Hippotainer produces fresh vegetables in shipping container

After graduating, Tijmen Blok and Jort Maarseveen decided to launch their own startup. Sharing a keen interest in vertical farming, they developed the Hippotainer: a mobile, vertical farm housed inside a shipping container, supplying local markets and restaurants with hundreds of heads of lettuce each week. They are working to bring this solution to regions where growing conditions are challenging due to water scarcity, poor soil, or limited daylight.

Overcoming challenges

Their journey was far from straightforward. Early experiments with pond pumps and polystyrene failed completely. While searching for a portable and efficient system, the idea of a container farm emerged. With a loan, they purchased a second-hand refrigerated container and built the first Hippotainer in Bennekom, generously sharing surplus crops with food banks and fellow students.

Their work soon attracted the attention of an organisation in Ukraine seeking ways to produce food locally while providing employment to internally displaced people. Blok and Maarseveen travelled to Ukraine to set up a Hippotainer container and train a team of refugees in plant care, photosynthesis, nutrition, and marketing. Amidst the challenges of their environment, including nights spent in air raid shelters as sirens sounded, they persevered to help establish a sustainable food source for the local community.

Currently, they are focusing on pilot projects in the Caribbean, planned for launch in 2026.

Recognized for innovation and impact

Their innovative approach and societal impact have earned them several accolades, including the GroenPact Impact Award, the 4TU Impact Challenge, the Wageningen Entrepreneurship Grant 2025 in the category ‘Future Resource Award,’ and a nomination for the Most Innovative Student of the Netherlands.

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