Bloemteknik secures US$892,000 to advance autonomous greenhouse lighting

UK – Cardiff based horticultural lighting firm, Bloemteknik, has secured more than £707,000 (about US$892,000), in an Innovate UK supported research and development project to speed up work on its autonomous greenhouse lighting system, GreenFingers.

Bloemteknik, founded in 2023 by two former leaders from General Electric, has grown fast in the controlled environment agriculture market. The company has installed more than 25,000 LED fixtures across several international markets and now supplies lighting systems for a wide range of crops.

The total project value exceeds £707,000, around US$892,000, and comes through the Investor Partnership Programme supported by Innovate UK. The funding will help Bloemteknik improve GreenFingers, its self adjusting lighting control platform.

GreenFingers collects plant and environmental data at canopy level and analyses it in real time. The system then adjusts LED lighting automatically. The company says this approach helps growers maintain steady daily light integral levels, cut energy waste, and create a more stable growing environment without manual changes.

James Fleet, Chief Executive Officer of Bloemteknik, said the funding marks an important step for the company. “The Innovate UK funding is a major milestone for Bloem and a strong validation of the technology we are building,” he said.

“It allows us to push GreenFingers further, deepening the intelligence of the platform and delivering even greater value to growers. Combined with Foresight’s backing, it has enabled us to move faster from innovation to real world impact.”

Fresh equity strengthens expansion

The Innovate UK award follows a £2.5 million equity investment, about US$3.15 million, from Foresight Group. The investment came through the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Wales and Foresight’s Growth VCTs.

The Investment Fund for Wales launched in November 2023 to increase access to early stage finance for small and medium sized firms across Wales. Foresight manages equity investments of up to £5 million, roughly US$6.3 million, under the fund.

With public support and private capital in place, Bloemteknik plans to continue refining its technology and expand its footprint in global greenhouse markets, as growers seek tighter energy control and more reliable crop results.

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