Hippo Harvest, a Pescadero, California–based leafy greens grower using robotics and machine learning–powered greenhouses to produce USDA‑certified organic greens, has closed a $30 million Series C round led by Cox Farms, North America’s largest greenhouse operator. The funding will support a 30‑acre expansion at a new Hollister, CA facility now in permitting, and the development of Hippo Harvest’s next‑generation robotic growing system, increasing growing capacity from 1 acre today and accelerating the commercialization of indoor‑grown spinach.
The spinach launch is a key milestone following the early‑2026 introduction of Hippo Harvest’s indoor‑grown butter lettuce to retail buyers. Together, these products anchor a growing line of indoor organic greens designed for year‑round consistency. Hippo Harvest offers a hybrid assortment that blends greenhouse‑grown and organic field‑grown greens, giving retailers wider variety and more reliable supply at a time when climate volatility is increasingly disrupting traditional production.
At the center of the company’s model is a proprietary robotic growing system that uses Autonomous Mobile Robots as indoor “tractors” and machine learning to monitor, tend and harvest plants with precision throughout the growth cycle. The upgraded system automatically re‑spaces growing modules over time, maximizing space efficiency and yields at the farm level. The next‑generation platform funded by the Series C is designed to increase throughput, reduce cost per unit, and accelerate Hippo Harvest’s ability to bring new varieties to market at scale.
Founded in 2019, Hippo Harvest currently serves retail buyers across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, including Sprouts, Haggen (an Albertsons banner) and Gus’s Community Markets in San Francisco, with plans to expand across the West Coast and into additional national retail partnerships. Cox Farms—part of Cox Enterprises and the owner of BrightFarms and Mucci Farms—led the round, with participation from existing and new investors, including Congruent Ventures, Hawthorne Food Ventures, Collaborative Fund, and the Fresh Investment Club. The Series C follows a $21 million Series B closed in February 2024, led by Standard Investments with backing from Congruent Ventures, the Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Hawthorne Food Ventures and Energy Impact Partners.
Hippo Harvest’s system combines a closed‑loop, direct‑to‑root nutrient-and-watering approach with robotics and ML-driven optimization, enabling the production of high‑quality organic greens at prices competitive with field‑grown alternatives while using 92% less water, 55% less fertilizer, and 94% less land than traditional agriculture. The company positions its technology as a way to reduce food waste, enhance food security and safety, and promote sustainability in fresh produce while keeping production closer to consumers.
Cox Farms frames the investment as aligned with its mandate to support innovation and new technologies in indoor agriculture and highlights Hippo Harvest as “genuinely exciting” in that landscape. The Series C capital will be used to build out the Hollister facility, deploy the new robotic system, expand distribution to new markets and deepen partnerships with retailers looking for climate‑resilient, year‑round organic supply.
KEY QUOTES:
“Closing this round and bringing Spinach to market in the same moment is a real signal of where Hippo Harvest is headed. We’ve spent years building a system that can grow certified organic greens consistently and at a price that works for both retailers and consumers. This investment lets us do that at the next level of scale.”
Eitan Marder‑Eppstein, CEO and Co‑Founder, Hippo Harvest
“Hippo Harvest is doing something genuinely exciting in indoor agriculture, and we’re proud to be part of this next chapter. Cox Farms actively looks for opportunities to support innovation and new technologies across indoor agriculture. We can’t wait to watch them scale.”
Steve Bradley, President, Cox Farms
