About Us
Aquager is a student-founded startup born at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, built around one simple belief:
Access to fresh, healthy, organic produce is a right — not a privilege.
Built inside IIT’s Kaplan Institute, Aquager grew through two consecutive startup accelerator programs and later advanced through Future Founders Bootcamp Phase 1 and Phase 2. These programs shaped our mission, sharpened our design approach, and helped us understand one of the biggest problems facing individuals today: the rising cost of fresh organic food and the lack of easy access to it year-round.
From Idea to Real Products
Aquager didn’t happen overnight. It evolved through years of testing, pivots, and real customer feedback.
Summer 2021
Initial idea conceived, originally focused on commercial hydroponic vertical farming
Fall 2021
Participated in Startup Studio at the Kaplan Institute, exploring early concepts and problem validation
Spring 2022
Completed the first accelerator at the Kaplan Institute, focused on commercial hydroponic systems
Summer 2022
Conducted extensive customer discovery, leading to a pivot toward home gardening and home farming
Spring 2023
Completed a second accelerator at the Kaplan Institute, this time focused on home gardening and consumer hydroponics
Spring 2024
Selected for Future Founders Bootcamp – Phase 1
Summer 2024
Joined mHUB Chicago, continuing hands-on product development and physical prototyping
Fall 2024
Completed Future Founders Bootcamp – Phase 2
May 2025
300 Hydroponic Home Farms and 200 Storage Units manufactured and delivered to Chicago
Kaplan Institute
Illinois Institute of Technology
Our Mission
To make fresh, organic, nutrient-rich food available to everyone — regardless of gardening experience, available space, or climate — through hydroponic systems that are simple, elegant, and designed to feel at home in any living environment.
Why We Do It
Food prices keep rising.
Growing high-quality produce at home shouldn’t be complicated, expensive, or limited to people with gardening experience. Most people want healthier lifestyles — they just lack the tools, space, or time.
Everyone deserves access to real food.
We believe that organic produce should not be a luxury item. It should be accessible, affordable, and available every single day of the year.
Who We Are Becoming
Aquager is more than a product line.
It is a movement toward healthier lifestyles, food independence, and beautifully designed home agriculture. As students, founders, and problem-solvers, we are committed to building technology that empowers individuals to grow their own food simply, affordably, and confidently.
We’re just getting started — and we’re growing alongside you.
What Makes Aquager Different
Designed as Furniture — Not Equipment
Hydroponic systems have always looked like appliances. We redesigned the entire experience.
Our farms use a premium wooden furniture design, concealing the internal components so they can complement any home, apartment, or studio — including our Chef’s Organic Set. This is our core secondary benefit — home farms should look beautiful, not industrial.
Beginner-Friendly for People Who “Kill Every Plant”
Our systems are built for people with zero gardening experience.
Just add water, place the pre-seeded grow mediums, turn on the LED lighting, and enjoy consistent harvests. For many people, the easiest place to start is with microgreens or a simple starter kit.
Year-Round Nutrition
Grow herbs, leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, and flowers in any season — independent of weather, soil, or outdoor conditions.
Health Benefits, Simplified
Fresh harvests retain higher nutrient density, flavor, and aroma.
When food is grown at home, it reaches your plate within minutes — not days.
