AgroSpheres, an i.Lab Incubator Startup, Recognized Among Top GreenTech Companies by TIME Magazine
By Caroline Mackey
A fast-growing company that emerged from the renowned i.Lab Incubator at the Darden School of Business’s Batten Institute has been recognized as one of the top green businesses in America and the world for 2025.
AgroSpheres, a Charlottesville-based agricultural biotechnology company, has earned a spot on both the World’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025 and America’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025 lists, presented by TIME and Statista Inc.
This recognition highlights the company’s contributions to sustainable agriculture through advanced biobased technologies, essentially making natural crop protection products that help farmers grow food in a way that is better for the environment.
Based in Charlottesville, VA, AgroSpheres is revolutionizing crop protection with its innovative AgriCell platform. By enhancing the delivery and stability of biological pesticides, the company is helping farmers transition to environmentally friendly alternatives without compromising efficacy.
AgroSpheres got its start in the i.Lab Incubator at Darden’s Batten Institute, which supports student entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and resources.
“This recognition from TIME is a testament to the power of science-driven innovation in reshaping agriculture,” said Payam Pourtaheri, Co-Founder and CEO.
“Our strong financial foundation supports the rapid commercialization of our bio-based solutions, ensuring long-term impact for growers and the environment.”
Ameer Shakeel, Co-Founder and CTO, emphasized the company’s technological advancements.
“Innovation and impact go hand in hand. Our end-to-end technology platform, rooted in cutting-edge science, novel active ingredients, and a strong intellectual property portfolio, is paving the way for greener, more effective crop protection solutions.”
TIME and Statista’s rankings were based on three criteria: positive environmental impact, financial strength, and innovation.
Statista collaborated with data partners HolonIQ and LexisNexis® Intellectual Property Solutions to assess companies through rigorous data analysis, including patent filings, product efficacy, and financial performance.
Since its founding, AgroSpheres has quickly positioned itself as a leader in the sustainable agriculture space.
By leveraging its proprietary platform, the company enables cost-effective deployment of biomolecules, plant extracts, and small molecules, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining high field efficacy.
With a mission to harness nature’s technologies for a more sustainable future, AgroSpheres continues to push the boundaries of agricultural innovation. For more information, visit www.agrospheres.com.
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business prepares responsible global leaders through unparalleled transformational learning experiences. Darden’s graduate degree programs (MBA, MSBA and Ph.D.) and Executive Education & Lifelong Learning programs offered by the Darden School Foundation set the stage for a lifetime of career advancement and impact. Darden’s top-ranked faculty, renowned for teaching excellence, inspires and shapes modern business leadership worldwide through research, thought leadership and business publishing. Darden has Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C., area and a global community that includes 18,000 alumni in 90 countries. Darden was established in 1955 at the University of Virginia, a top public university founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Press Contact
Molly Mitchell
Senior Associate Director, Editorial and Media Relations
Darden School of Business
University of Virginia
MitchellM@darden.virginia.edu
