Key Takeaways
- Sentinel Fertigation closes a $2.5 million series seed funding round co-led by Homegrown Capital, Grit Road Partners, and Invest Nebraska.
- The funding will be used to expand market presence, strengthen the team, and enhance N-Time’s capabilities.
- N-Time software analyzes crop canopy imagery to provide agronomic recommendations for efficient nitrogen management.
- Growers using N-Time saved an average of $40 on nitrogen per acre and saw a 23% increase in yield per pound of applied nitrogen.
- The latest funding round received buy-in from investment funds in six states, indicating strong support for Sentinel’s technology.
Expanding Market Presence and Team
Sentinel Fertigation, an AgTech company specializing in nitrogen management solutions for farmers, has announced the closing of a $2.5 million series seed funding round. The round was co-led by Homegrown Capital, Grit Road Partners, and Invest Nebraska. The funding will be used to expand Sentinel’s market presence, strengthen its team with key innovators and leaders, and enhance the capabilities of its N-Time® software across agricultural production systems.
Advancing N-Time’s Capabilities
“With the seed funding from our aligned investors, we will advance N-Time’s capabilities, grow our Sentry Network of agronomic advisors, and ensure that more farmers can benefit from N-Time,” said Jackson Stansell, CEO & Founder of Sentinel Fertigation. Developed by Stansell during his master’s studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, N-Time software analyzes crop canopy imagery to provide agronomic recommendations, helping farmers make efficient nitrogen management decisions.
Impressive On-Farm Results
After several years of on-farm research trials, Sentinel launched N-Time commercially in 2022 through a paid-pilot program. Growers who utilized N-Time reported saving an average of $40 on nitrogen per acre and experienced a 23% increase in yield per pound of applied nitrogen. “83% of growers utilizing N-Time during the 2022 season increased their profitability compared to their historical practices,” the company stated.
Strong Investor Support
Several funds that participated in this round had also invested in Sentinel’s pre-seed funding round, which raised $1.2 million in 2022. “Our pre-seed investors have been instrumental in Sentinel’s success so far,” said Stansell. Tim Weelborg, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Homegrown Capital, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “This is a great example of cutting-edge technology developed in America’s heartland that can solve world-wide problems.”
Future Prospects
After this latest seed funding round, Sentinel has received buy-in from investment funds in six states, including Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, and Tennessee. “We’re invested in improving the lives of farmers and farm communities. This latest round of seed funding indicates that they’re equally invested in our team and technology,” concluded Stansell.
Photo by Darla Hueske on Unsplash
