Rory Aronson

FarmBot Inc is a California-based benefit corporation that designs and produces 100% open-source farming robots for small-scale precision agriculture. My three focuses at the company are product architecture, design and development, and story-telling.

FarmBot is an open-source, scalable, automated precision farming machine. Think of it like a giant 3D printer, but instead of wielding a plastic extruder, its tools are seed injectors, watering nozzles, plows, sensors, and more. I invented FarmBot and founded The FarmBot Project - an open community of individuals and businesses focused on developing and distributing FarmBot technologies.

OpenFarm is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides a free and open database for farming and gardening knowledge. OpenFarm data powers the FarmBot web app, and it can power your application too! Get started at openfarm.cc

I have been involved with the SLO MakerSpace from the start. While serving on the Board of Directors, I have helped refine the business model, make critical business decisions, foster strategic partnerships, and overall guide the startup process and day-to-day operations.

As the only employee I performed nearly every high level task necessary to startup and operate the business including: shop infrastructure and equipment buildout, website construction, writing curriculum and teaching safety and skills classes, strategic outreach and Internet marketing, interviewing, training, and managing six interns as well as finding and training my successor. Highlights include building and learning to operate advanced manufacturing equipment such as a CNC router, 3D printer, and laser cutter.

Tasks included registering new members, giving welcome tours, and providing customer service. Responsibilities included opening and closing the gym, processing credit cards, and ensuring a safe and fun environment.

A combination of three similar ideas from Startup Weekend, Propelem was a rewards platform with the motto "Reward Anyone for Anything." It was aimed at motivating and inspiring action in people by offering rewards when specific actions were completed. Working on Propelem, and particularly with the Propelem team, is where my love for entrepreneurship really began. We learned how to deliver pitches, fill out lean canvases, yolo, and most importantly: what it's like to be extremely excited about working on a project of your own. Though Propelem never came to fruition, working on it was one of the highlights of my college career, kickstarted me into entrepreneurship, and gave me absolutely priceless memories and experience.

Euphoria Farms was a fruit trading and group purchasing collective in San Luis Obispo. The collective was started by Rory and three friends in response to the abundance of fruit that rots on the ground in backyards as well as the lack of a fruit CSA in the area. A business plan and marketing strategy was created in the Spring and deliveries were made for 8 weeks throughout Summer and Fall. The collective recouped its startup cost with the last delivery, viewing the endeavor as a complete success and a fun and valuable learning experience.