Gravity Gardens secures €2.6m to scale chemical-free seed activation
Dutch AgTech startup Gravity Gardens has raised €2.6 million to advance its dry, chemical-free seed activation technology, aiming to boost efficiency and sustainability in European agriculture.
Gravity Gardens, an AgTech startup based in Nijmegen, has closed a €2.6 million Seed round to accelerate the scaling of its dry, chemical-free seed activation technology, the company announced on September 11. The round combines equity investment with EFRO regional development funding and brings the startup’s total raised to over €3 million, including earlier support from StartLife and an innovation loan from Rabobank.
The latest investment was led by VP Capital, Brightlands Venture Partners, Graduate Ventures, and several private investors. The funds will be used to develop industrial-scale equipment and expand trial programs, aiming to make the technology accessible to a wider range of arable and horticultural crops across Europe.
Founded in 2024 by Paulino Valdés (CEO) and Robin Le Vigouroux (CTO), Gravity Gardens’ technology activates seeds without water, chemicals, or coatings. This approach targets improved crop establishment while reducing the reliance on chemical inputs, addressing both farm efficiency and regulatory pressures for sustainability.
According to Gravity Gardens, the technology could significantly lower chemical use in European agriculture, aligning with the EU’s sustainability goals. By enabling more efficient crop establishment, the company sees potential for lower resource consumption and better yields, with direct implications for European farmers facing stricter environmental regulations.
The Seed funding will support the development of large-scale machinery and broader trial programs. Erica van Eeghen of VP Capital and Marcel Zijp of Brightlands Venture Partners cited the potential for Gravity Gardens to reshape seed treatment in European farming.
The company’s ability to scale and gain market acceptance remains a key risk, as does demonstrating consistent performance across a variety of crops. However, growing investor interest reflects broader trends in European AgTech, where startups offering sustainable alternatives are attracting capital.
Gravity Gardens plans to use its new capital to pursue partnerships with agricultural companies and institutions, aiming to validate its process at scale. The company has not disclosed specifics on upcoming trial crops or early feedback but is positioning itself at the intersection of agricultural innovation and environmental compliance.
