Qatar-Based Hydrovest Technology Secures US$275,000 Funding Round

Qatar-based agritech company Hydrovest Technology has raised QAR1 million (US$275,000) in an investment round from unnamed investors as it moves to scale production and prepare for regional expansion, including a planned entry into the UAE market in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026.  

The new funding will be used to complete the fit-out and commissioning of a new production facility, strengthen working capital, and support Hydrovest Technology's transition  to commercial-scale operations.

The investment will also back the company's factory readiness, upcoming product launches, and preparations to serve a broader customer base across Qatar and the wider Gulf region, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. In parallel, Hydrovest Technology has received approval to be listed in the Qatar Development Bank Exporter Directory, recognizing the company as export-ready. 

Hydrovest Technology traces its beginnings to a small, family-run project inside Adaya’s home in Doha, where the initial goal was to grow vegetables for household consumption. As the commercial potential of hydroponics in Qatar became clearer, that early experiment began to take shape as a broader venture with ambitions beyond small-scale production. In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Adaya, who's also the CEO of Hydrovest, reflected on how that journey crystallized into a full-scale company.

"Our mission is to revolutionize food security and environmental sustainability by producing premium produce all year round through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven smart farming and vertical agriculture, using advanced technology to maximize yield, reduce waste, and protect natural resources, delivering innovative, healthy snack products delivered from sustainably grown crops, and building a resilient, eco-friendly food ecosystem that supports communities today and safeguards the planet for future generations," Adaya said.

That long-term ambition informed how Hydrovest Technology approached its first external fundraising round, with a clear emphasis on demonstrating operational readiness. Ahead of engaging investors, the company focused on validating both its offering and its internal structure. “Before approaching fundraising, we focused on product-market relevance and organizational readiness,” Adaya explained. “On the product side, we moved beyond fresh produce and developed value-added lines such as lettuce chips, freeze-dried fruits, and lettuce-based tea infusions. We needed to show that we can capture more value across the supply chain and reduce post-harvest losses.”

Internally, Hydrovest Technology also worked to formalize its operations. “Organizationally, we formalized our structure across production, research and development (R&D), and sales and marketing, and built a growing team under experienced leadership, which helped demonstrate execution capability and scalability to investors,” Adaya said. “These milestones collectively gave investors confidence that Hydrovest Technology is a business ready to scale commercially.” 

Jeacim Francis Adaya, founder and CEO, Hydrovest Technology.

As Hydrovest Technology now looks beyond Qatar, the UAE has emerged as a priority market, albeit one with a more complex retail and consumer landscape. “The UAE is one of the most mature and dynamic consumer markets in the Middle East," Adaya said. "First, the UAE’s snacks and healthy snacks sector is large and growing rapidly: the overall UAE snacks market was valued at approximately $4.3 billion in 2025, and it is expected to continue growing at roughly 5–5.2 percent compound annual growth rate over the next decade, driven by changing lifestyles and urbanization. Compared to Qatar’s more concentrated market, the UAE’s scale, diversity, and competitive retail landscape create both opportunity and higher expectations. To prepare, we are focusing on strengthening our product portfolio with differentiated value-added offerings to align with consumer demand for healthy, premium snacks, optimizing our supply chain, packaging, and quality systems to meet the stringent logistics and retail grocery requirements of modern UAE trade channels and positioning for omni-channel distribution, including both in-store retail and digital grocery platforms, reflecting the UAE consumer’s blended purchase behavior."

Beyond its food products, Hydrovest Technology is also advancing tech-enabled farming solutions, including AI-supported hydroponic systems offered through do-it-yourself and do-it-for-you kits. This technology-first approach is reinforced through strategic partnerships, most notably with DENSO, a Fortune 500 Japan-based multinational engineering and manufacturing company. He pointed to the collaboration with DENSO Philippines, a subsidiary of the group, as a key enabler of advanced smart farming devices and systems, supporting initiatives such as premium Japanese melon cultivation in Qatar, with crops like microgreens, rice, capsicum, and herbs also in the pipeline.

Hydrovest Technology's product portfolio currently includes lettuce chips that have been made from lettuce grown and harvested at its hydroponic farm in Doha, and supplied to a growing network of retail partners across Qatar. As demand for locally produced, nutrient-focused snacks gathers pace, Hydrovest Technology has begun preparing updated versions of lettuce chips that are cholesterol-free, contain zero monosodium glutamate (MSG) and genetically modified organisms (GMO), and use no preservatives. It is also developing lettuce tea infused with moringa, lemon, and other ingredients, alongside a freeze-dried fruit range aimed at both retail and e-commerce channels.  

“We chose to focus on these products, because more than being a producer of fresh produce and provider of hydroponic systems, we want to be an agri-innovation company." Adaya added. "Lettuce chips was developed out of a perceived market need and our existing produce supply. It highlights the nutritional value of our hydroponically grown produce (no MSG, gluten-free, non-GMO, no preservatives), and is aligned with the fast-growing global healthy snack market. Freeze-dried fruits follow the same logic: they preserve nutrients, extend shelf life, reduce waste, and open opportunities in retail and export markets while maintaining premium quality. Our products, both existing ones and those still in development, also aim to support food security and environmental sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.” 

Pictured in the lead image is Hydrovest Technology founder and CEO Jeacim Francis Adaya. All images courtesy Hydrovest Technology.