Carbon Robotics Raises Additional $20M

Key Takeaways

• Carbon Robotics, a Seattle-based agricultural robotics company, has raised $20 million in new funding to advance its AI-powered automation systems for farming.
• The company has now secured $177 million in total funding and operates in 14 countries.
• Its flagship product, the LaserWeeder, uses lasers guided by proprietary AI to eliminate up to 99% of weeds without chemical herbicides.
• The company also offers the Carbon ATK (Autonomous Tractor Kit), which converts existing tractors into autonomous machines.
• The new capital will support product development, including a new AI robot designed for tasks beyond weeding.

Carbon Robotics Expands AI and Robotics Platform

Carbon Robotics develops AI-powered robots for agriculture that combine machine vision, automation, and laser technology to improve farm efficiency. The company’s LaserWeeder system applies deep learning models trained on more than 75 million plant images to identify and remove weeds with precision, helping growers reduce chemical use and protect soil health.

Alongside the LaserWeeder, the company’s Autonomous Tractor Kit enables conventional tractors to perform field operations autonomously, providing an alternative to purchasing new autonomous vehicles.

The $20 million funding round will be used to accelerate production, expand global sales, and continue development of new products based on the company’s AI platform.

Upcoming Product and Future Plans For Carbon Robotics

In an interview with GeekWire, Carbon Robotics founder and CEO Paul Mikesell confirmed that the company is developing a new AI robot, expected to be unveiled in about nine months. The new machine will use the same AI system currently deployed in the company’s equipment but will perform additional agricultural tasks beyond weeding. “It’s very flexible, capable of doing a lot with the world around it, understanding what it’s seeing and what’s happening,” Mikesell said.

Market Context and Investment Background

The latest funding was led by Giant Ventures, joining existing investors Bond, Anthos Capital, and NVIDIA.