We are Hortikult
Meet the founders, Jos Vanden Abeele and Tanya Quintieri
Jos Vanden Abeele
Jos is a proud resident of Ghent and an enthusiastic plant parent. His profound love for tropical houseplants has been a lifelong affair, leading him to establish Best Buds in May 2020 and Captain Aroid in 2024.
He holds a degree in Bio-Engineering (specializing in agriculture) from the esteemed University of Ghent. His academic journey ignited a passion for developing and researching new plant hybrids, a commitment forming his work’s cornerstone.
Looking ahead, Best Buds stands as a pioneering Belgian startup specializing in developing, producing, and commercializing unique tropical houseplants. The production processes are meticulously designed with sustainability at their core, ensuring every step respects our environment.
Jos firmly believes in the boundless creative power of imagination, a force that propels him to envision and develop the next generation of houseplants. Join him on this green adventure, where innovation meets nature, and together, we can cultivate a greener, more vibrant future.
Tanya Quintieri
Tanya is a US citizen with German roots currently based in Czechia. She looks back on a career of 20+ years in international corporate communications, marketing, and multilingual web design. In this capacity, she’s known as Mrs. Divi.
The mother of three started caring for houseplants early on: At 5 years old, she was responsible for watering her grandmother’s houseplants. Today, her own houseplant collection spans over 700, with most of them being aroids.
A true networker at heart with a strong belief in sharing knowledge rather than hoarding it for oneself, Tanya loves to build communities around common interests. From founding an association for language experts to most recently initiating the FACEPLNT event series, what she does is always about people, plants, and/or the planet.
With Hortikult, Tanya aspires to spark and develop ideas, bring together investors, and deliver groundbreaking products and services to plant people around the globe. The projects listed above are just the start of this new journey she’s embarked on.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
As individuals from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ and female representation, we understand the importance of creating welcoming and inclusive environments, online and in real life.
We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to participate and contribute. We aim to celebrate the rich diversity of the plant community and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for all members.
Diversity is not just a goal but a fundamental principle guiding our approach to building a more vibrant and inclusive plant community.