In a recent episode of the All-In podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya shared an eye-opening observation from his summer trip to a market in Italy—everyday fish reaching as much as €48 per kilogram. This staggering price is emblematic of a larger challenge within the global food supply chain: as industries across the globe embrace technology, the food and agriculture sector remains notably lagging, pushing healthy eating further out of reach for many.
A Growing Crisis in Affordable Healthy Eating
The rising costs of food are not just impacting consumers, but also producers and retailers who face increasing challenges. USDA data shows that only 12-15% of what consumers spend on groceries makes its way back to the farm. In the restaurant industry, this figure drops to just 3%. The majority of food expenses go to other areas within the supply chain—distributors, logistics, and retailers—leaving farmers with unsustainably low revenues. This disconnect leads to financial instability for producers, contributing to supply chain inefficiencies that ultimately drive up prices.
Fresh Produce: A Sector Under Increasing Pressure
One of the hardest-hit categories by these pressures is fresh produce, specifically fruit. Fruit bowls, once a common sight in many households, are becoming scarce due to escalating prices and shrinking quality. Spain, a global leader in fruit production, is emblematic of the crisis in the industry. Despite exporting to markets around the world, over 60% of producers globally report consistent financial losses, putting many smaller operations out of business. A complex supply chain, burdened by retailer pricing pressure and the presence of multiple intermediaries, compounds these issues, leaving producers—those most vulnerable—at the mercy of fluctuating prices and unpredictable market conditions.
AGERPIX: A Technological Solution to Agricultural Inefficiencies
David Francés founded AGERPIX in 2019 to tackle these inefficiencies head-on. With a background in agricultural engineering and technology, David launched AGERPIX with the mission of making fruit production profitable through data-driven decision-making and precision agriculture.
The Challenges Facing Producers
Consider a fruit producer managing hundreds of hectares of orchards. Traditionally, yield estimation is an arduous, imprecise task, often based on outdated sampling methods that can lead to deviations as high as 40% from actual output. Such inaccuracies result in overspending on inputs like fertilizers, packaging, and labor, cutting into profit margins.
The thinning process—a critical phase in fruit farming—presents another high-risk area where poor decisions can mean the difference between profitability and financial loss. Finally, producers are often restricted by limited access to competitive sales channels, putting them at a significant disadvantage in a fragmented and competitive marketplace.
The AGERPIX Advantage: Precision Agriculture Meets AI
AGERPIX has developed a suite of cutting-edge technologies to bring precision, transparency, and efficiency to fruit production. Utilizing high-resolution cameras and advanced vision systems, AGERPIX’s tools count fruit on individual trees with unparalleled accuracy. These systems are complemented by IoT sensors that monitor growth conditions and satellite imagery to provide a holistic view of the orchard’s health.
What sets AGERPIX apart is its AI-powered analytics platform, which integrates seamlessly with existing ERP systems. This platform analyzes real-time data from the farm, alongside proprietary market insights, to give producers actionable recommendations. From optimal thinning times to precision harvesting, every decision can be guided by accurate, data-backed insights. The interface is designed to be user-friendly, even offering a natural language interface that makes complex agricultural decision-making as intuitive as possible.
AGERPIX’s Global Reach and Growth Potential
Since its inception, AGERPIX has expanded to operate in nine countries, working with over 130 producers and covering 14 different fruits across 50 varieties. The company’s service-based model and B2B SaaS platform have generated €2 million in recurring revenue, providing solid validation of its technology and market potential. Looking ahead, AGERPIX is targeting €150 million in revenue by 2029, positioning itself as a key player in the fresh fruit industry’s technological transformation.
Why AGERPIX Represents a Disruptive Investment Opportunity
AGERPIX’s technology addresses several pain points within the fresh fruit industry: inefficiency, waste, and poor visibility into production metrics. The potential to increase profitability for producers while reducing waste and optimizing resources is enormous. In a sector that has been slow to adopt modern technology, AGERPIX offers a pioneering approach, making it a highly attractive opportunity for investors looking to back a disruptive and scalable business.
Synthesis Ventures: Accelerating Disruption in the Fresh Produce Sector
Synthesis Ventures identified AGERPIX’s potential early on and has been an active partner in its growth journey. AGERPIX isn’t just solving problems for the fresh fruit industry—it’s redefining what’s possible by leveraging technology to empower producers. By providing tools that enhance operational efficiency, AGERPIX is setting a new standard for how agriculture can evolve to meet global food demand sustainably.
At Synthesis Ventures, we specialize in partnering with companies like AGERPIX, supporting them from the early stages of concept development through to scaling and global market entry. Our hands-on approach ensures that disruptive companies like AGERPIX have the strategic guidance, capital, and resources they need to not only survive but thrive in increasingly competitive markets. Our venture studio model gives us the flexibility to work closely with founders, refining business models, raising capital, and driving operational growth.
The Future of Fresh Produce: Technology-Driven Sustainability
The fresh fruit industry is in dire need of modernization, and AGERPIX is leading the charge. By bringing data-driven precision to an industry still reliant on outdated methods, AGERPIX enables farmers to maximize their profits, reduce waste, and better navigate market conditions. The company’s impressive growth trajectory and scalable SaaS model create an exciting opportunity for investors seeking exposure to disruptive technologies in the agricultural sector.
As we continue our journey at Synthesis Ventures, we remain committed to supporting companies like AGERPIX that are ready to revolutionize their industries and drive sustainable, scalable change. The future of food is data-driven, and together with AGERPIX, we are building a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable fresh produce industry.
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