Key Takeaways
- TerraBlaster secures $4 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round.
- Investors include Trailhead Capital, Khosla Ventures, OCP Group, and The Reservoir.
- The company utilizes NASA-derived Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology for in-field soil analysis.
- Funding will support the development of precision nutrient mapping and application tools.
- TerraBlaster aims to address input efficiency, crop health, and environmental impact through real-time data.
Trailhead Capital, The Reservoir, and Others Back TerraBlaster in Oversubscribed Round
TerraBlaster, a soil analytics startup leveraging technology originally developed for NASA’s Mars missions, has closed a $4 million pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Khosla Ventures and joined by Trailhead Capital, OCP Group, and The Reservoir. This round marks the final investment of Trailhead Fund I and supports TerraBlaster’s efforts to improve farmland management through real-time, high-resolution soil data.
Mark Lewis of Trailhead Capital emphasized the strategic alignment with their investment thesis: “Soil has always been central to our investment thesis. You can only improve what you can measure—and now we can measure it like never before.”
Aiming for Precision and Sustainability in Agriculture
Founded by Jorge Heraud and Matt Colgan—both previously instrumental in Blue River Technology and John Deere’s See & Spray system—TerraBlaster is developing a platform that uses Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to generate lab-grade nutrient maps in real time. The technology enables high-speed in-field analysis at up to 10 mph, offering actionable data for precise nutrient application.
According to Heraud: “With Trailhead’s investment, we’ve officially closed our oversubscribed $4M pre-seed round… Rebuilding the foundation of agriculture starts with understanding what’s happening beneath our feet. Now the real work begins.”
Strategic Support from The Reservoir
The Reservoir, which also participated in the round, highlighted TerraBlaster’s potential to address widespread inefficiencies in fertilizer use.
“Up to 70% of applied nitrogen never reaches crops, creating billions in waste and environmental damage,” the firm stated. “TerraBlaster is one of those rare companies: a hard science breakthrough with real-world urgency and farmer-first design.”
The Reservoir supports solutions at the intersection of autonomy, agronomy, and environmental urgency.
TerraBlaster: Building the Future of In-Field Soil Management
TerraBlaster’s platform aims to transform soil management by offering farmers immediate insights into nutrient composition. The technology promises to reduce input waste, increase yield efficiency, and minimize environmental impact. With backing from investors across the AgTech and climate sectors, TerraBlaster is positioned to play a critical role in the shift toward precision and regenerative agriculture.
