Swedish agritech startup BlueRedGold has raised €2.73 million in investment.
The startup specialises in developing high-tech indoor automation systems for saffron cultivation.
BlueRedGold’s system replicates ideal growing conditions indoors, enabling multiple cultivation cycles per year and automating the intricate processes of saffron flower picking and stigma separation. They aim not only to grow saffron in Sweden but also license their system globally across the food, medical, cosmetics, and nutraceutical sectors.
The funding will be used to construct a first-of-its-kind blueprint facility - a modular plant designed for profitability from the start.
PINC, the venture arm of international food company 
“Saffron is one of the most culturally significant and economically valuable spices on the planet, but its production is fragile, inconsistent, and facing growing sustainability challenges,” said Erika Hombert, Senior Investment Manager at PINC.
“This isn’t just a pilot - it’s a blueprint we can multiply globally,” said Hombert.
"Demand is already there — not just from food producers, but from the rapidly expanding medical and nutraceutical segments. We’re focused on meeting that need with quality, consistency, and scale.”
BlueRedGold’s approach brings automation, predictability, and quality to a supply chain we know well, offering a complimentary path forward for future production."
With more than several tonnes of saffron requested already by the nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics industries, BlueRedGold’s market traction underscores the opportunity in reshaping saffron supply.
For BlueRedGold CEO Nastaran Baleng-Soultani, the partnership with PINC and Paulig goes far beyond capital.
“We’re extremely excited to be supported by this strategic investor consortium. Working with PINC means partnering with a team who deeply understands food, flavour, and the dynamics of supply. Their strategic insights and global reach through Paulig are incredibly valuable as we take this next step,” said Baleng-Soultani.
“This investment enables us to scale production and start fulfilling the unmet demand we see worldwide, with quality and reliability at the core.”
Supporting this next phase of growth, Andrei Boulescu has recently joined BlueRedGold as CTO and Head of Automation and Production. A seasoned expert in AI-driven automation and scaling complex production systems, Boulescu brings experience from global leaders including Huawei, Airbus, and Innotek.
The funding will accelerate the company’s development of the world’s first scalable indoor saffron cultivation system, enabled by advanced robotics and AI.
Lead image: Andrei Boulescu (Founder & Chief Innovation Officer), Nastaran Baleng-Soultani (CEO), and Mikael Öhman (CTO and Head of Production & Automation. Credit: Markus Engstrand.
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