The Founder of FarmVille Leaves Videogames to Enter the Cannabis Industry - In a Big Way

Entrepreneur Tom Bollich has decided to give up virtual crops for real ones: marijuana, to be exact. The founder of Zynga, the videogames studio for Facebook and mobiles that shot to international fame thanks to the game FarmVille and its virtual farms, has decided to "turn over a new leaf" by plunging into the cannabis sector. 

He is now the CEO of Surna, a company in Colorado, where marijuana is a business on the rise following its legalization. The company, which develops, acquires, produces and markets systems for the legal marijuana industry–with a focus on cutting-edge technology–announced on 16 October that it had closed a financing deal for over $1.325 million with different investing companies.

This company's products help authorised growers to make their farms more energy-efficient. Especially when dealing with cannabis grown indoors, well-lit and warm conditions are necessary in order for plants to flourish. Surna, benefitting from Bollich's technological knowledge, develops systems so that farmers can slash their resource use (energy, water…).

For example, one of its clients has managed to cut its water usage by over 1,100 litters per year. Not only does the company assist farmers to boost their profits, but it also helps to protect the environment. "We have been able to condense 50% of the water and reuse it," Bollich proudly states.

Another of the technologies they develop is a platform that carries cold water, to reduce need for refrigeration. These systems also prevent plagues that can damage crops.

But that's not all: this entrepreneur wants to use his programming knowledge to develop software that will allow growers to permanently their monitor crops; farmers could keep watch on their plants without leaving home, using nothing more than their mobile phones.

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You can check out the Surna website here.