Carbon Robotics, a Seattle startup, recently raised $70 million in funding to expand its agriculture technology platform that helps farmers eliminate weeds without herbicides. This brings the total amount raised by the company since its launch in 2018 to $157 million. The company’s LaserWeeder machine uses AI-powered technology to detect and target weeds with lasers attached to the back of a tractor. This technology allows farmers to eliminate herbicide-resistant weeds without harming the soil microbiology.
The funding round was led by San Francisco firm BOND, along with Nvidia’s venture capital arm. Carbon Robotics has seen a doubling of revenue over the past 12 months and plans to use the fresh capital to further scale its business. The company has developed advanced AI techniques and patented hardware mechanisms to power the brain of the LaserWeeder machine. The machine processes 4.7 million high-resolution images per hour using 24 Nvidia graphics processing units.
Paul Mikesell, the founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics, has a background in technology and entrepreneurship, having co-founded Isilon Systems and worked at Uber before starting the company. He believes that the real promise of AI lies in its practical applications that improve people’s lives, such as the LaserWeeder machine. The company aims to address the labor shortage in farming by automating repetitive and dangerous tasks, allowing farmers to focus on other aspects of their operations.
Despite a decline in venture capital funding for agriculture technology, Carbon Robotics has managed to stand out by focusing on customer service and working closely with farmers. Mikesell emphasized the importance of testing new innovations in the field rather than in the office. The company has also avoided certain business models that have caused challenges for other agtech companies, such as the robots-as-a-service model, which Mikesell believes does not work in agriculture.
Investors have praised Mikesell’s leadership and vision, comparing him to other successful tech entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk. The company is the fastest-growing startup that one investor has seen in 26 years as a venture capitalist. With plans to develop new robots beyond agriculture, Carbon Robotics is poised to further innovate in the AI robotics space. The company’s LaserWeeder machine has been well-received by customers in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, and the company plans to expand into Asia with the new funding.
Carbon Robotics offers a software platform in addition to its machines that provides valuable information on weeds and crops to farmers. Customers pay an annual fee for the service and regular software updates. With a new manufacturing plant in Washington and continued investor support, the company is well-positioned for growth in the agriculture technology sector. Mikesell remains committed to advancing the use of AI and robotics in agriculture to improve efficiency and sustainability for farmers worldwide.
