About
us

We are a diverse team of architects, designers, engineers, agronomists, plant scientists, business and marketing experts. We are constantly growing as a team.

The YASAI founders

  • Mark E. Zahran

    Co-CEO

    MSc Architecture at ETH, Zurich & UNAM, Mexico City

  • Philipp Bosshard

    CTO

    BSc Ecological Engineering at Zurich University of Applied Sciences

  • Stefano Augstburger

    Co-CEO

    Master's Degree in Sales, Distribution & Management at SDA Bocconi, Milano & ESADE, Barcelona

The team

  • Gerhardus Petrus Scheepers

    Farm Manager

    PhD in Forest Science at University of Stellenbosch

  • Darko Drasler

    Plant Developer

    Bachelor of Energineering & BE, Biotechnology at UL

  • Eldrid Funck

    Head of Brand & Marketing

    BBA FH Marketing, Consulting & Finance

  • Miriam Bächtold

    HR Manager

    Federal Diploma of International Human Resources Management

  • Luca Somm

    Mechanical Engineer

    MSc Robotics, Systems and Control at ETH Zurich

  • Danila Cabral

    Plant Scientist

    PhD in Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology University Cote d'Azur

  • Annalisa Tarabini

    Office Assistant

    Bachelor in Foreign Languages, Cultures, and Literature in Milan University Cattolica

  • Constantin Glatz

    Business Development Associate

  • Florian Annen

    Production Worker & Technician

  • Hannes Wäckerlig

    Mechanical Engineer

  • Leonardo Della Canonica

    Nursery Grower

  • Kamil Kosturek

    Production Worker

  • Dima Tkachev

    Production Worker

  • Lahcen Bounia

    Production Worker

  • Aga Gudziej

    Production Worker

  • Gérôme Essig

    Production Worker

  • Yuri Yurasov

    Production Worker

  • Zine Wadifi

    Production Worker

  • Cristian Di-Maso

    Production Worker

  • Edgar Schnauzmann

    Serotonin Manager

  • Prof Roach

    Head of Security

THE EXPERT ADVISORS

  • Dr. Prof. Dickson Despommier

    Former professor at Columbia University in NYC

    Author of the book: "Vertical Farms: How to feed the world in the 21st century"

  • Dr. Martijn Sonnevelt

    Lecturer at the department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich

    Executive Director of The World Food System Center ETH

  • Prof. Dr. Ranka Junge

    Head Centre Ecological Engineering Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)

    Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)

  • Dr. Michel Roux

    Co-Founder and President of Food Forum Zurich

    Community Building and Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector

  • Fabian Weinländer

    Former project developer at Urban Farmers AG

    Business development manager at RethinkResource in Zurich

  • Dr. Iris Wollmann

    Agronomist

    Ph.D. in plant nutrition on closed nutrient cycles and recycled fertilizers at the University of Hohenheim.