Key Takeaways:
- Orchard Robotics announced a $22 million Series A funding round, bringing total funding to more than $25 million
- The round was led by Quiet Capital and Shine Capital, with participation from General Catalyst, Contrary, Mythos, Valyrian, and Ravelin
- Notable investors include F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg and Yext & Roam founder Howard Lerman
- The company develops AI-powered tools for precision crop management, already deployed on apple and grape farms and expanding to other crops
- Proceeds will support team expansion and a new San Francisco office
Orchard Robotics Funding Announcement
Orchard Robotics has secured $22 million in an oversubscribed Series A round to expand its work in AI-driven farming technologies. The funding was led by Quiet Capital and Shine Capital, alongside continued participation from existing investors such as General Catalyst and Contrary. The company’s total funding now exceeds $25 million.
Additional investors include Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 World Champion, and Howard Lerman, founder of Yext and Roam. Michael Bloch, Partner at Quiet Capital, will join the board.
Technology and Products
Orchard Robotics focuses on providing growers with more precise data for crop management. Its FruitScope Vision System is an AI-powered camera platform mounted on tractors or farm vehicles that captures and analyzes millions of images to assess plant health and growth.
The company also offers FruitScope Vault & OS, a system that tracks crop development and yield data, helping farmers manage inputs, labor, and harvesting decisions.
Current Deployment and Expansion
At present, Orchard Robotics’ technology is used by leading apple and grape farms in the United States. The company has recently expanded its applications to blueberries, cherries, almonds, pistachios, citrus, and strawberries.
Founder Charlie Wu said the company is addressing the data gap in agriculture: “Agriculture hasn’t fundamentally evolved in the last 20 years, despite dramatic increases in costs. Solving farming is a data problem, and data is the bedrock of every farming decision.”
Orchard Robotics’ Future Plans
With the new funding, Orchard Robotics plans to double its workforce by the end of the year and open a new office in San Francisco. The company aims to extend its services to additional growers across the U.S. and internationally, strengthening its role in precision agriculture.
