US-based strawberry vertical farm operator Oishii has picked up $50m in a series A round featuring artificial intelligence technology provider Pksha Technology and Sony Innovation Fund, a subsidiary of electronics producer Sony, TechCrunch has reported.
The round was led by Mirai Creation Fund, an investment vehicle managed by asset manager Sparx Group and backed by carmaker Toyota, with additional investment from venture capital firm Social Starts.
Oishii, which means delicious in Japanese, operates indoor vertical farms used to grow high-quality strawberries for the luxury market. Its indoor farms include real beehives that support the pollination of its plants.
The company will use the funding to expand its production capabilities and introduce new types of produce into its offering. It has raised $55m since it was founded in 2016, according to a report by Crunchbase News, which did not disclose details of any earlier funding.