Our Founder shares his Urban GrowSpace business model
Urban GrowSpaces Inc.
A GridZero Venture Fund Company
Urban GrowSpace is a forward-thinking agritech initiative being developed under the GridZero Venture Fund umbrella. This innovative business model aims to redefine the future of food and cannabis cultivation in urban environments by offering accessible, controlled micro-farming spaces for individuals, entrepreneurs, and commercial clients alike.
Whether you’re an urban resident wanting to grow your own organic produce, a chef needing consistent access to fresh micro-greens, or a cannabis enthusiast seeking secure legal growing options outside the home, Urban GrowSpace will offer a solution designed to meet your needs and local laws. Our goal is to have them within existing strip mall locations in over 25 cities by 2028.
🧱 The Concept
Urban GrowSpace is a modular micro-farming business model, with fully equipped grow rooms built within existing Big Box retail locations left vacant (44,000 sf store conversion seen in rendering below). They will offer individuals and small businesses like restaurants the ability to:
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Rent personalized grow rooms for cultivating organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers.
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Lease secure cannabis grow spaces through a parallel model known as Cannabis GrowSpace—designed for legal, regulated, and private cultivation outside of the home environment.
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Contract professional AgTech growers to manage crops on behalf of clients.
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The concept incorporates Sananbio Radix modular grow rack systems (seen in above image), providing clients with commercial-grade vertical farming solutions that are scalable, efficient, and environmentally conscious. Paired with the HumidaPURE AirWater atmospheric water generation technology, each facility is designed to be largely independent of municipal water sources—an important sustainability milestone.
🌎 Market Relevance
With growing concerns around food security, pesticide use, supply chain volatility, and sustainable water access,
local indoor farming is an exploding trend. The U.S. indoor farming market alone is expected to exceed $6 billion by 2030, with increased demand for hyper-local produce and cannabis. Meanwhile, consumer demand for locally-grown, chemical-free crops continues to rise—particularly in urban markets and high-density residential zones.
🌱 Future Plans & Franchise Potential
Though there are no immediate plans to break ground, a scaled-down prototype of the Urban GrowSpace model is planned within the Aquarium Plaza Corporate Center, serving as a living lab and demonstration site.
The long-term vision includes:
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Franchise-ready designs for deployment in strip malls, big-box retail redevelopments, and underused commercial spaces (up to 40,000+ sq ft).
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Integration with HumidaPURE AirWater systems to ensure off-grid, clean water access.
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Expansion across North America, with the potential to take the business public or partner with other food-tech and cannabis ventures.
🌱 💼 Investment Outlook
Urban GrowSpace is positioned as a GridZero Venture Fund asset, and may either be retained for development by the Fund or sold to strategic partners and venture groups currently in early discussions. With built-in demand from food service providers, wellness-focused consumers, and cannabis cultivators, this model presents a multi-revenue stream opportunity.
🔒 Cannabis GrowSpace
In parallel, Cannabis GrowSpace is a unique twist on the self-farming model—providing secure, compliant rental spaces for personal or small-batch cultivation of cannabis in legal states. This model is especially attractive for urban dwellers who lack the space or legal freedom to grow at home but want personal control over the quality and genetics of their cannabis.
🏪 Retail + GrowSpace Hybrid
Select GrowSpace locations may feature co-located Travel Cafes or HumidaPURE AirWater refill bars, set within strip malls combining sustainable agriculture, food, and wellness in a single space. This hybrid grow experience enhances foot traffic, adds retail value, and positions the brand at the intersection of lifestyle and sustainability. A rough rendering below shares a concept designed for a retail space in California.
🏁 Next Steps
GridZero is currently evaluating partnerships and licensing opportunities for both the Urban and Cannabis GrowSpace concepts. Entrepreneurs, venture firms, and private equity groups interested in exploring acquisition or co-development opportunities are welcome to contact us for more details.