When Elias Martinez was starting his microgreens business, Kubed Root, he didn’t realize it was about more than a green thumb.
From insurance to real estate to the utility costs of an indoor growing operation, he had a lot to learn.
He wants to give the next generation a head start.
Martinez is building out a coworking space for indoor agriculture in Buffalo under the Kubed Root name. Working out of his current warehouse, Martinez is in the process of buying small greenhouses that people can walk into – he’s got two now (one hosts his own business) and is preparing to order a third.
He is currently hosting a WeFunder crowdfunding campaign for people who are interested in investing.
“This is basically me creating a company that I wish existed when I first got started in indoor agriculture,” he said. “Since (the concept) doesn’t exist, it’s up to me to solve it.”
Martinez, a member of the Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County, also created I.F. Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching children about indoor agriculture.
Kubed Root’s coworking model will involve a three-tiered subscription system, with differing levels of delivery, business and marketing support.
The goal is to give budding indoor farmers a chance to explore their passion before the logistics of setting up an operation kill their dream.
“All the things I needed starting out, I’m going to supply them to future farmers or growers so they don’t have to go through the same process,” Martinez said. “They’ll be able to figure out if this is something they want to get into.”
