Loading organizations...

Colvin is a technology company.
Colvin operates an online platform for flowers, plants, and curated gifts, digitally transforming the floriculture industry. The company employs a direct-to-consumer model, partnering directly with certified growers to streamline the supply chain. This approach ensures the delivery of fresh, high-quality products by significantly reducing storage times and logistical intermediaries.
The company was founded in 2016 by Sergi Bastardas, Andrés Cester, and Marc Olmedillo. Meeting at ESADE Business School, the trio identified inefficiencies within the traditional flower distribution network, inspiring them to create a more direct and efficient way to deliver fresh botanicals. Their entrepreneurial vision aimed to enhance the overall customer experience by controlling the entire process from grower to recipient.
Colvin serves a broad customer base across Spain, Italy, and Portugal, providing fresh floral and plant arrangements for various occasions. Its long-term vision centers on creating joyful moments through a user-centric design, emphasizing sustainability, and respecting seasonal beauty. The company aims to consistently deliver delightful and memorable experiences, continually innovating its offerings and supply chain.
Colvin has raised $96.3M across 8 funding rounds.
Colvin has raised $96.3M in total across 8 funding rounds.
Colvin has raised $96.3M in total across 8 funding rounds.
Colvin's investors include Eurazeo, Andres Cester, Sergi Bastardas, Chloé Giard, Capagro, P101, Primo Ventures, Unruly Capital, ITA500, Milano Investment Partners, Samaipata, Mediaset.
# High-Level Overview
The search results reveal two distinct companies operating under the "Colvin" name, making it important to clarify which one you're asking about. Colvin (the floriculture company) is a technology platform that digitizes the flower and plant supply chain, connecting growers directly with retailers and consumers to eliminate intermediaries[1]. Colvin Run Networks is a separate mission-driven analytics company specializing in AI/ML solutions for government and defense applications[4].
Given the investment-focused framing of your request, I'll address both:
Colvin (Floriculture): Founded in 2017 by Andrés Cester and Sergi Bastardas, Colvin has raised approximately €70 million in funding, including a €45 million Series C round[1]. The company operates across Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Germany with over 200 employees, focusing on creating a marketplace that revitalizes the flower and plant industry through supply chain efficiency and direct producer connections[1].
Colvin Run Networks: Founded in 2018 with grants from Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, Colvin Run operates as a government-focused analytics firm serving defense and intelligence agencies[7]. The company specializes in transforming complex datasets into actionable insights using AI, machine learning, and cloud analytics, with headquarters in Tysons, Virginia[4][5].
# Origin Story
Colvin (Floriculture) emerged from a recognition that the flower and plant industry lacked digital infrastructure. Co-founders Cester and Bastardas built the first vertical marketplace committed to disintermediation—removing unnecessary supply chain layers to connect growers directly with end customers[1]. The company's early success in Spain and Portugal demonstrated market demand for this model, leading to expansion into France, Italy, and Germany[1].
Colvin Run Networks took inspiration from Colvin Run Mill, a 19th-century gristmill in Great Falls, Virginia, originally owned by George Washington[4]. Founded by Nikhil Shenoy and team, the company positioned itself to serve government agencies seeking advanced analytics capabilities. Early recognition included being named a Top 10 Startup serving the U.S. Air Force and winning MassChallenge awards[7].
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Colvin (Floriculture) rides the e-commerce and supply chain digitalization wave, addressing inefficiencies in a traditionally fragmented industry. The timing aligns with consumer demand for direct-to-consumer purchasing and sustainability concerns around supply chain transparency[1]. By proving the marketplace model works for perishables, Colvin demonstrates a replicable template for other industries facing similar intermediation problems.
Colvin Run Networks operates at the intersection of government digital transformation and AI adoption. As defense agencies modernize legacy systems and embrace cloud computing and DevSecOps, Colvin Run positions itself as a trusted partner capable of handling classified data and mission-critical workloads[3][7]. The company benefits from increased federal spending on AI/ML capabilities and the urgent need for real-time operational insights across military branches.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Colvin (Floriculture) is executing a classic venture-backed scaling strategy: prove the model in home markets, raise significant capital, and expand geographically while building marketplace network effects. The €45 million Series C signals investor confidence in the business model's repeatability. Future success depends on achieving profitability while expanding into new perishable categories and potentially new geographies[1].
Colvin Run Networks is well-positioned to capture growing government spending on AI modernization. With SBIR Phase III acquisitions, a $7.5 million credit line, and partnerships with leading technology vendors like Harness, the company has the infrastructure to scale rapidly[7]. The IRONCLAD Navy initiative and space force partnerships suggest deepening relationships with high-value government customers.
Both companies exemplify how technology can unlock value in traditionally analog industries—one by democratizing flower retail, the other by automating intelligence analysis for national security. Their trajectories will largely depend on execution speed and the ability to expand beyond initial beachheads.
Colvin has raised $96.3M across 8 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.5M Other Equity in July 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2023 | $6.5M Other Equity | Eurazeo | Andres Cester, Sergi Bastardas |
| Jul 28, 2021 | $53.2M Series C | Chloé Giard | Capagro |
| Jun 1, 2020 | $16.0M Series B | P101, Primo Ventures, Unruly Capital, ITA500, Milano Investment Partners, Samaipata | |
| Apr 8, 2019 | $2.3M Other Equity | Mediaset, Milano Investment Partners | |
| Oct 16, 2018 | $7.0M Other Equity | P101 | Hugo Arévalo Álvarez-Arenas, Javier Etxebeste, Javier Faus, Mediaset Espa, Samaipata |
| Oct 1, 2018 | $7.0M Venture Round | P101, Primo Ventures, Unruly Capital, Felix Ruiz Hernandez | |
| Dec 18, 2017 | $2.4M Other Equity | Hugo Arévalo Álvarez-Arenas, Mediaset, Samaipata | |
| Dec 1, 2017 | $2.0M Seed | Felix Ruiz Hernandez |