"We're going to use the ENMAX Amplifier Fund to continue our research and development into new solutions to help students and introduce a new school program where we teach children from grade K to 12 on the benefits of sustainable agriculture. The job opportunities that lie in it," says Ryan Wright, CEO of NuLeaf Farms, a Calgary-based agtech company. From their 930m2 facility (10,000 sq. ft.) in Calgary, Alberta the team consults, designs, and builds vertical farming solutions for a wide range of applications.
Co-founders Ryan Wright, Paul Wright and Dan Clayholt
Recently, NuLeaf Farms bagged $25,000 in funding through the ENMAX Amplifier Fund, which will help develop their school program, allowing more students to explore 'sustainable farming'. ENMAX is a utility provider, offering electricity and natural gas products and services to customers in Calgary, Alberta, and North-East Maine. "It's an honor to to have won the Amplifier Fund and it's reassuring to see the work that ENMAX and the Calgary Chamber are doing to help give a voice to local small businesses that are trying to make a meaningful impact into the community. So far, the response from students has been fantastic," Ryan concludes.
Community involvement
Serving every client's interest, NuLeaf's offering spans from growing countertop devices to larger farming setups, as well as grow lights. Ever since 2016, the three co-founders rooted their vertical farming journey in a garage, experimenting with various hardware and software solutions to grow crops indoors. "Along with our technology, we began working with other systems in the market gaining a wide range of experience and operational knowledge."
With an extensive portfolio in therapeutic flavor and fragrance compounds from various herbs, NuLeaf has leveraged strong partnerships with formulators and manufacturers of natural products who use the extracts in various skin care products such as soaps, shampoos, and lotions.
Targeting small businesses
Advancing their current technologies, Ryan, and the team are looking to expand their offering, combatting the high cost to produce by installing NuLeaf's systems at the point of consumption. Currently, the startup is servicing direct consumers, non-profits, local communities and small-sized businesses in the area. In addition to their involvement with numerous schools, the farm is also actively collaborating with food banks through their farming projects, supplying communities in need.
"We bring the technologies in, we test them, then we run small business models similar to what our clients will run out of this facility. While we certainly tackle food, which is one of the many areas that need to be fixed, it keeps me motivated that we are providing real solutions," says Ryan.
"We develop economic engines for new entrepreneurs and that's probably the single, most rewarding part, the more we can grow, the better off we all are," he adds.
For more information:
NuLeaf Farms
Ryan Wright, CEO
+1 587 800 1089
[email protected]
www.nuleaffarms.ca