Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines

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Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines

Zohar Levy 2 (1)

Seedo

Seedo CEO, Zohar Levy

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  • Seedo is an Israeli-based startup that has built a fully automated grow system for at-home agriculture.
  • The Seedo box can grow fruits, veggies, and herbs, though Levy says growing cannabis is likely a customer's fastest return on investment for a machine that costs $2,400.
  • Seedo's magic comes from the series of photos being taken inside the box, which analyze the plants and keep conditions optimal.
  • "The feedback has been great," Levy told us of the first generation boxes, which shipped last December. "Customers are very happy from the results."
  • Below is the pitch deck that helped Seedo raise $11 million in private investments to help fund its vision for the future of indoor agriculture.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If getting your weed delivered right to your doorstep isn't convenient enough, there's a company that's created a "set-it-and-forget-it-type" device that lets you grow your own supply right from the comforts of your home.

That company is Seedo - an Israeli-based startup that has built a fully automated grow system for at-home agriculture.

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In a recent interview with Seedo's CEO, Zohar Levy, the chief exec tells us that the magic of the device - which looks like an Apple-designed mini-fridge - comes from the series of photos being taken and analyzed to keep inside conditions optimal at all times.

"The quality is very high. Why? It's a closed system," Levy said. "The camera scans the plants every few hours. The algorithm analyzes the conditions of the plants by the photos and gives them the right parameters, so the plants get the ultimate condition."

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Seedo

The Seedo machine can grow fruits, veggies, and other herbs, though Levy says growing cannabis would likely be your fastest return on investment.

The Seedo home systems don't just grow weed - though Levy says cannabis is likely your fastest return on investment for a box that cost $2,400 (without any sales). At-home horticulturists can also plant fruit, vegetables, and other herbs. To set the right growing conditions, users just have to select the type of plant they're planning to grow within the Seedo app and - voilÀ!

Levy says the first public units shipped last December, and already, some customers have gone through two complete grow cycles.

"The feedback has been great," Levy said. "Customers are very happy from the results."

Read more: The pitch decks that helped hot startups raise millions

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Seedo's top boss said the team has been working on perfecting its automated-grow technology since 1999 when the first iteration of the company was started. Back then, its co-founders were focused on larger containers that could grow fresh produce in Isreal without the use of pesticides.

Since 2012, Seedo has been working to bring its technology to the consumer. Levy, who previously worked in the plastics industry, joined as its CEO in 2016.

"When I understood the potential of this technology, I immediately launched in," Levy said. "It's really a gamechanger."

Beyond its consumer strategy, Seedo also wants to get back to its roots by bringing its latest technology to larger, commercial containers. These containers can be used by larger-scale pot growers or by companies supplying produce to supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants.

Levy says there's already a high demand for these containers from growers, which he thinks is a result of the uncertainties that climate change has introduced into traditional agriculture.

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"They cannot depend on the climate. The seasons are changing," Levy says of farmers. "The world needs to have a solution to climate change, and the indoor solution is one that can provide for you ongoing."

As a first time tech entrepreneur, Levy told us that raising capital for an unproven idea has been the hardest part thus far.

"Nobody knew the economics of this industry. Everybody was afraid to launch in," Levy said. "I needed to convince people of my history of building good businesses."

After adding notable members to his board of directors, like former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum, those conversations became a bit easier as well, Levy said.

Its recent Series A funding round this April - which counted Birnbaum as an investor - totaled $4 million. To date, Seedo has raised $11 million in private funding.

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As for what the most fulfilling part about leading Seedo has been thus far, Zohan said: "Seedo can give a great solution for people who seek medical cannabis. Also, for the food industry, we can give healthy food to people ongoing, for their entire lives. That fills me up. If you do something good for the world, the world will give you something back. That's what I believe."

Here's the pitch deck that has helped Seedo raise $11 million:

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Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
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Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
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Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
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Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
Advertisement
Here's the pitch deck that's helped this Israeli tech company raise $11 million in private funding to help build automatic, at-home weed growing machines
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