Cultipharm, a pioneering start-up applying vertical farming technology to the cultivation of medicinal plants, has announced that it has closed its first round of capital increase worth €1 million, a step that marks the beginning of a new phase of growth, ushering in new partners and the launch of concrete projects in the fields of production, science and technology.
Between Guidizzolo, where the production site is located, and Curtatone, home to the analytical laboratory, Cultipharm aims to revolutionise the nutraceutical sector through the production of sustainable botanicals supported by continuous scientific research. Cultipharm innovates the production process and has also developed an advanced research method which, thanks to a specialised in-house laboratory, allows the plant to be treated as a natural laboratory of active ingredients, where every growth variable can be studied and optimised to obtain a known and reproducible phytochemical profile.
“Thanks to our high-tech facilities, we can recreate the optimal environment for each plant, precisely regulating growth parameters. The result is our ‘superactive’ products: botanicals of the highest quality, characterised by a noble phytochemical profile and a high concentration of active ingredients,” explains co-founder and scientific director Alessandro Algeri (pictured with the team) in a statement.
Founded on the industrial experience of Idromeccanica Lucchini and SeSe, with the direct involvement of Massimo and Emanuele Lucchini and Alessandro Algeri, Cultipharm has attracted the interest of a diverse group of investors, including the Belluno-based company AiZei and the venture capital firm Moonstone, who believed in the company’s vision and the project’s growth potential. The collaboration with AiZei stems from a shared vision of cultivating plants in a natural, ethical and transparent way, combining technological expertise and respect for the land. AiZei, a multifunctional agricultural company operating in the heart of the Belluno Dolomites National Park, has chosen to support Cultipharm in its project to promote native medicinal plants, in a context where innovation and respect for natural rhythms coexist.
“We saw in Cultipharm the possibility of cultivating native plants through the study and implementation of cutting-edge technological solutions that allow us to maximise the potential of botanicals in a 100% natural and ethical way, ensuring superior quality,” comments Fabio De Pellegrin, founder of AiZei.
It is precisely this line of research and sustainability that Moonstone supports, investing in the pre-seed and seed phases with the aim of supporting start-ups with high technological potential, offering patient capital and an international network of strategic expertise.
In this perspective, Cultipharm represents a perfect alignment, combining innovation and commitment to human and planetary health.
“At Moonstone, we invest in founders who tackle real challenges with skill and determination. Cultipharm is a prime example: it applies vertical farming technologies to the cultivation of medicinal plants, combining technological innovation with environmental awareness. It is a concrete demonstration of how our approach to investment can generate value, both for people and for the planet,” says Chiara Castelli, co-founder and investment manager at Moonstone.
The capital raised will be used for strategic initiatives covering all of the company’s main areas of operation.
“Thanks to these funds, we will not only be able to start building a new production plant as early as 2026, but also strengthen our research and development department, consolidating the trust of our current customers and attracting new partners interested in distinguishing themselves on the market with premium ingredients,” adds Algeri.
Over the next year, investments will focus on the construction of a new production plant within the Belluno Dolomites National Park: a strategic choice that combines industrial innovation, sustainability and enhancement of the local area. At the same time, the research and development area will be strengthened through the acquisition of new scientific equipment and the expansion of infrastructure dedicated to the study of medicinal plants in a controlled environment, installing new high-tech experimental display cases.
Another key part of the development plan is to roll out advanced IT systems for managing production processes, business intelligence, and real-time monitoring of critical production variables. These tools will boost operational efficiency and traceability, improving integration between departments and supporting strategic business decisions with data-driven predictive analytics. The growth programme also includes the renovation of production facilities, the expansion of the workforce with targeted new hires, and the development of a dedicated regulatory office, which is essential to support entry into international markets with botanical ingredients that comply with the most rigorous standards in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical fields.
“This first round of investment confirms that we are on the right track and that others like us believe in a future that is not only more sustainable but also transparent, to ensure a food supplement market that can really make a difference in protecting people’s health,” concludes Algeri.
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