DHDL: Million-dollar deal at FYTA - yes, no, yes, ohhh

It was one of the most spectacular appearances on Die Höhle der Löwen: Berlin-based plant tech start-up FYTA impressed the investors with smart plant sensors and an AI-supported app. Four offers were on the table within just a few minutes. The data that FYTA collects about plants and their environment was particularly hotly contested. A treasure that has enormous relevance both in the B2C market and in research.

Originally, founders Claudia Nassif and Alexander Schmitt asked for 500,000 euros for five percent of their company shares. The lions quickly outbid them. Frank Thelen increased his offer to 800,000 euros for ten percent. Finally, a handshake was reached with Janna Ensthaler and Carsten Maschmeyer, who together offered 1 million euros for ten percent.

Deal drama: acceptance and withdrawal

The decision was not easy for the founders. Nassif emphasized that Frank Thelen had understood their vision very well, but that Ensthaler and Maschmeyer had brought an additional network, twice the expertise and a higher offer. The choice fell on the combined deal for 1 million euros.

But the euphoria did not last long. After further discussions, both sides decided not to go ahead with the investment. However, it was not a setback for FYTA, quite the opposite.

Successful without TV investment

After the recording, FYTA succeeded in concluding the current financing round with existing investors. At the same time, the start-up is working on a new product generation, which is to be presented at the end of September. Particularly exciting: with the new FYTA Terra, outdoor plants can also be equipped with a smart tracker for the first time.

The twelve-strong team is also planning to tap into the B2B market. With a combination of hardware and subscriptions, professional users will have access to precise environmental data in the future and FYTA will accelerate the development of its data pool at the same time.

The global plant data pool

FYTA's long-term vision goes far beyond smart houseplants. Nassif and Schmitt want to create the largest database for plants worldwide - from urban gardens to large-scale agricultural areas.

This data could play a key role in the future, for example for benchmarking, the valuation of green assets as part of CO₂ certificates or as a basis for research. Scientists could gain new insights into soil quality, climate influences or the adaptation of plants to changing environmental conditions.

From the lab to the living room plant

The idea for FYTA arose from a gap: Although data has long been the standard in many areas, the green infrastructure remained largely unmeasured. Sensors for plants were long considered too expensive, difficult to scale and technically complex.

In four years of development work, Nassif, an economist and data scientist, and Schmitt, an engineer, built a market-ready product. They invested over one million euros in the development. Today, their sensor measures environmental parameters such as soil moisture, light, temperature and nutrient content and provides individual care instructions.

Green growth with data

Even though the TV deal did not materialize, the development after the broadcast shows that FYTA is on a sound economic footing and is driving its technology forward with vigor. With new products, B2B offerings and the vision of a global plant data pool, the Berlin start-up wants to redefine the interface between nature, technology and research.