Canopii looks to succeed where past indoor farms have not

Canopii, a Portland-based startup founded by David Ashton, is developing robotic greenhouses that autonomously manage the entire crop-growing process—from seeding to harvest—without human intervention. Inspired by California’s drought-era lettuce farms, Canopii’s compact greenhouses can produce up to 40,000 pounds of herbs and specialty greens annually using minimal water and space equivalent to a basketball court. The company has focused on slow, deliberate development, relying primarily on grants rather than venture capital, which Ashton believes has helped them avoid common pitfalls faced by earlier indoor farming ventures. After five years and approximately $3.6 million in funding, mostly from grants, Canopii has achieved a major milestone with a fully autonomous farm prototype. The system operates efficiently on standard household power (100 AMPs and 240 volts), making it scalable and suitable for diverse settings, including schools, restaurants, and casinos. With inbound interest growing, Canopii plans to build its first commercial farm in downtown Portland and eventually