Key Takeaways:
- AcreShield, developer of Yield Optimizer™, has raised over $2.5 million in Series A funding, with an additional $2 million authorized.
- Yield Optimizer™ is the first AI seed selection program offering farmers guaranteed ROI through independent seed performance data.
- Investors highlight AcreShield’s innovative solution to the Yield Gap problem in agriculture.
- The company’s AI-driven platform has a proven track record of success and is backed by a network of distributors and paying customers.
Series A Funding and Expansion
AcreShield, the developer behind the AI-powered seed selection platform Yield Optimizer™, announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round, raising more than $2.5 million. The company’s board of directors has also authorized an additional $2 million for this round. AcreShield’s Yield Optimizer™ is the first commercially accepted AI seed selection program that uses independent seed performance data to predict yield and guarantees return on investment (ROI) for farmers.
According to Scott Stewart, President of Vertical Ventures Inc., one of the lead investors, AcreShield’s proprietary seed trial data model positions farmers to make smarter seed selections. “AcreShield fits the firm’s investment thesis, as its proprietary seed trial data and model give farmers the ability for a smarter seed selection,” Stewart said.
Leadership Team’s Proven Track Record
The investment community was drawn to AcreShield’s leadership team, which has a proven track record of success. Kaylee Williams, Investment Director at InnoVenture Iowa, noted the founding team’s demonstrated experience as a key factor in the decision to invest. “We saw the potential for this AI technology to disrupt a billion-dollar market in agriculture. AcreShield brings a truly innovative solution to solve the Yield Gap, creating a 180-million-acre opportunity in the U.S. alone. This is something the industry has never seen before,” Williams explained.
Scott Stewart echoed this sentiment, stating, “We chose to become the lead investor in AcreShield Series A funding for three main reasons: the operational success of its AI AgTech platform, the performance guarantee for farmers, and the strong leadership team driving the company.”
Addressing the Yield Gap
The Yield Gap is a significant challenge for row crop farmers, and AcreShield aims to address this problem using AI-powered solutions. CEO Billy Rose emphasized the importance of providing farmers with a solution that offers both yield improvements and financial protection. “We built AcreShield to solve this billion-dollar opportunity with AI-powered smarter seed selection for greater yields. Our independent seed trials provide unbiased data that feed into our AI Yield Optimizer, helping farmers achieve better financial performance,” Rose said.
Farmer and Distributor Testimonials
Jason Schmidt, a farmer from Springfield, Illinois, praised the Yield Optimizer for its ability to address the risks associated with yield variability. “AcreShield has identified the problem and solved the challenge with the Yield Optimizer product. If you can cover that risk for a limited cost, it’s a valuable tool. It might keep you in business, and it might make you profitable,” Schmidt stated.
Distributors are also recognizing the benefits of AcreShield’s offering. Adam Oswald, of the Oswald Crow Agency, highlighted the impact of AcreShield’s technology on his customers. “AcreShield’s Yield Optimizer solves the universal row crop farmer problem called the Yield Gap, covering up to 100% of historical average yields,” Oswald explained. He emphasized that the product provides payouts of up to $100 per acre if yields fall within the Yield Gap.
