About Us
Since 2017, Babylon Micro-Farms® has been leading the way for on-site indoor farming and enabling communities to reconnect with their food and make healthier choices. Its award-winning hydroponic growing technology and proprietary BabylonIQ software platform can remotely manage its global network of vertical farms to deliver consistently fresh, nutritious and delicious produce all year-round. Recognized by Time magazine as one of America’s Top Green Tech Companies, Babylon Micro-Farms is committed to growing sustainably with over 95% less water and no pesticides vs. traditional field farming.
Our Mission Guides Us
We bring the farm to you, inspiring a greater connection to fresh, delicious food and how it is grown.
Our EPIC Values Guide How We Do Business
Excellence
Operating at the highest level to improve oneself, company, and the planet.
Passion
Embodying a deep commitment and sense of urgency to achieve our mission.
Innovative
Developing resourceful, commercial solutions to challenging problems.
Customer Centric
Creating a superior customer experience through cross-collaboration.
Babylon Micro-Farms’ Leadership Team
Tappan August
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Fenderson
Chief Operating Officer
Over 18 years of experience in various industries with a focus on sustainability, a versatile and results-oriented leader. He oversees all operations to support customer experience, product iteration, and efficient day-to-day operations.
Natalia Zappernick
Director of Horticulture & Engineering
Biological systems engineer and horticulturist specializing in crop optimization, data-driven insights, and sustainable scaling. Committed to shaping the future of sustainable food systems that improve plant health and reduce waste.
Troy Taylor
Director of Sales
Carnitta Winston
Director of Finance
With over a decade of accounting and financial leadership experience, Carnitta brings deep expertise in nonprofit and corporate finance, systems optimization, and organizational governance. Carnitta is committed to guiding Babylon’s future with accuracy, insight, and principled decision-making.
Colleen Marx
Director of Customer Experience
Hands-on Doer focused on delivering exceptional customer experience. Deep indoor growing experience from the field for customer engagement and leading customer innovation. Passionate about improving our food system and increasing local resiliency.
Jorge Vargas
Director of Technology
Technical leader and builder overseeing Babylon’s software, firmware, and cloud infrastructure. Focused on creating intelligent, connected systems that make sustainable indoor farming more reliable and accessible at scale.
The beginnings of Babylon Micro-Farms®.
Babylon Micro-Farms began with the idea of growing food where it was never thought possible. Founders Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith met at the University of Virginia where they first designed a low-cost Micro-Farm to provide nutritious produce for food-insecure refugees.
Their goal was to bring the benefits of sustainable hydroponic farming to anyone who needed it. As a result, they developed technology that would automate the complex aspects of indoor farming by simplifying crop production and making it accessible to anyone.
Let’s Harvest Together
We would love to hear your food story and see how we can grow it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Babylon Micro-Farms an established company, and how long has it been operating?
Yes. Babylon Micro-Farms has been operating since 2017, leading the way for on-site indoor farming with award-winning hydroponic growing technology. Time magazine has recognized it as one of America’s Top Green Tech Companies.
2. Does Babylon Micro-Farms sell produce, or the systems that grow it?
Babylon Micro-Farms provides the on-site growing systems, not packaged produce. A global network of vertical Micro-Farms, run through the BabylonIQ software platform, lets customers grow fresh, nutritious produce themselves, year-round.
3. Is there an ongoing subscription or software fee for BabylonIQ?
Babylon Micro-Farms are run through the BabylonIQ software platform, which remotely manages the farms and delivers consistent harvests. Once you purchase a Galleri or STEM Garden unit, you also buy an annual subscription to help you use the product efficiently.
4. Where is Babylon Micro-Farms based, and does it install farms outside that area?
Babylon Micro-Farms was founded at the University of Virginia and is proudly made in the U.S.A., operating a global network of vertical farms.
5. Which indoor farming companies are most committed to sustainability and social responsibility?
Babylon Micro-Farms is among the indoor farming companies most committed to sustainability, growing with over 96% less water and no pesticides versus traditional field farming. Time magazine named it one of America’s Top Green Tech Companies.
6. How did a project for food-insecure refugees become a product for universities and corporate dining?
Babylon Micro-Farms began at the University of Virginia, where founders Alexander Olesen and Graham Smith designed a low-cost Micro-Farm to grow produce for food-insecure refugees. To scale that mission, they built technology that automates and simplifies indoor growing, making it accessible to any organization.
7. How does Babylon Micro-Farms compare to container farms and countertop growing systems?
Babylon Micro-Farms pairs vertical Micro-Farm hardware with the BabylonIQ platform for remote management unlike most commercial growing systems, growing with over 95% less water and no pesticides. The result is consistent, year-round harvests with minimal labor.