A group of former colleagues from DataCloud, a startup that focused on data collection for mining companies, have come together again to create Terrantic, a Seattle-based startup focused on improving the quality and yield of food products. Terrantic recently raised a $3.5 million seed round to develop its software system, which aims to replace traditional spreadsheets with a centralized platform that uses artificial intelligence to help growers, packers, and processors identify efficiencies and optimize operations.
Terrantic’s software system is being used by packhouses in Eastern Washington to determine the best way to store apples based on real-time quality data. Additionally, other customers are using the platform to optimize throughput and reduce waste in processing lines based on supply and demand changes. The company initially focused on apples but is expanding to other crops, such as cotton, and currently has seven customers using their software.
The agriculture industry has seen a rise in funding for agtech startups from 2019 to 2021, but funding has since fallen in recent years. Despite this, the long-term outlook for the industry remains promising. Terrantic President Trevor Cox believes that agriculture companies are already using hardware-related technologies and collecting data, but they need help figuring out what to do with the data they have. Terrantic aims to provide that help through its centralized platform and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Terrantic is led by CEO Krishna Srinivasan, who previously held executive roles at consumer goods analytics companies. The company’s CTO, Mahendra Rajan, was previously the vice president of software engineering at DataCloud. Other former DataCloud employees involved in Terrantic include Thiago Mourao and Bruno Ruas de Pinho. Los Angeles-based venture firm Supply Change Capital led Terrantic’s seed round, with participation from York IE, Vitalize Venture Capital, and Array Ventures.
To date, Terrantic has raised $5.5 million and has fewer than 10 employees. The company won $50,000 at the Flywheel Investment Conference in Wenatchee, Wash. earlier in the year. With a focus on using data and artificial intelligence to drive efficiencies and improve operations in the agriculture industry, Terrantic represents a promising player in the agtech space. By leveraging their expertise in data analysis and technology from their previous work at DataCloud, the team at Terrantic is well-positioned to make a significant impact on how food growers, packers, and processors optimize their operations.
