Paqua: From Seed to System - Building Colombia's First Modular Hydroponic Solution
Co-founding a sustainable agriculture startup in a country with limited industrial infrastructure taught me that innovation isn't just about design—it's about persistence, adaptation, and believing that families deserve access to fresh, locally-grown food. Over three years, we transformed a single prototype into a complete product ecosystem that connected over 600 families with urban agriculture.
The Challenge In 2014, Colombia's urban population was growing rapidly, yet access to fresh, pesticide-free produce remained limited. Traditional agriculture couldn't keep pace with urbanization, and imported hydroponic systems were prohibitively expensive. We saw an opportunity to democratize urban agriculture, but we faced a significant obstacle: Colombia's industrial production landscape was fragmented, with limited access to specialized manufacturing.
The Journey: From Concept to Market
Phase 1: The First Prototype (Months 1-6) Our journey began with a single question: What would a hydroponic system designed specifically for Colombian families look like? I led the initial design process, creating sketches, 3D models, and our first functional prototype. This early version was crude but promising—a simple vertical tower that could grow herbs and small vegetables on a balcony.
Phase 2: Early Adopters and Iteration (Months 7-12) We identified our first 20 early adopters through sustainability networks in Bogotá. These pioneers weren't just customers; they were co-designers. Their feedback was invaluable:
- "The reservoir is too small—I have to refill it every two days"
- "Can it work without electricity? My building has frequent power cuts"
- "I want to grow tomatoes, not just lettuce"
Each piece of feedback sent me back to the drawing board. I redesigned the water circulation system three times, experimented with passive aeration methods, and created modular planting pods that could accommodate different plant types.
Phase 3: Building the Product Ecosystem (Year 2) As demand grew, we realized that one size wouldn't fit all. I designed multiple product variations:
The Micro Garden: A single-tower system perfect for apartment balconies. Held 12 plants and featured a self-watering reservoir with a 10-day capacity. We sold over 400 of these units.
The Family Garden: A modular system with 2-3 interconnected towers. This became our bestseller, with over 200 units sold to families wanting to grow their weekly vegetable supply.
The Community Module: Large-scale installations for schools, community centers, and restaurants. Each module could produce 50+ kg of vegetables monthly. We installed 20-40 of these systems across Colombia.
The Vertical Farm Kit: An experimental design for commercial producers, featuring automated monitoring and vertical stacking capability.
Phase 4: Manufacturing in Colombia (Ongoing) This was perhaps our greatest challenge. Colombia lacked specialized manufacturers for food-grade hydroponic components. I became part designer, part industrial detective:
- Sourced food-safe plastics from five different suppliers
- Worked with local injection molding companies to develop custom molds
- Collaborated with small-scale manufacturers to produce our specialized water pumps
- Designed products that could be assembled without specialized equipment
I created technical drawings, production specifications, and quality control protocols. I spent countless hours in factories, problem-solving with manufacturers who had never built anything like this before.
Phase 5: The Cradle-to-Cradle Philosophy Sustainability wasn't just our product's purpose—it was our design philosophy. I ensured every component could be:
- Disassembled without tools
- Replaced or upgraded independently
- Recycled or repurposed at end-of-life
- Manufactured using minimal energy
The Impact By 2017, Paqua had:
- Sold 600+ modular units to families across Colombia
- Installed 20-40 large community systems
- Connected hundreds of families with sustainable food production
- Created a network of urban farmers who shared knowledge and seeds
- Reduced the carbon footprint of fresh produce for our users by eliminating transport
- Provided educational workshops on sustainable agriculture to over 1,000 people
What I Learned This project taught me that great design requires more than technical skills. It demands:
- Empathy: Understanding that a mother of three needs different features than a restaurant owner
- Resilience: Accepting that the fifth prototype might fail too
- Systems Thinking: Recognizing that a product is just one part of a larger ecosystem
- Cultural Awareness: Designing for Colombian realities, not importing foreign solutions
Paqua was more than a product—it was a movement toward local, sustainable, and accessible food production.