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

    CEO & Co-Founder

    MSc Architecture at ETH, Zurich & UNAM, Mexico City

  • Philipp Bosshard

    CTO & Co-Founder

    BSc Ecological Engineering at Zurich University of Applied Sciences

  • Stefano Augstburger

    CCO & Co-Founder

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

The team

  • Pierre Swaelus

    Business Manager

    MSc Sustainable Business Management, Energy Economics and Corporate Sustainability at Bocconi University

  • 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

  • Anouk C. Schaedler

    Content Creator

    Bachelor in Trends & Identity at Zurich University of the Arts

  • Annalisa Tarabini

    Office Assistant

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

  • Florian Annen

    Farm Worker & Technician

  • Kamil Kosturek

    Production Worker

  • Dima Tkachev

    Production Worker

  • Bastiyan Anthonimuthu

    Production Worker

  • Lahcen Bounia

    Production Worker

  • Leonardo Della Canonica

    Plant Scientist Intern

  • Julian Frey

    Freelancer

    Bachelor in Industrial Design at Zurich University of the Arts

  • Edgar Schnauzmann

    Serotonin Manager

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.