We were lucky to catch up with Isabella Bernal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Isabella thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

One of the biggest risks I took was leaving the stability of corporate life to dive into the world of startups. After gaining experience at respected companies like IBM, SAP, and Oracle, I had built a comfortable career path, one that many would consider a success.However, there was a pivotal moment when I took a brief detour into the startup world and worked for a startup that later became a unicorn and a startup founded by a Shark from Shark Tank. These experiences combined with the experience of mentoring startups from my SAP role ignited my curiosity to the fast-paced, high-stakes world of startups. The security and stability were appealing, but I felt a deeper calling to do something more.

I began to see connections between my experiences and knowledge, which gradually took shape as a business idea. My journey was unique, and I felt a strong drive to use the insights I had gained to make a meaningful impact. While the fear of losing the security I had cultivated, was real, my desire to contribute to something greater pushed me forward to create Eqgrow from scratch. It was tough in the beginning, and there were many moments of uncertainty, but looking back, I can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The risk wasn’t just about building something for myself, it was about contributing with a solution that could help make the world a better place and shape the future of agtech.

Isabella , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At Eqgrow, our mission is simple yet powerful: we’re working to feed the planet by creating the world’s pantry.

We aim to empower farmers to transform their farms into innovation hubs. Our solution not only helps increase food production but also enables them to diversify their income streams, starting with clean energy, unlocking new revenue opportunities through portfolio diversification.

Having gone through the Techstars EnergyTech Alabama program, we’ve been focused on making a tangible impact on farmers in Alabama, helping them thrive in a changing agricultural landscape. Our journey has been one of growth, and we’re proud to be recognized for it. Recently, we were nominated as the Green Tech Startup of the Year in Spain and named one of the top deep learning companies to invest in Barcelona.

At Eqgrow, we’re not just building a business—we’re transforming farms into innovative hubs one farmer at a time.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Pedro Diaz, our CTO, and I met while working together on the same team at IBM, where we were part of the systems hardware team. We collaborated closely, tackling a pipeline full of opportunities in power and storage solutions, which gave us both valuable insights into data center operations.

In the same year we connected, Pedro was honored with the prestigious Technical Eminence Award for his exceptional contributions at IBM, while I became deeply involved in an exciting project that combined agriculture and AI.

This intersection of technology and agriculture sparked the inspiration for what would eventually become Eqgrow, and we’ve been working together ever since to drive innovation, constantly pushing boundaries to create sustainable, scalable solutions that empower farmers

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Founding a startup is never an easy path, and staying true to your “why” is crucial. The journey can be tough, especially in the early years, when you’ll inevitably face moments when giving up seems like the easier or even only option. This is where having a strong sense of purpose becomes essential. While vision and financial success are important motivators for some, most founders would agree that they aren’t enough to sustain you through the toughest challenges.

It’s the purpose—the deep-rooted “why” behind your mission—that gives you the determination to keep pushing forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eqgrow.mydurable.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-bernal-colpas-25768b11a/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@eqtrade

Image Credits

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