Innovation

This entrepreneur's journey began through an inspiring meeting with a mentor named Mark, and a deep-rooted passion for biotechnology. Initially focused on delivering enzymes to break down harmful pesticides, the team created a remediation spray—but soon realized farmers were more interested in reducing chemical use altogether. This led to a pivot, using their core enzyme-delivery technology to help prevent pesticide application instead of cleaning it up after the fact. Through hands-on field trials at local vineyards, they demonstrated a real-world application that sparked strong interest from both growers and pesticide companies. From there, forming a startup became necessary to pursue funding and scale their technology. Today, their company thrives on strong industry partnerships, feedback from farmers, and a team passionate about sustainability and innovation—especially in rural communities.

What makes the company truly innovative is its biotechnology platform that delivers enzymes in a way that minimizes pesticide reliance, helping restore biodiversity, protect soil and water, and improve food systems. This approach not only reduces chemical usage but also enhances environmental and human health by supporting safer farming practices. The company’s vision extends beyond agriculture—it's about building a better world, from offering job opportunities in rural areas to contributing to global sustainability goals. Their culture emphasizes passion over credentials, continuous learning, and empowering employees to develop new ideas. With EPA registration and a commercial facility launch on the horizon, their innovation is poised to make a significant positive impact at scale.

Inspiration

The inspiration behind AgroSpheres began with a chance meeting and a shared passion for biotechnology. Meeting their mentor changed everything, Payam, one of the founders shared. They were all passionate about using science to make a real-world impact. This connection led to the development of a biotechnology platform designed to deliver enzymes that break down harmful pesticides, a concept that would evolve into a groundbreaking business.

In the early days, the team conducted field trials at local vineyards to prove the viability of their idea. While doing field trial work and talking to growers and pesticide companies, they realized farmers were actually excited about the technology and their product could have a real-world application. This was the spark that pushed them to take the leap from undergraduate students to startup founders.

What sets AgroSpheres apart is the platform technology and how they are applying it in a new way to solve real agricultural problems.Their shift from pesticide remediation to active pesticide alternatives came directly from listening to farmers. The founder shared that farmers weren’t looking for a way to clean up—they wanted to spray less in the first place. The founders are driven by the belief that science can create meaningful change. It’s not just about building a business, it’s about building something that actually helps people and the planet.

Overall impact

This company is creating a powerful overall impact by merging cutting-edge biotechnology with a deep commitment to sustainability and community well-being. Environmentally, their innovative enzyme system reduces the need for harmful pesticides, directly addressing issues like chemical resistance, soil and water contamination, and declining biodiversity—making their solution a critical tool in the future of Science. Socially, they are empowering rural communities by creating inclusive, meaningful job opportunities and prioritizing worker safety through reduced chemical exposure. Their team culture values passion, innovation, and collaboration over credentials, giving people from diverse backgrounds a chance to contribute to groundbreaking science. By aligning their mission with long-term environmental goals and local economic development, the company is not only transforming how agriculture is done, but also setting an example of how business can be a force for a positive and lasting change.

Business benefit

Because AgroSpheres pioneered a biotechnology platform to deliver enzymes that break down pesticides, they have achieved notable success in creating safer and more sustainable crop protection products and expanding their local workforce. Their AgriCell platform, which was once used for remediation, is now enabling farmers to forgo pesticides altogether. Recently the company secured $37 million in Series B funding, which is earmarked to help with expanding their product reach into other countries and expanding their workforce. Their key partnerships with agricultural powerhouses have allowed them to create 50+ jobs for their local area. 

AgroSpheres built a mission-driven culture around environmental impact; their influence reaches far past their products into improved worker safety, reduced use of harmful chemicals, and enhancing biodiversity. Their team is motivated by the breakthroughs they are making and the people they work with. As they continue their work, they hope to leave a better world behind for the future generations. With their commercial launch underway, AgroSpheres is not only growing a company but setting a new standard for sustainability in agriculture.  

Social and environmental benefit

This company is making a meaningful environmental impact by developing innovative biotechnology that reduces the need for harmful chemical pesticides in agriculture. Their enzyme-based process helps break down or prevent the use of pesticides, addressing major ecological concerns like pesticide resistance, soil degradation, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. By working closely with farmers and focusing on real-world field trials, the company ensures that its products not only work effectively but also align with the growing demand for more sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Their commitment to environmental outcomes is also evident in their impact reporting, which tracks reductions in chemical usage, improvements in soil and water quality, and enhanced biodiversity on the farms they serve.

On the social side, the company is equally committed to uplifting rural communities by creating high-quality, meaningful job opportunities. Their hiring approach values passion and practical ability over formalities, allowing more people to be part of innovative science technologies without traditional academic barriers. They also focus on improving worker safety by minimizing exposure to toxic chemicals in agriculture, and they see education and community development as integral parts of their mission. By fostering a team culture built on shared values, ethical practices, and a sense of purpose, the company is helping shift how businesses operate—proving that innovation, sustainability, and social good can all go hand-in-hand.

Interview

Payam Pourtaheri, Founder and CEO