The document summarizes an internship experience at an indoor vertical farming company called Aerloom Farms. It discusses the company's mission to supply local areas with sustainable produce. It also provides details about Aerloom Farms' business model including using aeroponics to grow crops indoors with minimal water and pesticide-free. The document outlines a typical intern work day, conducting competitor analyses, searching for suitable properties, and building prototypes for indoor farming systems.

1. Summer
Internship
Experience
With

2. Contents
➢Mission Statement
➢Business Overview
➢Indoor Farming
➢Aeroponics
➢What’s the
Difference?
➢Perks of Vertical
Farming
➢Company Value
➢Typical Work Day
➢Competitor Analysis
➢Property Search
➢ Prototype Buildout
➢ Fogponics
➢ Market Analysis
➢ Negotiating with
International Suppliers
➢ Branding Aerloom Farms
➢ Reflecting Back: the Good
and the Bad
➢ Advice
➢ Learning Outcomes/Future
Plans

3. Mission Statement
❖ It is our main goal to supply the areas surrounding our farms
with a sustainable, reliable, and delicious assortment of leafy
greens and herbs all year long. We work in conjunction with
other local farmers and farmer’s markets to keep the good
stuff local.
❖ Heirloom
Varieties
❖ Non-GMO ❖ Pesticide Free

4. Internship Site Business Overview
❖ At Aerloom Farms we use
our own cultivation
techniques and
technology designed
maximize overall
efficiency
❖ Stable supply of our
produce customers can
count on.
❖ We do not assume the
same risks as traditional
farms.
❖ Our produce has been
grown entirely pesticide
free and our crops can be
timed to accommodate
our customer’s demand.
Our focuses are as follows:
Local
Aeroponics
Vertical Grow
Indoor
Focal
Points

5. Business Overview : The Perks of Indoor Farming
Weather
❖No seasonal factors
❖No influence from storms or draughts
❖Ability to grow year round without interruption
Pests
Time
❖Totally controlled environment means NO BUGS
❖Without bugs, PESTICIDE FREE crops
❖No crop failure due to infestation
❖Ability to maximize crop yield and grow time without outside pre
❖Staggering crops allows for continual product supply

6. Business Overview : The Perks of Aeroponics
❖ Indoor
Environment
❖ Water
Use
❖ Closed
System
❖ Root
Surface
Area
➢ No External factors
➢ Recycling Nutrients
➢ Controlled
Experimentation
➢ No Eutrophication
➢ 95% less water
➢ Rain water collectors
➢ No Water table
contamination
➢ Finer mist
➢ Faster growth

7. Hydro? Aqua? Aero? - What’s the difference?
❖ Aquaponic
❖ Hydroponic
❖ Aeroponic
In a hydroponic setup plants are situated over
a basin of liquid nutrient solution into which
roots are allowed to dangle. This solution
replaces the need for soil in the system.
An aquaponic setup is similar to a hydroponic setup in
that it utilizes a nutrient solution. The difference is that
the nutrients in the aquaponic solution are provided by
fish which are sustained in a tank hooked up to the plant
irrigation system.
An aeroponic setup also utilizes a nutrient solution.
However, the solution is pumped through
specialized high pressure jets which atomize the
solution to an ideal droplet size for absorption by
plant roots. Thus, the roots are sprayed with a mist
solution.

8. Business Overview : The Perks of Vertical Farming
❖ High Space
Use
Efficiency
❖ Crop
Harvest
Logistics
❖ Ease of
monitoring
growth
❖ Reduced
Liability

9. Value
We have seen a
trend over the past decade of
people becoming more
conscious of what they are
putting into their bodies. This
awakening has given rise to a
focus on small farmers and local
produce. People are taking back
their food supply from the large
scale monocropping
corporations and bringing it
back to their communities.
People are starting to know
where their food is coming from
and the ways in which it is
grown. This new found
awareness will allow Aerloom
Farms to blossom…
Our focuses are as follows:
1. Sustainable:
➢ Vertical farming – Space Use
Efficiency
➢ Aeroponics – Less waste, Less Water
➢ Indoor Farming – No Soil Nutrient
Depletion, No Runoff, No Water
Table Contamination
2. Local:
➢ Surrounding Markets- Farmer’s
Markets, Local Restaurants, Local
Stores / Supermarkets
➢ Community- Stimulate Local
Economy, Give Back (Charities, Food
Banks, etc.)
3. Reliable:
➢ Year Round Production- No Impact
From Climate Changes
➢ Consistent Crops- No Pests, No
Disease, Fast Crop Rotation, Winter
Growth

10. My Typical Day at Work
Coffee shop
work
9am-noon
Trip to Lowes or
Garden Center
noon-2pm
Hands on with
Prototype
2pm-4pm
Coffee shop
work
4pm-5pm
• Plant Research
– Strain selection
– Grow techniques
• Equipment research
– Grow lights
– Construction Materials
• Competitor/Property
Research
• Buy Materials • Record Prices • Research Plant Strains
• Experimentation • Construction • Plant Maintenance
• Plant Research
– Strain selection
– Grow techniques
• Equipment research
– Grow lights
– Construction Materials
• Competitor/Property
Research

11. Competitor Analysis
Why conduct a Competitor Analysis?
It is important to scope out the surrounding area where
you plan to start a business so that you can find
potential sources of risk for your endeavor. Mainly you
would look for stores or shops that sell the same types
of products or services as you. In doing this type of
analysis you might also be surprised to find potential
business connections as well as customers. It’s always
better to be aware of what is around you, especially in
the business world. It is important for developing your
own marketing strategy because you are able to see
what customers like and dislike about other businesses
in your category.
Our Analysis of 6 Main criteria:
Location: Is the competitor within
proximity such that they pose a
threat to business? Also, why are
they in that location?
Direct Competition: Are they
an immediate threat to
revenue?
Stacking Method: Do their grow
systems use stacked trays, vertical
suspension of plants(our method), or
traditional horizontal orientation?
Nutrient Delivery method:
What system is used for
growing their crops?
Aquaponic, Hydroponic, or
AeroponicProducts: Which Crops are
they growing?
Marketing Strategy: it was
important to take note of the
way other businesses promoted
themselves because they have
already been through enough of
the trial and error necessary to
maintain public interest.

12. Company
Location
Direct
Competitor?
Y/N
Stack/Verticle/
Horizontal
Nutrient
Method
Marketing
Strategy Products? Notes
The Plant
Chicago’s South
Side. N horizontal Aquaponic
small business
incubator, create
replicable
models for
ecologically
responsible and
sustainable
urban industrial
development.
leafy greens,
vegetables
Aerofarms Newark, NJ Y stacked aeroponic
enable local
production at
scale and
nourish our
communities
with safe,
nutritious, and
delicious food.
salad mixes,
kale, watercress,
other leafy
greens
partnered with
Goldman sachs
Bowery
Farms New jersey Y stacked hydro/aero
local, organic,
fast, non GMO,
travels 10 miles
or less
kale, butter
lettuce, basil,
arugula, greens
mix
Mahoney Syracuse, NY N horizontal soil local
flowers,
ornamentals
grow facility in
massachusetts
Competitor Analysis: Sample data
* Direct
competitors
are
highlighted in
red in
company
spreadsheets

13. Bowery Farms
Below: Bowery Farms custom clamshell
packaging
Right: Bowery’s stacked-tray Hydroponic grow
layout

14. Aero Farms
Below: Stacked-tray Aeroponic setup
Top Right: Patented aero-trays
Bottom Right: Clamshell package with custom label

15. Realtor Location Rental Rate Property Size Property Type Utilities Link Notes
Jonathan
Elkind
766
Watervliet
Shaker
Road,
Colonie
$4.95
/SF/Year 39,715 SF Industrial
120/208 volt /
400 amp / 3
phase power
http://www.loopn
et.com/Listing/20
308524/766-
Watervliet-
Shaker-Road-
Colonie-NY/
Offered for lease is a
±39,715 SF
warehouse building
consisting of ±31,505
SF of warehouse
space, ±3,750 SF
interior dock space
and ±4,460 SF of
office space for lease.
Alexander
J. Psomas
40 Railroad
Avenue,
Colonie
$4.50
/SF/Year 17,442 SF Industrial
200 amp 3
phase
http://www.loopn
et.com/Listing/20
343196/40-
Railroad-
Avenue-Colonie-
NY/
5 Overhead Doors at
grade with internal
loading docks. 680 sf
office. Handicapped
access ramp, 20 foot
and 13 1/2 foot
ceilings. NETS are
very reasonable. Only
$0.78 psf for taxes.
Dan
Simpson
30A Post
Road,
Colonie
$5.50
/SF/Year 11,160 SF Industrial
http://www.loopn
et.com/Listing/20
217255/30A-
Post-Road-
Colonie-NY/
±11,160 SF of high
bay warehouse space
available for sublease
in Colonie, NY. office
space includes three
private offices,
kitchenette/break
room and large
conference/training
room.
GARY
PORAT
26 Elk St
Amsterdam,
NY
$1.25
/SF/Year 75,000 SF Industrial
240V, 50
amp 60Hz
http://www.loopn
et.com/Listing/20
191227/26-Elk-
St-Amsterdam-
NY/?LinkCode=3
1812
Commercial
Warehouse 6 floors,
200' x100' 20 ' celling
(each floor), can
divide, 5 loading dock
, one drive in , and an
8000 LBS elevator.
Potential Properties: Sample data
A crucial part to setting up a
business is finding the right
property to fit your business
model. Our criteria for finding
the right property were as
follows:
❖ Location
➢ within a 50 mile
search radius
➢ Near major
transport routes
❖ Rental Rate
➢ depends on
location
❖ Size
➢ we only needed
5000 sq. ft. to
start
❖ Type
➢ Industrial, Retail,
Office
❖ Utilities
➢ Voltage,
Amperage,

16. Sample property pictures

17. FOWNES Property: A Walkthrough
Elevator with an 8,000
lbs. capacity
30 ft. high ceilings
Grow space structure built
inside of the 6th floor

18. FOWNES Property: Paying Attention to Electrical Requirements
Inside the grow structure: water
proof walls and floors
Complete electrical wiring
for an indoor agricultural
operation.
Outlet hookups for grow
lights and airflow systems

19. FOWNES Property: Saving $$$
❖ Electrical Wiring
➢ Savings of ~$20,000
❖ Tables for Harvesting Purposes
➢ Savings of ~$8,000

20. Prototype Build out: Materials

21. Prototype Build out: Process
❖ Germinating Test
Varieties
➢ Genovese Basil
➢ Slow Bolt
Cilantro
➢ Arugula
➢ Butter lettuce
➢ Thyme

22. Prototype Build out: Process
Begin building grow module
frame
Frame Built!!Make sure plant boards fit on
frame

23. Prototype Build out: Process
Begin drilling holes in plant
boards to accommodate root
cup inserts
Put newly drilled plant boards
on module frame and
waterproof area with plastic

24. Prototype Build out: Process
Clone MothersHigh Pressure Sprayer
setup
Booster Pump and Water
line Hookup

25. Further Experimentation: Fogponics
❖ Fogponic Propogation Video: 12 head Ultrasonic Fogger
➢ Take cuttings
from a mature
plant
➢ Suspend
cuttings in
atomized
nutrient
solution

26. International Negotiating: Light Sourcing through Alibaba.com
❖ High Intensity
Discharge (HID)
❖ Fluorescent
❖ Light Emitting
Diode (LED)
➢ High light penetration
➢ High energy use
➢ Medium-length lifespan
➢ Low light penetration
➢ Low energy use
➢ Short life span
➢ Medium-High light
penetration
➢ Low energy use
➢ Long lifespan

27. Branding Aerloom Farms
❖ Collaboration with
Creative Media
Consultants
➢ Dante Molino
➢ Cliff Jackson
❖ Website and Logo
Development

28. Reflecting Back: the Good and the Bad
NegativesPositives
➢ I had a hand in founding a
business.
➢ I was able to reconnect with
family.
➢ I have an ongoing involvement
with Aerloom Farms.
➢ I have made invaluable
contacts.
➢ I am more experienced with
spreadsheet modeling.
➢ I gained extensive knowledge
of plant growth methods.
➢ Doing an out-of-state internship
was more logistically
complicated than I would have
liked.
➢ Sometimes working with a family
member can be stressful.

29. Advice to others/How’d I get this opportunity?
❖ Getting the Internship
➢ I was fortunate
enough to have been
given the opportunity
by my older brothers
because they knew I
had a passion for
sustainability.
➢ It’s important to be
vocal about your
passions
➢ There are plenty of
start up companies
that need and are
looking for dedicated
workers.
❖ Advice to others
➢ Tap into your network!
➢ Do something you will find interesting!
➢ Don’t hesitate to move away for a summer!
➢ Become an asset to the company!
➢ Be vocal about your aspirations!

30. Learning Outcomes and Future Plans
❖ Starting a business
requires:
➢ Lots of Research
➢ Quick-Decision
Making
➢ Adaptability
➢ Excel Skills
➢ Presentation Skills
➢ Expertise in your field
➢ Google Suite
➢ People Skills
➢ Acknowledgement of
both Economic and
Social Concerns
Indoor Grow Technician
Sustainability Director
Business Consultant

31. THANK YOU!
...Any Questions?