Agrando

Agrando GmbH was an agricultural technology company founded in Munich, Germany, in 2017 by Jonathan Bernwieser, Jonas Hueber, and Moritz von Oertzen. The company aimed to digitize the agricultural trade by creating an independent online platform connecting farmers with retailers and manufacturers. CEO and co-founder Jonathan Bernwieser, the son of a farmer and a business IT specialist, was inspired by the procurement challenges his father faced, such as significant price differences for the same products. This firsthand experience drove the company's mission to bring transparency and efficiency to the agricultural supply chain.

The company developed a digital marketplace where farmers could request quotes, compare offers, and purchase agricultural inputs like fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and feed. The platform served farmers by providing them with greater market knowledge and a large digital catalog, while offering retailers and manufacturers a new digital sales channel to reach a broader customer base. Agrando's business model focused on integrating and optimizing existing trade structures rather than cutting out the middlemen, supporting all players in the value chain with improved processes and data-based analytics. Revenue was generated through subscription plans for farmers (Basic, Plus, and Pro) and sales plans for dealers.

Significant milestones for Agrando included securing a seven-figure seed funding round in February 2020, which helped fuel its growth and research and development. This was followed by a substantial Series A funding round of €12 million in July 2021, led by yabeo Impact AG, with participation from Sony Innovation Fund and other existing investors. This capital was intended for international expansion, with the company having already entered markets in Austria in 2020 and France in 2021. However, despite its growth and funding, Agrando filed for preliminary insolvency in June 2022 and its operations were officially discontinued later that year. A portion of the team transitioned to a new entity, Agryco, to continue serving the agricultural sector. Keywords: Agrando, agricultural trade, agtech, digital marketplace, farm inputs, Jonathan Bernwieser, agricultural procurement, online trading platform, farmer network, agricultural digitalization, farm supplies, crop inputs, livestock feed, agricultural retail, supply chain optimization, European agriculture, venture capital, seed funding, Series A, Munich startup, insolvency