AFO Acuaponía INTL SAS
Company that designs, builds and operates aquaponics systems for businesses and communities while also producing organic food.
AFO Acuaponía originated as a rejected university thesis on aquaponics systems, proposed by environmental engineering students. The university rejected it stating the topic belonged to food engineering, costing the founders two years in their graduation process.
AFO Acuaponía was formally created as a project after the founders continued experimenting with aquaponics following their graduation. The initial focus was on selling organic food products such as aromatic herbs and lettuce.
AFO became a formal company and established its experimental farm in Villavicencio, Meta, during the pandemic. The first greenhouse prototype failed due to flooding and material degradation, leading to a significant process of trial and error.
Over four years of operation, AFO developed projects and consultancies in nine Latin American countries and won the H Zero prize from the United Nations. The company shifted its primary business model from selling food products to designing and selling aquaponic systems.
AFO received direct investment from Startup Bootcamp, a major European accelerator fund, to support expansion into new markets. The company also participated in Fundación Bancolombia's financial support program and presented at a global event in Montreal, Canada.