ABOUT US
We were three university students from three different countries that serendipitously crossed paths while working part-time at a local hardware store. Little did we know, our common interests for business, tech and sustainability would result in the launch of ALLPA Vertical Farms in 2019, a hydroponic microgreen company located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
ALLPA is named after Mama Allpa, who in South America’s Inca religion and empire, is the goddess of the Earth and fertility, responsible for fruitful harvests. Their civilization was one of the first to grow vegetables in water, which deeply inspired us .
We contribute to the local economy by buying our compostable containers and seeds from Canadian companies. What makes us unique is that every one of our microgreen packages has a donation built into it!
Our team
Andrey Salazar
Engineering
Originally from Colombia, Andrey came to Canada as a refugee in 2007 and never looked back. His passion for understanding the world led him to pursue physics at U of C and electronic engineering at SAIT. He’s a man of few words. Methodical, cerebral and no doubt - a visionary. His nit-pickiness makes him an excellent tinkerer and jack of all trades. We jokingly call him “Mr. Salazar”.
Guillermo Borges
Co-founder
Growing up, Venezuela-born Borges (we call him “G”) lived in Syria, Norway and Costa Rica before calling Alberta home, proudly becoming a Canadian citizen in 2018. As “the storyteller” he is tasked with shaping our brand - from website design and social media to sales. A graduate from Mount Royal University with a major in marketing and a minor in innovation & entrepreneurship - G is known for his curiosity, ambition and passion for all things business.
Zakk Tambasco
Head of production
Zakk grew up on a cattle farm just outside of Edmonton and moved to Calgary 2018. He attributes his interest for food to his Sicilian roots. As head of production, Zakk makes sure our crops have a healthy yield and stay consistent. You’ll find Zakk supporting every area of our team. He’s the bridge between business development and innovation . He’s an Oiler fan - and we don’t hold it against him.
