Meet the Autohydrate team

Water has always been a scarce resource. Climate change impacts are increasing its scarcity. Innovative solutions are needed. Take 3 engineers with over 150 year’s experience and an innovative solution is born! Autohydrate’s Smart Bracket™, an automated drip feed irrigation for hanging baskets and troughs is just that.

With time freed up during the pandemic, the prototype was built and field trials took place in 2023 and 2024. Based on the 2023 field trial a patent application was filed. 

Smart Bracket™ maintains plant growth and minimises water usage. This makes it ideal for that summer holiday break or any other time away.

Smart Bracket™ benefits include:

• No power requirement
• Soil doesn’t dry out
• Plants do not become stressed 
• Simple installation
• Multiple baskets can be attached to the same water source

Mike Sanderson – Chair

Mike is a serial entrepreneur focussed on the water industry and geospatial data management. His Board level experience encompasses strategic leadership roles at both executive and non-executive levels and includes a 3 year term at What3Words. He has focussed on horticulture since retirement from full time roles, including voluntary sector leadership of a local Community Orchard.

Hugh Rowse – Technical Director

Hugh has a degree in Agricultural Science from Nottingham University and gained a PhD while working at Rothamsted Experimental Station.

Apart from time spent in America and New Zealand he has mostlyworked at the Horticultural Research Station at Wellesbourne in Warwickshire, now part of Warwick University. His research interests included computer modelling of environmental effects on seed germination. He was awarded the 1995 RASE Medal for Technology for the development of Drum Priming – a patented seed treatment that increases the speed and uniformity of seed germination. On retirement he was made an Associate Fellow of Warwick University.

Derek Harbour – Company Secretary

Derek has unique experience of Venture Capital/Private Equity and senior Operational roles in high tech products and Consultancy companies, operating in international markets.

He has considerable achievements in turning companies around from making losses to making profits through motivation of key people, market evaluation and cost focus.

In addition, Derek has Board experience of successfully driving strategic change at Exec & Non-Exec levels