Promoting Healthy Living with Indoor Vertical Farms
Vilij
Eating healthy was much easier and more affordable just a few decades ago because most people lived on fertile farms where they could grow some of their food. However, all that has changed thanks to climate change, increased demand, and the high cost of inputs, among others. One of the solutions to this problem is using indoor vertical farms to increase the production of healthy food ingredients.
Today, our host Kevin Blevins talks to Vilij co-founders, Terry Carr and Brandon Smith. Terry is an experienced designer and Brandon is a mechanical engineer. Their company is creating a technology-embedded aeroponic system that allows you to grow food indoors. They’ll share with us the impact that they expect their product to have and the progress they made so far.
In this episode, you’ll learn about the innovative strategies that the company employs to monitor the plants’ growth process. You’ll also hear about the challenges that they’ve faced along the way and how they were able to overcome them. Additionally, they’ll share some of the lessons that they have learned on their entrepreneurial journey.
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Guest: Brandon Smith – Co Founder of Vilij
Brandon is an experienced leader and mechanical engineer with a penchant for invention, and a passion for improving lives through purposeful design. He has been a part of teams that have introduced products ranging from satellites flying in space, and multiple generations of Apple computers, to DC fast chargers. In 2020 he co-founded Vilij with the mission to empower everyone to grow, and share their harvest.
Guest: Terry Car – Co Founder of Vilij
Terry’s passion is to bring design to everyday products that we don’t normally think about. Terry began his journey in design and engineering in car design school in Detroit. He than began a career in design at Poly, where he spent years as a Senior Industrial Designer before co-founding Vilij in 2020.
Host: Kevin Blevins – Portfolio Development Executive
Kevin Blevins is the Portfolio Development Executive for SMB and Startup Companies and manages the Siemens DISW Startup Program. He works with the Siemens sales organizations as well as Siemens Partners to engage and evangelize the Siemens Startup Program in the Americas. Kevin has spent more than 35 years in the Engineering and Manufacturing software industry. Prior to this he spent seven years in the automotive design industry. Kevin has been with Siemens for 33 years. During this time, he has held positions in Technical Support, Technical Sales Support Leadership, Sales Director for the Automotive Region, Partner Sales Executive, and his current position. Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI.
Pioneers: Startups from Dreams to Reality
Ideas alone can’t change the world. It takes grit, and serious funding. In Pioneers, host Kevin Blevins sits down with startup founders to discuss the startup lifestyle- from concept to execution- and the big ideas that fuel these pioneers. From the future of farming to autonomous flight, there’s no frontier too far.