Canada-based agtech startup Plantaform has been named the winner of the PITCH startup competition at Web Summit Qatar 2026, standing out in a field of early-stage companies competing on one of the region’s most visible innovation stages.
The announcement capped a four-day event that drew more than 30,000 attendees, 1,600+ startups, and 900+ investors from 127 countries, reinforcing Web Summit Qatar’s growing reputation as a launchpad for global fundraising and commercial traction.
Fogponics for Food, Anywhere
Founded in Ottawa, Plantaform is developing smart, connected indoor gardens that enable households to grow fresh herbs, greens, and vegetables year-round—without soil. The company’s systems rely on fogponics, a mist-based method that delivers water and nutrients directly to plant roots as an ultrasonic fog, significantly reducing water use while accelerating plant growth.
Designed for ease of use, the technology allows nutrient-rich food to be produced indoors across climates and seasons, with minimal effort from users.
Looking ahead, co-founder and CEO Alberto Aguilar said the company aims to scale rapidly across the region. He noted that within a year, Plantaform’s smart gardens could become a common household appliance across the GCC, while the underlying fogponics technology is also being adapted for commercial greenhouses suited to desert environments.
Aguilar added that discussions at Web Summit Qatar were focused on real-world deployment and impact, reflecting strong investor and operator interest.
Strong Competition, Proven Track Record
Runners-up in the PITCH competition included GlüxKind, a Vancouver-based robotics company applying AI to baby stroller safety, and &Again, a Dubai-based startup building a social marketplace for pre-loved and slow fashion.
PITCH has a growing track record at Web Summit Qatar. Previous winners include Metalchemy, focused on extending food shelf life, and Breshna, which enables users to create and monetise games without coding.
Since Web Summit Qatar 2025, nearly 70 startups participating through the event’s Startup Programme have collectively raised $205 million, underlining the competition’s role as a credible springboard to capital and global visibility.
The PITCH winner announcement brought to a close an edition that featured hundreds of speakers, meetups, and international media representatives, further cementing Doha’s place on the global technology circuit.
Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for startup & business news and inspiring stories of MENA businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, innovators, investors, and change-makers.
To report any issue or error in the story, please email us editor [at] rasmal [dot] com.
Last Updated on February 4, 2026 by Safiya K
