The Circle builds aquaponic systems to grow salads, herbs and produce value-added items such as aquaponic-origin pesto, oils and flavoured salts. Founded in 2017 by biotechnologists Valerio Ciotola, Simone Cofini, Lorenzo Garreffa and marketer Thomas Marino, the company emphasizes circular production to conserve water and soil resources. The recent €2.1M round led by Opes Italia and Sparviero Holding, together with a prior €1.5M from Invitalia, brings total funding to €3.6M. The new capital will fund construction of two aquaponic salad and herb facilities for the restaurant industry in Rome and Milan and production operations in Abruzzo. Management says investments will support implementation of intellectual property developed in cultivation systems and cutting/cleaning operations. CEO Valerio Ciotola frames the raise as enabling significant increases in aquaponic output and facility improvements.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Oct 2023