Post-harvest produce technology and shelf-life extension
Strategic Profile
Hazel now counts more than 250 customers and has gone through four fundraising rounds, the last of which was its biggest at $70 million. For developing a produce shelf-life extender that works with existing supply chains, Hazel Technologies is one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in the agriculture category. The company operates in a high-impact segment addressing a critical sustainability challenge in global food distribution.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Hazel has achieved significant commercial traction with 250+ customers including major growers, substantial Series C funding ($70M), USDA validation and grants, and recognition from leading innovation bodies. The business model addresses a genuine supply-chain pain point with validated technology. Risk factors include private status and lack of recent 2026 revenue data.
Top Insights
Hazel has secured $70 million in its Series C fundraising round and serves more than 250 customers. This scale demonstrates strong product-market fit and customer confidence, enabling expansion into new crops and geographies.
Following its $70 Million Series C fundraise, Hazel Technologies opened its state-of-the-art Chicago headquarters in the Fulton Market neighborhood. This facility houses the largest agricultural technology R&D operation in Chicago, signaling capital deployment and growth investment.
Product development is funded in part by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) SBIR Program and product performance has been validated by 3rd party academic research institutions such as Cornell University. Government backing and third-party validation reduce technology and market risk.
Named Competitors
Ethylene Control / Scrubbing Systems — Temperature and humidity monitoring and ethylene control solutions for perishables
Ripening and Freshness Solutions — Post-harvest solutions for shelf-life extension and ripening control
Fresh-Keeping Packaging — Plant-based protective coatings to extend produce freshness
Fresh Inset — 1-MCP formulation for post-harvest shelf-life extension protecting crops from ethylene
Ryp Labs — Post-harvest shelf-life extension solutions for fresh produce
Ripelocker — Ripening and shelf-life control technology for produce supply chains
Recent Developments
(2025) Opened new state-of-the-art headquarters in Chicago's Fulton Market neighborhood
(2025) Named to Grist's Fixer 50 list and Forward Fooding's Food Tech 500 by industry recognition bodies
(2024) BreatheWay melon solution partnership with leading Central American shipper for Japan route
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