The AgTech X Co-Lab recently opened in New York City with plans to offer hands-on experience, the use of hydroponic equipment, educational events, and access to resources for all. Its mission states that it is aspiring to be “the #1 resource for newcomers looking to transition careers into AgTech and urban agriculture.”
The lab includes a kitchen, WiFi, basic furniture, and a variety of growing systems that can be used to learn from and experiment with. Members will have access to indoor growing systems ranging from high-tech hydroponic towers (Salad Wall and Tower Garden) to a modular DIY system (ZipGrow Farm Wall) to small-scale consumer systems such as Urban Leaf and Hamama. Space is also available for prototyping growing systems in a closed environment growing tent for those looking to test their own solutions. Membership also includes bi-weekly one-on-one consulting sessions with Henry Gordon-Smith of Blue Planet Consulting and Agritecture.com.
“Every day I talk to young professionals who are considering leaving well-paying jobs in tech, finance, or other common industries. They want to be involved in a more mission-driven space that addresses social inequality, human health, and environmental sustainability. Food is the thread that ties these all together. But the large majority of people I speak with don’t know where to start to make their career transition or business launch goals a reality. So we want to give them a space where they can do this in a more natural way, without necessarily having to take the risk of quitting a full-time or part-time gig. It’s about allowing our members to explore various pathways in this realm and providing them with the resources to make more confident and informed decisions,” said Ricky Stephens, co-founder.
