Carbon robotics secures $70 Million to expand LaserWeeder and innovate in AgTech

By Agroempresario.com

Carbon Robotics has successfully raised $70 million in its Series D funding round, significantly boosting the development of its autonomous LaserWeeder platform designed for farmers. This latest funding increases the company’s total financing to $157 million. The investment round, led by VC firm BOND, included contributions from prominent backers such as NVentures (the venture arm of NVIDIA), Anthos Capital, Fuse Venture Capital, Ignition Partners, Revolution, Sozo Ventures, and Voyager Capital.

The capital will be instrumental in expanding LaserWeeder's sales and services into new international markets, as well as supporting the development of new agricultural products. CEO Paul Mikesell emphasized the critical role that advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and deep learning are playing in modern agriculture. “We’re focused very intently on the field,” Mikesell stated at the FIRA Robotics show in California.

The LaserWeeder utilizes deep-learning-based computer vision to autonomously identify and eliminate weeds with CO2 lasers, processing an impressive 4.7 million high-resolution images per hour and eliminating 5,000 weeds each minute. Mikesell noted that weed management is a top priority for deploying automation in farming, highlighting the importance of customer feedback from farmers during the development process.

The Series D funding marks a notable achievement amidst a broader capital crunch in the agtech sector. Funding in the Farm Robotics, Mechanization, and Equipment category has declined by 21.1% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, influenced by an overall downturn in agrifoodtech investments.

Mikesell pointed out that the ag robotics industry is still emerging and faces challenges regarding product quality and reliability. “Some machines are not truly field-ready, which can lead to operational failures,” he explained. He stressed the need for rigorous testing and quality control to ensure that products meet the needs of farmers.

With this new round of funding, Carbon Robotics plans to expand the availability of LaserWeeder to new geographic areas beyond the US, Canada, the UK, several European nations, and Australia. While specifics about the new regions remain undisclosed, Mikesell confirmed that global expansion is on the horizon.

Additionally, Carbon Robotics is set to unveil new products focused on AI and robotics for agriculture, distinct from the LaserWeeder. Although further details are yet to be revealed, this innovation signifies the company's commitment to advancing agricultural technology.