Season 10 Episode 135 — A Vertical Farming Solution 10 Million Years in the Making
A conversation with Edward McClure of Bio520
In this episode, I speak with Edward McClure, CEO of Bio520, who shares his journey from finance to the world of indoor agriculture. Edward’s story is one of passion and perseverance, moving from Miami to San Diego, and eventually diving into the agtech space. We discuss his background in finance and how it shaped his approach to business, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and profitability. Edward’s love for entrepreneurship shines through as he talks about his early ventures and the lessons learned along the way, making this conversation both insightful and relatable for anyone interested in business and innovation.
Edward also delves into the specifics of Bio 520, a product developed in Japan that has shown promising results in the indoor ag industry, particularly in cannabis cultivation. He explains the meticulous process of finding the right product and the importance of having a solid team to bring it to market. We touch on the challenges and rewards of starting a new company, the significance of collaboration in the agtech space, and the exciting potential of new technologies like AI and robotics.
Join us as we discuss the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and agriculture, and it offers valuable insights into the future of indoor farming.
Special thanks to our Season 10 Sponsor:
Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit
Key Takeaways
- 00:06:16: Early Interest in Business and Finance
- 00:10:17: Importance of Financial Discipline in Business
- 00:12:32: Discovery and Development of Bio 520
- 00:18:44: Incremental Improvements in Agriculture
- 00:23:21: Experience at Indoor Ag-Con
- 00:26:27: Ideal Clients for Bio 520
- 00:30:21: Building a Team and Hiring Strategy
- 00:36:43: Key Decisions as a CEO
- 00:39:36: Future Focus and Industry Trends
- 00:42:55: Final Thoughts and Collaboration in the Industry
Tweetables
“I’ve always been interested in business, you know, small companies, and there’s nothing more American to me than some guy or woman putting it on the line, blood, sweat, and tears, and trying to create something out of nothing.”
“Until you have had to meet a payroll and not pay yourself because there wasn’t quite enough money for both, you’re not really an entrepreneur.”
“You can’t do everything well. If you can focus and do one thing really well, you can make money, and then you can start looking at this other stuff. But if you try to climb all five mountains at once, you’re going to fall off and die.”
Links Mentioned
Website — http://bio520usa.com
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/101683174/admin/feed/posts/
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/bio520usa/
Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit
Bio520
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