Urban Oasis

Urban Oasis was a Swedish agricultural technology firm established to address the country's reliance on imported produce. Founded in 2017 by Albert Payaró Llisterri and Lasse Kopiez, the company aimed to cultivate fresh produce within cities to enhance food resilience and sustainability.

The company's operations were centered around indoor vertical farming, a method that utilizes hydroponic systems and LED lighting. This approach allowed for cultivation in unconventional urban spaces, such as their pilot facility located in an underground cave in Stockholm, which was previously a storage area for the Swedish Wine and Spirits Corporation. This method was reported to use 90% less water than traditional farming techniques. Urban Oasis focused on growing leafy greens like kale, pak choi, and lettuce, which were distributed through major Swedish retailers, including ICA and COOP, as well as the online grocer MatHem.

A core component of their business model was the development of an in-house automation software called GreenOS. This system was designed to manage and optimize the growth of various crops within a single controlled facility. The business strategy involved creating a scalable and sustainable model for urban food production, intending to reduce food waste and the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. In November 2020, Urban Oasis secured approximately $1.22 million (€1 million) in a seed funding round. This capital was intended to finance the construction of its first "MegaFarm," an expansion project designed to increase production capacity by 15 to 20 times. The lead investors in this round included Anteeo Solutions and Yobi Partners. However, according to market intelligence firm Tracxn, the company is no longer active.

Keywords: Urban Oasis, agtech, vertical farming, hydroponics, urban agriculture, food technology, sustainable farming, local food production, indoor farming, controlled environment agriculture, GreenOS, Stockholm, Sweden, Albert Payaró Llisterri, Lasse Kopiez, food resilience, leafy greens, sustainable food systems, food supply chain, agritech.