Arthur Chen left UBC with a big idea: use technology to help farmers grow more while wasting less. That idea became Verdi, an agri-tech company building automated crop management systems.

“About 95% of farms have not adopted automation—they’re still manually operating millions of acres of farmland,” says Arthur.

“Climate change is creating a lot of pressure for farms together with things like labour shortages and a general economic downturn.”

As a UBC alum majoring in engineering physics and a recipient of the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship—one of Canada’s most coveted STEM scholarships awarded to entrepreneurial-minded students—Arthur has a passion for modernizing agriculture.

Verdi’s mission is to automate tasks like irrigation and maintenance without the need for expensive overhauls.

“Farmers face immense challenges,” says Arthur. “It’s incredibly difficult to build technology for agriculture because you’re working in harsh environments across massive areas. That makes automation expensive, complicated to install, and often out of reach for the average farm. Our goal is to change that by developing tools that are affordable, easy to use, and adaptable.”

Arthur’s innovative approach is already yielding results. Verdi’s technology is now live on over 5,000 acres of farmland across the U.S. and Canada, supporting customers that include some of the world’s largest food brands. By making automation accessible, Verdi is helping farms reduce water waste, improve crop yields, and adapt to climate change. In 2024 alone, Verdi’s systems helped save more than 100 million liters of water.

Born in Surrey, BC, Arthur’s family had farmed rice in Taiwan. But as an immigrant family in Canada, he became the first generation not to farm—which sparked his curiosity.

“Ironically, that got me interested in the agriculture side,” says Arthur. “I always wanted to combine that angle with technology and innovation.”

His journey to this point was shaped by the opportunities provided by UBC and the Schulich Leader Scholarship.

“The Schulich Leader Scholarship was life-changing,” he explains. “Without the financial burden of tuition, I could focus on entrepreneurship and leadership activities. It gave me the freedom to take risks and explore my passions.”

Arthur also valued the community he found among other Schulich Leaders.

“It’s an inspiring network of driven, passionate people,” says Arthur. “Connecting with them kept me motivated during the challenges of university and beyond. That sense of camaraderie and shared purpose made a huge difference.”

After graduation, Arthur attributes much of Verdi’s early success to the support he received through UBC’s entrepreneurship@UBC (e@UBC) program when the company was founded in 2020.

“e@UBC connected us with mentors who had built companies in our space,” he explains. “That network was crucial, especially during the pandemic, when raising investment was particularly challenging. Their guidance and access to industry professionals helped us navigate those critical early stages.”

Verdi has since raised $9.5 million in venture funding from leading investors, further fuelling its mission to revolutionize farm automation. Looking ahead, Arthur has bold ambitions for Verdi.

“We want to flip the narrative,” he says. “Right now, 95% of farms aren’t automated. We want to see a world where 95% of farms use automation to operate more efficiently and sustainably.”

Verdi is already expanding globally, supporting farms across North America and expanding to Peru and Portugal. For Arthur, however, the ultimate goal goes beyond business success.

“AI and automation have incredible potential, but they should always serve people first,” he says. “At Verdi, we’re committed to empowering farmers to overcome challenges and thrive. It’s about creating a better, more sustainable future for everyone.”