Back to the Roots founders Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora detailed for SB '13 attendees their start-up’s meteoric rise from fraternity science experiment to national provider of mushrooms to Whole Foods. Their latest product is a table-top aquaponics system, which incorporates a fish tank and a small herb garden. The product is intended to help kids better understand nutrient cycling and food production. The team took their idea to Kickstarter and raised nearly $250,000 in thirty days; the new Aqua Farms will soon be available in stores.

1. Making Food Personal Again: A Model
Story of Courage and Purposeful
Listening
Nikhil Arora & Alejandro Velez
Founders
Back to the Roots

2. MAKING FOOD
PERSONAL AGAIN
SB ’13 June 5, 2013
Nikhil Arora
Alejandro Velez

3. THE BEGINNING

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5. FROM FRESH
MUSHROOMS TO KITS

6. A JOURNEY IN DESIGN
2009 2010 2011 2013

7. THE MUSHROOM KIT

8. ~350,000 KITS SOLD

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,88'2,/"'%9'):'07*1%

15. $248,873 raised in 30 days

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20. @NikhilArora
@VelezAlejandro