CrowdFarming Company Profile

Background

Overview

CrowdFarming is a Spanish company founded in 2017 that operates as a direct-to-consumer marketplace, connecting consumers with farmers to purchase organic produce and other agricultural products. The company aims to democratize the food supply chain by eliminating intermediaries, ensuring fair compensation for farmers, and promoting sustainable farming practices. As of 2024, CrowdFarming collaborates with over 245 producers across 15 countries, serving more than 500,000 customers throughout Europe.

Mission and Vision

CrowdFarming's mission is to build the world's fairest and most sustainable food supply chain by enabling consumers to purchase organic food directly from farmers. The company's vision is to create a transparent and mutually beneficial relationship between producers and consumers, fostering community support and environmental stewardship.

Primary Area of Focus

The company focuses on facilitating direct sales of organic agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other farm produce, directly from farmers to consumers. This model reduces food waste, minimizes carbon emissions, and supports sustainable farming practices.

Industry Significance

CrowdFarming plays a pivotal role in the agri-tech industry by disrupting traditional food supply chains. Its platform empowers farmers to reach consumers directly, ensuring fair compensation and promoting organic farming methods. The company's innovative approach has set a precedent for direct-to-consumer agricultural marketplaces in Europe.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

• Empowering Farmers: Providing farmers with the tools and platform to sell directly to consumers, ensuring fair compensation and reducing dependency on intermediaries.

• Promoting Sustainability: Encouraging sustainable farming practices by supporting organic agriculture and reducing food waste through direct sales.

• Enhancing Consumer Experience: Offering consumers access to fresh, high-quality organic products directly from the source, fostering transparency and trust.

Specific Areas of Specialization

• Direct-to-Consumer Sales: Facilitating the sale of organic produce directly from farmers to consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels.

• Adoption System: Allowing consumers to adopt trees, animals, or plots of land, receiving the harvest or products directly, thereby fostering a connection between consumers and producers.

• Sustainable Practices Consultation: Providing guidance to farmers on implementing eco-friendly practices, such as renewable energy solutions and waste reduction techniques.

Key Technologies Utilized

• E-commerce Platform: An online marketplace that connects farmers with consumers, facilitating product listings, orders, and payments.

• Logistics Management: Integrated logistics solutions to manage the storage, packaging, and delivery of products from farms to consumers.

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Tools to manage customer interactions, feedback, and support, enhancing the consumer experience.

Primary Markets or Conditions Targeted

• European Market: Serving consumers across Europe, with a strong presence in countries like Spain, France, Germany, and Italy.

• Organic Agriculture: Targeting consumers interested in purchasing organic and sustainably produced agricultural products.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

CrowdFarming has raised a total of €15 million in funding. In October 2021, the company secured €15 million in a funding round led by Q-Impact, Seaya Ventures, and Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund.

Recent Funding Rounds

• October 2021: Raised €15 million to facilitate the entry of new producers, improve logistics, and assist more farms in obtaining EU organic certification.

Notable Investors

• Q-Impact: An investment firm focused on impact investing.

• Seaya Ventures: A venture capital firm investing in high-growth companies.

• Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund: A fund managed by Triodos Investment Management, focusing on sustainable food systems.

Intended Utilization of Capital

The funds raised are intended to:

• Expand Producer Network: Onboard new farmers to the platform, increasing product diversity.

• Enhance Logistics: Improve storage, packaging, and delivery processes to ensure timely and efficient product delivery.

• Support Certification: Assist more farms in obtaining EU organic certification, promoting sustainable farming practices.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

CrowdFarming's pipeline includes:

• Adoption System Expansion: Enhancing the adoption system to include a wider variety of products and farms.

• Subscription Services: Developing subscription-based models for regular deliveries of seasonal produce boxes.

Stages of Development

• Adoption System Expansion: Ongoing development to integrate more farms and products into the adoption system.

• Subscription Services: Launched in less than three months, offering monthly boxes of fruit from across Europe.

Target Conditions

• Consumer Demand: Meeting the growing consumer interest in direct-to-consumer organic produce.

• Sustainability Trends: Aligning with the increasing emphasis on sustainable and ethical food sourcing.

Anticipated Milestones

• Adoption System Expansion: Continuous onboarding of new farms and products.

• Subscription Services: Achieving significant subscriber growth and expanding product offerings.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

• E-commerce Platform: A custom-built online marketplace facilitating direct sales between farmers and consumers.

• Logistics Management System: An integrated system managing the end-to-end logistics of product delivery.

Significant Scientific Methods

• Data Analytics: Utilizing data to optimize logistics, inventory management, and customer engagement.

• Supply Chain Optimization: Implementing technologies to streamline the supply chain, reducing waste and improving efficiency.

Leadership Team

Key Executives

• Gonzalo Úrculo: Co-founder and CEO. Gonzalo and his brother Gabriel inherited their grandfather's orange grove in 2010 and developed the adoption system that led to the creation of CrowdFarming in 2017.

• Gabriel Úrculo: Co-founder. Along with Gonzalo, Gabriel co-founded CrowdFarming, focusing on expanding the platform's reach and impact.

• Juliette Simonin: Co-founder. Juliette has been instrumental in developing the company's strategic vision and partnerships.

• Moises Calviño: Co-founder. Moises contributes to the technological and operational aspects of the company.

Leadership Changes

No significant leadership changes have been reported in recent times.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The direct-to-consumer organic food market is experiencing significant growth, driven by consumer demand for transparency, sustainability, and quality. The market size in 2024 was estimated at $124 million, with a projected value of $168.4 million by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%.

Competitor Analysis

• La Ruche Qui Dit Oui!: A French platform connecting consumers with local producers. Acquired by CrowdFarming in April 2025, it expanded CrowdFarming's reach and producer network.

• AbHof: An Austrian platform facilitating direct sales between consumers and local farmers. It operates regionally, focusing on local produce.

• Farm365: A Nigerian company operating a vegetable and fruit box delivery marketplace, sourcing quality farm produce directly from rural farmers.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

• La Ruche Qui Dit Oui!: The acquisition in April 2025 significantly expanded CrowdFarming's European presence and producer base.

• Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund: Invested in CrowdFarming in September 2021, supporting the company's mission to promote sustainable food systems.