Our recent finds at the local Goodwill ft. the bratty dust bunny
My fianceé wanted to get five of the canisters but I didn't want to leave just one behind in case it got lonely.
[Image description: three photos. The first is of six deep blue kitchen canisters with a silvery band around the rims. Two tall canisters are in the back, each with a metal scoop attached to the side. Two medium canisters are in the middle, and two small canisters are in front. The second photo is of four crystal teacups. They are small and slightly square, with an eight pointed star or flower shape cut into the bottom and around the sides. The third photo is of two tall skinny glass bottles, one with a cork in it, sitting in a black swirly metal caddy. There's a large fluffy gray kitty walking behind the bottles in the caddy. Towards the right side of the photo are two of the blue canisters from the first photo, one large and one medium. End ID]
agrilution closes Series A with Tengelmann Ventures, Kraut Capital and OSRAMs Fluxunit to prepare for market entry
Press Release: Munich based startup agrilution closes Series A with Tengelmann Ventures, Kraut Capital and OSRAMs Fluxunit. agrilution is preparing the market entry of their plantCube, a plug and play device enabling anyone to grow fresh leafy green vegetables, herbs and lettuces at home - all year round.
The capital will be used to expand the team and prepare for mass production, marketing and after sales service. agrilution is bringing to market the first premium plug and play home-growing appliance that enables anyone to grow the freshest and most taste intense vegetables, herbs and lettuces. The plantCube is part of an ecosystem of products that agrilution has developed to eliminate the need for a green thumb - enabling anyone to produce their own fresh and healthy food at home. It comes with an App and seeds to ensure continuous high yields and great taste. The plantCube identifies the seeds that have been planted and provides an optimal growing environment by automatically regulating temperature, watering, and lighting conditions. This makes it possible to grow fresh and healthy herbs, salad and vegetables regardless of weather and climate.
The investment from Fluxunit, the venture capital fund of OSRAM, strengthens the strategic partnership with agrilution. OSRAM supports agrilution with smart LED solutions and horticultural expertise. For OSRAM it's an important step into the Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture space. Tengelmann Ventures and Kraut Capital already invested in the previous round and made a clear statement by increasing their investment in the Series A.
agrilution, based in Munich, was founded by Maximilian Lössl und Philipp Wagner in 2013 and is active in the space of smart home appliances and vertical farming. agrilution offers a complete vertical farming ecosystem consisting of a smart plug’n’play home-growing appliance and consumables, as well as an App that eliminates the need for a green thumb. Thereby we enable you to grow the healthiest, freshest most taste intensive greens in your own home. Additional information can be found at http://agrilution.com.
ABOUT OSRAM
OSRAM, based in Munich, is a globally leading lighting manufacturer with a history dating back about 100 years. The product portfolio includes high-tech applications based on semiconductor technology such as infrared or laser lighting. The products are used in highly diverse applications ranging from virtual reality, autonomous driving or mobile phones to smart and connected lighting solutions in buildings and cities. In automotive lighting, the company is the global market and technology leader. Based on continuing operations (excluding Ledvance), OSRAM had around 24,600 employees worldwide at the end of fiscal 2016 (September 30) and generated revenue of almost €3.8 billion in that fiscal year. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Munich (ISIN: DE000LED4000; WKN: LED400; trading symbol: OSR). Additional information can be found at www.osram.com.
Market Forecast: The Global Smart Refrigerator Market in 2033
The Global Smart Refrigerator Market is currently in a high-growth phase that is expected to continue well into the next decade. From its 2025 valuation of USD 9.9 billion, the market is projected to reach significant new heights by 2033, supported by a steady CAGR of 8.6%. This long-term growth is underpinned by the decreasing cost of hardware components like touchscreens and sensors, making smart features accessible to the middle-market segment. In 2026, we are seeing the "democratization" of smart technology, as features that were once reserved for $5,000 flagship models begin to appear in more affordable mid-range appliances.
The "Smart Kitchen" is becoming a standard requirement for new real estate developments. Builders and developers are increasingly installing smart refrigerators as a standard amenity in luxury apartments and suburban family homes. This B2B segment is a major driver of market volume, as it guarantees large-scale orders for manufacturers. As home buyers expect their living spaces to be fully connected, the smart refrigerator is often the first thing they look for in a modern kitchen. This trend is particularly strong in North America and Western Europe, where the smart home market is most mature, but it is rapidly spreading to urban centers in the Middle East and Latin America.
Technological convergence will be the theme of the early 2030s. We can expect smart refrigerators to integrate more deeply with home health monitoring systems. For example, if a family member's wearable device detects a vitamin deficiency, the fridge can suggest foods rich in that nutrient or automatically add a supplement to the shopping list. This bridge between the kitchen and the clinic will turn the smart refrigerator into a vital tool for preventative healthcare. As the global population ages and "aging in place" becomes more common, the ability of the fridge to monitor the dietary habits of the elderly will provide peace of mind to caregivers.
Detailed Smart Fridge Industry Analysis suggests that the entry of new tech-focused brands is keeping the market competitive. These startups are challenging traditional appliance giants by focusing on "software-first" designs and open-source ecosystems that allow for greater customization. This competition is driving rapid innovation in user interface (UI) design and voice recognition accuracy. The result is a market that is constantly evolving to meet the high expectations of the digital-native consumer. For the established players, this means that standing still is not an option; they must continue to invest in R&D to maintain their market share.
By 2033, the smart refrigerator will be unrecognizable from the appliances of twenty years ago. It will be a fully autonomous, health-monitoring, waste-reducing, and energy-optimizing hub of the household. The projected 8.6% CAGR is not just a number; it represents the steady integration of technology into the most fundamental aspects of human life. As we move toward a future where every object is connected, the smart refrigerator stands as the most successful example of how technology can enhance the home. It is an industry built on the promise of a better, more efficient, and more enjoyable daily life for everyone.
