Techopia Live: Growcer ready to flourish in 2024

Ottawa Business Journal

If you believe that innovation only happens inside semiconductor chips and software, think again. Two social entrepreneurs from Ottawa are determined to improve food security, especially for Indigenous communities in Canada’s North, through innovation in agriculture. Back in 2015, Corey Ellis and Alida Burke co-founded The Growcer and created a food system solution that allows “anyone anywhere to grow food locally.” Years later, they are perfecting hardware, education and distribution to help The Growcer flourish. The company has sold approximately 85 of its growing systems, which range in price from $250,000 to $350,000, and employs about 30 people, most based in Ottawa. Ellis and Burke say they are most proud about growing 10 million servings of vegetables through their systems in 2023. In this episode of Techopia Live, Ottawa Business Journal publisher Michael Curran talks to Ellis and Burke about their ambitious growth plans, including a lease plan to make the units more accessible for buyers who can’t make an upfront capital purchase.