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Local startup Tech Genie showcases low-water aeroponics tower after winning Innovate Green pitch
Summary
Tech Genie, winner of Flagstaff's Innovate Green business pitch competition, presented the prototype "Genie Tree," a compact automated aeroponics tower the founder said uses far less water and speeds plant growth; commissioners asked about cost, durability and support plans.
Jay Jones, founder of Tech Genie, presented the company's prototype Genie Tree at the Flagstaff Sustainability Commission meeting as the winner of the city's Innovate Green business pitch competition. Jones said the Genie Tree is a vertical aeroponics tower intended for indoor or greenhouse use and described it as "an affordable automated aeroponics tower" designed for year-round growing.
The pitch emphasized water and space savings: Jones said the system uses "2 to 5% of the water that standard soil garden would use" and that plants grow "30 to 50% faster" than traditional methods. He described a compact greenhouse configuration (about 12 by 8 feet) that, he said, could hold roughly 1,000 individual plants ready for harvest at once, and he said the system recirculates nutrients with no soil or runoff.
Commissioners asked practical questions about lighting, durability, pricing and support. Commissioner Tom Lambie asked if the system would work inside homes and how many light fixtures were required; Jones replied the prototype uses a single low-power LED bar plus reflectors and that he is modifying the design to secure the light to the tower to prevent breakage. Commissioner Cameron Carlson asked about retail cost; Jones said similar systems on the market run about $900, while Tech Genie plans to price its unit at $333. Jones said the company plans one-year warranty and support and is exploring rental programs for students with Northern Arizona University and other institutional partners to provide ongoing user training and maintenance.
Jones described partnerships and pilot sites, including the Southside Community Garden and a group he identified as Liberation Earth, and said Tech Genie is pursuing investor interest and social-marketing channels to reach schools, community gardens and households. He said the company had a pending patent on elements of the product's utility and design and anticipated moving to paid pre-sales and inventory purchase in July.
The chair, Mary Metzger (acting chair), congratulated Jones and commissioners thanked him for the presentation. Jones left contact details in the presentation and said the company is reachable at jjones@liberation.org and on social channels he listed.
Votes at a glance: procedural motions recorded during the meeting included approval of April minutes (motion passed; mover and seconder not specified in the record) and formal adjournment (motion passed; tally not specified).
