We know that, just like us, there are hundreds of other projects wanting to do more for the planet. We went to find out more about what drives them and what we can expect from their project. Once a week, one startup, one interview, five questions.
We spoke with Adriel Oliveira, CEO of Shimejito, the startup that was born so that anyone can be a mushroom producer.
The idea is to enable anyone to be able to have their own Urban Farm, produce mushrooms with cutting-edge technology, and positively impact local communities through farming.
What problem is your startup solving?
The carbon footprint caused by the current food production and distribution chain.
Why start a business on the sustainability front?
The current economic model is lacking in impactful solutions that can be disruptive. We have all been around before this digital intervention, and we all as a society want more sustainability. We have evidence that the adhesion is big for this sustainable trend, and food is a resource that brings a big negative impact to the environment and to the pockets, because it requires a big energy capacity. These factors were essential to look beyond what already existed.
What are the biggest obstacles of working in this area?
I would say the traditionalism of a market that has become expert at capturing value from the small farmer to export low value-added products. This has opened a gap between the price to the consumer and what is paid to the producer, which causes competition in a fragile environment, where maintaining a constant production is still a challenge that goes against the idea that anyone can get involved in local agriculture and be efficient. Unfortunately we seem to have learned nothing from the days of COVID 19, which is now imposing the highest inflation ever seen in Europe on the pockets of those who are already tight on a monthly basis.
What achievement are you most proud of as the leader of this startup?
The constant and organic growth of our shimenaut community, made up of future-oriented, nomadic-minded people. We need few distractions, and I believe that the message we send out is that there is no time to waste on ideas we have already seen fail. Being able to talk openly about it, about the problems we face with bureaucracy, or the lack of dissemination of importance in Portugal for this topic – which has earned us clients and international awards. Overcoming these crises and setbacks on a daily basis is very rewarding.
What is the next step?
Finalize our Seed round by April, increase membership in the shimenaut community, move forward with psychedelics for research, distribute our mushroom points so that every interested party can be a mushroom points reseller and certifier, with a fair remuneration that responds to what is happening now. As you can see, it is quite a lot of work and we are open to anyone who wants to help.
