Pilzling

Pilzling is a food-tech company operating in the urban farming sector, with a specific focus on mushroom cultivation. Founded in September 2020 by Christian Vetter and Trevor Weiss in Cologne, Germany, the company aims to demonstrate the possibilities of modern urban agriculture. Weiss's background includes a Master's in Natural Resource Management and professional experience in urban agriculture, which complements Vetter's operational experience.

The company's business model is rooted in the principles of a circular economy. It transforms urban by-products such as coffee grounds, wood shavings, and brewery grains into a nutrient-rich substrate for growing gourmet and exotic mushrooms. This process not only provides a sustainable source for its products but also addresses the issue of urban waste. Pilzling's operations are based at two main locations in Cologne: a laboratory in the Belgian Quarter for substrate production under sterile conditions and a farm at Hansaring that employs Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to ensure year-round optimal growing conditions.

Pilzling serves a diverse clientele through a multi-channel sales approach. Its target market includes direct consumers via an online shop, as well as B2B clients like restaurants, cafes, local market stands, and delivery services. The product lineup is varied, featuring fresh exotic mushrooms like oyster, shiitake, and Lion's Mane. Beyond fresh produce, the company offers mushroom-based meat substitute products, do-it-yourself cultivation kits under the brand "PilzWald," and a line of umami-flavored fermented products called "Shroom Boom," which includes sauces, creams, and flakes. In July 2022, Pilzling acquired the Cologne-based company and brand PilzWald.

The company's journey began with a pilot project that ran successfully for 15 months before the facility was demolished in November 2021. This led to a successful crowdfunding campaign on Startnext, which raised €14,811 by January 2022. A significant milestone was achieved in June 2022, when Pilzling was one of three winners of the Hans Imhoff Startup Prize, securing crucial funding. The company has also received a grant from the Hans Imhoff Foundation and venture capital from investors including Capacura, NRW.BANK, and Gateway Ventures. In 2023, it secured EU funding to develop and install a state-of-the-art monitoring and control system to automate and optimize the cultivation process.

Keywords: urban farming, mushroom cultivation, circular economy, food-tech, sustainable agriculture, gourmet mushrooms, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), meat substitutes, direct-to-consumer, B2B food supply, umami products, PilzWald, Shroom Boom, sustainable food production, local food, Cologne, Christian Vetter, Trevor Weiss, food waste reduction, mycelium technology