RAMP Company Spotlight: Interview with Toni Sperry of Pod Farms
Pod Farms, LLC based in Pulaski, VA, is setting out to address the problems of crop production through hydroponics. Through their patented technology, Pod Farms is working hard to unlock hyper-local food production for commercial grow operations, community grow centers, and home hobbyists.
South Carolina native Toni Sperry is the co-founder of Pod Farms, where she utilizes her characteristic wide-ranging curiosity, business acumen, and vision. She recently took Pod Farms through the On RAMP pre-accelerator program. Following this interview, Toni was accepted into RAMP’s signature RAMP In-Residence accelerator program as part of the Spring 2025 Cohort. Keep reading to learn all about Toni’s inspiring work with Pod Farms.
Tell us a little bit about your background. Did you study agriculture?
No, I didn’t! I studied at College of Charleston pursing a major in international business with a minor in Asian Studies for about three years. During this time, I studied abroad at Shanghai Normal University with a focus on Mandarin Chinese and global economics. Later, I transferred to the University of South Carolina, Upstate where I received a B.S. degree in experimental psychology with a focus on survey research and minor in business. This is where I learned to love the sciences and research. I still use this education and skill set in my work today.
Finally, although I did not receive a formal degree, I studied statistics at Clemson University at the graduate level. While I was employed there I pondered if I should get a PhD but shortly afterwards, Pod Farms was born!
Tell us the origin story of your company. What inspired you?
Personally, eating clean, organic, and low processed foods are a priority for our household choices. During my time at Clemson, I learned about tainted food in the supply chain, and wellness spaces in homes and hotels which got me thinking about our food sourcing and healthy habits. I spoke to a horticulture friend of mine about creating a hydroponic system. My brother—now co-founder—had a mechatronics company building automated equipment. Together, we started a small team and brainstormed how to create new hydroponic systems. We even went to Silicon Valley to speak with tech leaders about software integration. This was back in 2017 when what we know now as CEA (controlled environment agriculture) was brewing behind the scenes.
In 2021, we received news that we would be issued our first patent, and the examiner said we had more than one invention in our hands. I knew we could take our design to growers, and in 2023, Pod Farms moved to VA and I explored our B2B model through the ICAP program. It was a win, and we have been pursuing it ever since.
How did you choose RAMP as your accelerator?
RAMP is one of the few accelerators to support agriculture companies like ours on the East Coast. Most other accelerators for CEA are in California, Canada, or the Netherlands and right here in Virginia, I have found world-class support and mentors.
RAMP is an impressive organization. I was at a press conference in Pulaski when a RAMP representative took interest in our hydroponic system that was used in crop production trials. I knew then I needed to explore the organization further, and I found that others from RAMP who were also excited about our technology.
In Pulaski, VA we have direct access to new and emerging talent from Virginia Tech’s AgTech program and the agriculture program at Virginia Western Community College. This ecosystem of innovation, talent, and collaboration makes Pulaski an exciting hub for the future of AgTech and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), which is a main reason why we have located our HQ here.
What has it meant for your company to have participated in RAMP?
On RAMP has made an impression on me as a founder. On RAMP pushes you to ask yourself why you are going into entrepreneurship, and most importantly if your product is solving an important customer problem. I would encourage anyone who is wondering if they should take their ideas to the next level to apply to On RAMP.
Who are some Roanoke-Blacksburg mentors that have impacted you?
Chris Moore and Amy Ankrum were my mentors during On Ramp and they both led me to new insights about myself and how to take my company to the next level.
Describe a typical client and the reach of your product.
Currently we are only offering our products and services to small projects that are education or research driven. We are collaborating with educators on research and education projects in Virginia. This year, we anticipate upfitting some classroom sized mini-grow operations, following our first small (>1 Acre) indoor vertical facility in 2026.
What is one obstacle in the founding of your company that you’re most proud of overcoming?
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I knew that I had to get creative about having any kind of maternity leave. While I was in the middle of my second trimester we pitched and won $10,000 in a grant competition. It was just a piece of the puzzle that helped us to get to the next step, but I am very proud to say that now having my second child, we have been able to keep Pod Farms moving forward through it all!
What piece of advice would you give early-stage tech/biotech entrepreneurs?
Keep your company as lean as you can until you find the right partners or investors. Keeping our expenses and debt down have been key to surviving for so long. We are ready to scale and grow the business now, but only because we have been able to weather our early pivots.
I would also say to find an area or region that supports what you are trying to do. The fact that SWVA is home to one of the largest indoor tomato-growing operations in the country, Red Sun Farms, highlights the region’s strength in CEA. Pod Farms and two local strategic partners are working with the town and county of Pulaski to revitalize an abandoned building into an indoor farm.
Having this community and support around technology development accelerates our market entry and technological advancements. This is also why RAMP is so integral to our current momentum.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I am a national champion clogger. In South Carolina, we call it clogging, in SWVA, it’s called flatfoot. I was so excited find that in Floyd you could clog or go “Flatfoot” on Friday nights at one of the downtown shops!
Any additional comments on your team, accomplishments or future projects?
For the most current grant awarded, in which I am listed as PI, we were informed that it was ranked No. 1 in all proposals submitted. Considering the complexity of the subject matter, I was very proud of being able to pull together a team who could create such an important proposal.
RAMP and RBTC are part of the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA), established to grow the region’s innovation economy, technology and life sciences sectors, and the supporting professional communities. It aligns the strengths and programming efforts of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP). RBIA serves GO Virginia Region 2 and works to form collaborations with government, business, academia, and other organizations to advance the region and grow a thriving innovation economy.