From in-store display units to compact production systems, Slovak technology company Ambitas has focused on building vertical farms that balance automation, modularity, and usability. With a background in IoT and system integration, the company now applies its engineering expertise to projects that prioritize real-world functionality over technical showmanship.
"Vertical farming naturally appealed to us because it brings all of that together in one deeply technical, fast-evolving domain," says Martin Balaz, founder and CEO of Ambitas. "Our background has always been in bridging hardware and software. The opportunity to build something tangible, responsive, and sustainable in this space was immediate and obvious."
Condensing complexity into compact form
The clearest expression of that philosophy is StoreField, Ambitas' retail-focused vertical farm designed to fit seamlessly inside grocery environments. It's a unit that condenses the backbone of a commercial vertical farm into the footprint of a display shelf, and is fully automated, self-contained, and visually intuitive.
© StoreField®
"One of the biggest challenges was that we couldn't look at design, automation, and user experience in isolation. They all had to align with a viable business model," Balaz explains. "We had to invent new manufacturing workflows, introduce remote diagnostics, and re-engineer components that are normally used at scale. At the same time, it had to be plug-and-play, low maintenance, and clean enough to sit in front of customers." It's a level of engineering that reflects the company's broader ethos: technology that disappears behind ease of use, without sacrificing functionality.
Modularity without illusion
Ambitas has worked across retail units, research environments, and production pilots. Despite the range, Balaz says their design process consistently returns to one principle: modularity, when it makes sense. "Modularity is always one of our goals, even though it's not always fully achievable, especially in highly custom or first-of-their-kind projects," he says. "From both a hardware and software perspective, we design with reusability and long-term adaptability in mind."
While clients often approach Ambitas looking for bespoke features, the company has learned that most projects benefit from a standardized core with just enough flexibility to serve specific needs. "In most cases, clients say they want flexibility, but what they actually need is a reliable system that works, is easy to operate, and doesn't break the bank," Balaz notes.
© Ambitas
Replicability through pragmatism
At the heart of Ambitas' current strategy is a "fail fast, learn fast" approach that values field testing over perfection. "We don't believe in building systems in isolation or overengineering for hypothetical scenarios," Balaz says. "We release, test, and adjust based on actual user behavior and operational feedback."
That mindset has shaped a deeper commitment to transparency and control. Ambitas avoids proprietary black-box solutions, instead favoring open components and architectures that can be adapted and maintained by clients long after installation. "Long-term operability for us means simplicity, honesty, and building only what's really needed to solve the problem."
© Ambitas
Connecting the disconnected
Looking ahead, Ambitas is working on an internal platform known as USP, a backend layer designed to connect fragmented farm systems and infrastructure, new and old. "Many farms and facilities already have investments in place, and we believe there's huge value in helping those systems talk to each other more effectively," says Balaz.
"USP is designed to be that missing piece in the middle, reducing costs, extending the life of existing assets, and opening the door to gradual upgrades rather than full overhauls." Rather than chasing the latest buzzwords, Ambitas is investing in interoperability as infrastructure, quietly enabling smarter transitions for farms that may not be able to rip and replace everything at once.
Beyond ambition
Perhaps the most telling evolution is how Ambitas scopes new projects. "We're more cautious than ever because experience has taught us that passion alone isn't enough," Balaz says. "We've learned the value of pausing, asking the tough questions early, and making sure the foundation is solid before committing to any new endeavor."
Today, Ambitas not only designs farms but also evaluates the business models behind them. "We now assess, within a matter of hours or days, whether a proposed business model is feasible or fundamentally flawed. That ability to look beyond the tech and into the business reality is something we're genuinely proud of."
For more information:
Ambitas 
Martin Balaz, Founder and CEO
martin.balaz@ambitas.org
www.ambitas.org