Sybotanica B.V.

What Sybotanica B.V. does

Sybotanica B.V. is a Dutch houseplant care company founded in 2020 in Arnhem that develops and sells plant-family-specific potting soils, plant food, mineral substrates, soil improvers, pots, and moss primarily through its direct-to-consumer e-commerce site sybotanica.com, shipping across 16 European countries. Its core offering is the SYBASoil line of 16 peat-free, coco coir-based formulations (Aroid, Cacti & Succulent, Calathea, Alocasia, Ficus, Orchid, Syngonium, Bonsai, Anthurium, Terrarium, Carnivorous, Hoya, Base, Universal, and Fern mixes), each engineered to replicate the airflow, moisture, and structural conditions of a plant family's native habitat and pre-loaded with 180 days of slow-release organic nutrients. The company complements the soil line with the SYBASupport plant food range (Monstera, Orchid, Cactus, Palm, Liquid) packaged in 100% recycled PET, the SYBAStones mineral substrates for semi-hydro growing, and a B2B wholesale program for independent plant shops and garden centers across Europe. In July 2025 Sybotanica launched SYBAScan, a free AI-powered computer vision tool that identifies up to 35,000 plant, mushroom, and lichen species and serves personalized care advice plus product recommendations, functioning as a product-led growth acquisition channel layered on top of the commerce site.

The business operates a hybrid D2C/B2B model: direct sales to consumers at unit prices around €12-13 per 5L bag with free shipping above €50, volume discounts (2x save 5%, 3x save 10%), and bundled kits (e.g., Plant Parent Upgrade Kit at €99.99); and wholesale trade pricing through a self-serve B2B portal with Launch Pack, Bestseller Starter Pallet, and Complete Value Set options, a 180-day sell-through guarantee on first orders, and 2-3 week lead times on made-to-order bulk production. Sybotanica is privately held, bootstrapped with no disclosed external venture capital, led by founder Sybren Bies, and runs a 25-person team split between Arnhem (production, warehouse, R&D, logistics) and remote staff in the Philippines, Pakistan, and Portugal (ecommerce, marketing, brand, support). The company reports 80,000+ customers as of July 2025 (PR Newswire) and 189,511+ cumulative customers on its main site, a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 5,000+ reviews, and is preparing to enter the US market.

Name

Sybotanica B.V.

Legal name

Sybotanica B.V.

Website

https://sybotanica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sybotanica B.V. is a Dutch e-commerce company that sells 16 plant-family-specific peat-free soil mixes, plant food, and substrates to European houseplant consumers and wholesale plant shops, and operates the free SYBAScan AI plant-identification tool that drives product recommendations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Houseplant Potting Soil & Plant Care Products

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers (4442)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Substrates & Growing Media (Coco, Rockwool, Peat Alternatives) (AFAAAHAF)

Keywords

• Premium potting soil
• Houseplant care products
• Plant soil mixes
• Horticultural substrates
• Wholesale gardening supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through sybotanica.com. Customers purchase soil mixes, plant food, soil improvers, pots, and accessories. Products shipped across Europe with free shipping above €50. Volume discounts available (2x save 5%, 3x save 10%).
2. Wholesale B2B: Bulk sales to plant shops, garden centers, and florists across Europe. Products made-to-order with 2-3 week lead times. Starter packs, pallets, and complete value sets available. Targets independent retailers with trade pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sybotanica designs, produces, and sells premium peat-free coconut coir-based soil mixes engineered for 16 specific plant families, complemented by plant food, soil improvers, mineral substrates, plant pots, and live moss. The company also operates SYBAScan, a free AI-powered plant identification tool that recognizes over 35,000 species and recommends matching Sybotanica products. Products are sold direct-to-consumer across 16 European countries and through a B2B wholesale program to plant shops, garden centers, and florists.

Product overview

Sybotanica B.V. is a Dutch houseplant care company offering a unified ecosystem of specialized soil products and digital tools. The core product line is SYBASoil, a range of 15+ premium peat-free coconut coir-based soil mixes, each engineered for specific plant families (Aroids, Cacti/Succulents, Calathea/Maranta, Alocasia, Ficus, Orchids, Syngonium, Bonsai, Anthurium, Terrarium, Carnivorous, Hoya, Fern, Base, and Universal). SYBASoil mixes contain 180-day slow-release organic nutrients. Complementing the soil line is SYBASupport, a plant food range (Monstera, Orchid, Cactus, Palm, and Liquid formulas) sold in recycled PET packaging, and SYBAStones mineral substrates for semi-hydro cultivation. Supporting the product range are soil improvers (Perlite, Coco Coir, Sphagnum Moss, Worm Castings, Orchid Bark, Pumice, etc.), Plant Pots, and Moss products. The company also offers SYBAScan, a free AI-powered online plant identifier that recognizes 35,000+ species and provides personalized care advice with product recommendations. A Pot Volume Calculator tool helps customers determine soil quantities. Sybotanica also operates a B2B wholesale program for retailers across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SYBASoil: Premium peat-free coconut-based soil mixes engineered for specific plant types including Aroid, Cacti & Succulent, Calathea, Alocasia, Ficus, Orchid, Syngonium, Bonsai, Anthurium, Terrarium, Carnivorous, Hoya, Base, and Fern mixes.
• SYBASupport
• SYBAStones
• SYBAScan

Products and services

• SYBASoil Premium Soil Mixes Peat-free coconut coir-based premium soil mix line engineered for 16 plant families, each blend mimicking natural habitat conditions with tailored moisture retention, drainage, and nutrient profiles, and 180-day slow-release organic nutrients.
• Aroid Mix Peat-free chunky soil mix for aroids (Monstera, Philodendron, Pothos, Aglaonema) with perlite, coco husk, worm castings, orchid bark, activated carbon, and lava gravel; includes 180 days of nutrients.
• Cacti & Succulent Mix Fast-draining gritty soil mix for cacti, succulents, Aloe, and Sansevieria, with perlite, pumice, horticultural sand, and worm castings; includes 180 days of nutrients.
• Calathea & Maranta Mix Moisture-retaining soil mix for Calathea, Maranta, and Begonia with perlite, vermiculite, and coco coir to reduce brown crispy leaves; includes 180 days of nutrients.
• Alocasia Mix Airy moisture-retaining mix for Alocasia, Colocasia, and Caladium using vermiculite for extended moisture retention with orchid bark and coco coir; includes 180 days of nutrients.
• Ficus Mix Soil mix for Ficus, Palm, Peperomia, and Pachira featuring activated carbon and horticultural sand for root support and drainage; includes 180 days of nutrients.
• Orchid Mix Chunky bark-based mix for Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, and Cattleya orchids with coconut husk chips, orchid bark, sphagnum moss, and activated carbon for high aeration and humidity retention.
• Syngonium Mix Soil mix for Syngonium and Pilea featuring pumice, coco husk, perlite, activated carbon, and lava gravel for an airy substrate with mold protection.
• Bonsai Mix Gritty fast-draining soil mix for bonsai trees with perlite, pumice, coco coir, and lava rock for root support, aeration, and compact growth.
• Anthurium Mix Super chunky soil mix for Anthurium and Bromelia with high perlite and orchid bark content to support epiphytic roots and prevent root rot.
• Terrarium Mix Substrate mix for tropical and subtropical terrarium setups that holds moisture without waterlogging; suitable for springtails, isopods, and reptiles.
• Carnivorous Mix Nutrient-free soil mix for Drosera, Nepenthes, and Sarracenia using vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and horticultural sand; no added nutrients since carnivorous plants derive nutrition from prey.
• Hoya Mix Airy fast-draining soil mix for Hoya species with orchid bark, coco coir, activated carbon, and perlite to support epiphytic roots.
• Base Mix Customizable blank-canvas peat-free soil base for plant enthusiasts to create their own mixes; handmade with 180 days of nutrients.
• Universal Mix Peat-free multipurpose potting soil suitable for most houseplants, part of the SYBASoil premium line.
• Fern Mix Soil mix designed for ferns and Hedera that helps keep ferns green and healthy.
• SYBASupport Plant Food Premium liquid plant food line including formulas for Monstera, orchids, cacti, palms, and general use, packaged in 100% recycled PET jars.
• SYBAStones Mineral Substrates Mineral substrate product line for semi-hydro houseplant cultivation.
• SYBAScan Plant Identifier Free AI-powered online houseplant identifier using computer vision that recognizes up to 35,000 species of plants, mushrooms, and lichens, and provides personalized care advice and product recommendations.
• Soil Improvers Component products including Sphagnum Moss, Perlite, Coco Coir, Activated Carbon, Worm Castings, Coconut Husk Chips, Orchid Bark, Pumice, Vermiculite, Clay Balls (Leca), Horticultural Sand, Lava Gravel, Zeolite, and Grit for customizing soil mixes.
• Plant Pots Clear plastic plant pots including Aroid/Orchid Tower Pots, Square Clear Plant Pots, and Self-Watering Aroid/Orchid Pots.
• Moss Products Live moss products including Sphagnum Moss, Moss Poles, and Live Moss for plant care and terrariums.
• Bundles Curated product bundles including Plant Parent Upgrade Kit, Soil Discovery Pack, Monstera & Philodendron Welcome Bundle, and Super DIY Aroid Mix Bundle sold at discounted prices.
• Wholesale Program B2B wholesale program for plant shops, garden centres, and florists across Europe, offering Launch Pack (5 boxes minimum), Bestseller Starter Pallet, and Complete Value Set options with trade pricing, made-to-order with 2-3 week lead times.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plant identification accuracy of 98%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wageningen Universiteit (Wageningen University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for testing sustainable alternatives to coco coir in soil formulations. University testing showed no better alternatives to their current coir sourcing for soil quality, plant health, and growth performance.
• OostNLminorOthersAttempted partnership to establish a recycling program for soil packaging. Logistics made the program impractical and would cause extra emissions, so it was not implemented.
• Melis LogisticscoreOthersWholesale order logistics partner. Moving quickly to electric trucks and training drivers in sustainable practices. Handles bulk shipping for retail partners.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Planta: Plant care app offering species identification, personalized care reminders, and light meters. Comparable to SYBAScan on the digital plant-care side and an adjacent threat if it integrates commerce.
• Elho: European designer and manufacturer of indoor and outdoor plant pots. Adjacent product overlap with Sybotanica's plant pots and accessories line and complementary European D2C positioning.
• PictureThis: AI-powered plant identification and care advice app with a global user base. Direct functional competitor to SYBAScan and a reference point for how quickly AI plant-ID can be built and scaled.

Direct peers

• Espoma: Organic and natural plant care product manufacturer offering specialty potting mixes (including African Violet, Cactus, Orchid, Bonsai) that closely parallel Sybotanica's plant-family-specific positioning.
• FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company: Premium specialty soil and fertilizer brand popular with houseplant and indoor gardeners in North America. Closest direct competitor in positioning around plant-specific substrate blends and a loyal enthusiast customer base.
• Dr. Earth: Premium organic soils and fertilizers targeted at indoor and outdoor plant enthusiasts. Comparable positioning around natural, plant-specific formulations and the enthusiast segment.

Broad incumbents

• Substral / Evergreen: European consumer plant-care brand (SBM Company) selling soils, lawn care, and plant foods in major retailers. Competes for the same shelf space in European garden centers and DIY chains.
• Westland Horticulture: Established UK and European horticultural brand selling composts, growing media, and plant care products. Direct overlap in retail plant-shop and garden-center channels.
• Compo: Major European horticultural supplies incumbent selling soils, fertilizers, and plant care products across retail channels. Overlaps directly with Sybotanica's wholesale and D2C distribution footprint.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro (Miracle-Gro): Largest North American and increasingly global consumer lawn and garden brand with broad distribution and massive marketing budgets. Sets the baseline category competitor against which Sybotanica's premium play must differentiate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmOyD2vLFFH0SRBF1pVBlEw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sybotanica
• Instagraminstagram.com/sybotanica
• Pinterestnl.pinterest.com/Sybotanica
• TikToktiktok.com/@sybotanica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sybotanica B.V.