitors:
Jiri mentioned, “Unlike competitors such as Gardyn, Lettuce Grow, Rise Gardens, Click and Grow, and AeroGarden, Aquager provides a more affordable option with minimal maintenance needs, ensuring a hassle-free and economical hydroponic farming experience.”
Key Differentiators:
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- Modular, furniture-like hydroponic farm allowing up to 100 plants at once that fits inside any home or apartment.
- No electric components except for LED lights.
- A true indoor farm making customer grocery store independent.
- Competitors are expensive due to many electrical components and focus on hobbyists not on making people self-sufficient.
- Capable of growing microgreens, herbs, vegetables, fruits and even flowers.
Jiri Zeman top tips for the next generation of Entrepreneurs
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- Have a clear vision of your product’s future and how it will work.
- Conduct customer interviews to understand your target audience and their interest in purchasing your products.
- Make decisions primarily driven by data rather than emotions.
- If you are an Illinois Tech student, take advantage of the Startup Studio and Startup Accelerate programs.
- Establish timelines for product updates and track all key milestones.
- Persevere through all challenges and never give up
One word about Aquager Technologies Incorporated Journey: GROUNDBREAKING
As I conclude Jiri Zeman’s story, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has read it this far. I am constantly reminded to never give up and to be persistent by Jiri’s amazing insights on hydroponic farms and business startup advice.
Stay tuned as we continue to uncover more stories from diverse startup founders. Until next time, keep striving for your dreams and exploring the endless possibilities that await.