Ultraviolet gentle destroys pests and pathogens; the vacuum removes bugs — each chemical-free. | Credit score: TRIC Robotics
TRIC Robotics, which focuses on autonomous pest and plant illness management, has secured $5.5 million in seed funding. The corporate plans to scale its autonomous robots for specialty crop farming, beginning with strawberries—one of the crucial labor-intensive and pesticide-reliant crops.
“We have now made unimaginable progress, with our fleet of robots decreasing chemical compounds on tons of of acres throughout California’s Central Coast,” said Adam Stager, founder and CEO of TRIC Robotics. “This new capital will speed up our development, bringing in key workforce members and permitting us to rapidly develop with new areas and capabilities launching this summer season.”
“Automation is the important thing to unlocking better effectivity on the farm — permitting farmers to develop extra with much less, with out damaging the planet,” he added.
Luna obtainable to farmers as a service
Farmers are below elevated stress to scale back chemical use, handle labor prices, and meet sustainability aims, famous TRIC Robotics. The San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based firm has positioned its robotic fleet as a substitute for conventional pesticide functions and handbook labor.
TRIC has developed a tractor-scale robotic referred to as Luna to exchange conventional chemical sprays. The corporate mentioned its totally autonomous area robots use ultraviolet gentle to manage pests and illnesses with out harming the atmosphere and vacuum know-how to take away bugs with out pesticides.
TRIC provides its know-how as a full-service answer to assist farmers enhance profitability whereas assembly the rising demand for chemical-free produce. This additionally produces recurring income. The corporate is initially specializing in strawberry cultivation, which it mentioned is among the most labor-intensive and pesticide-dependent crops.
The robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) providing features a data-driven platform with imaginative and prescient methods and real-time area analytics. Based on TRIC, pilot packages have proven reductions in pesticide use by as much as 70%.
TRIC participated within the Pitchfire competitors at RoboBusiness 2023, which gave it a few of its first publicity to the robotics funding neighborhood.
TRIC Robotics to develop its fleet
Model One Ventures led TRIC Robotics’ spherical. Storage Capital, Todd and Rahul Capital, Valor Fairness Companions, Lucas Enterprise Group, Spacecadet, and Redstick Ventures additionally participated. The startup additionally obtained funding from a bunch of strategic angel traders, together with the founders of Clearpath Robotics and New Chief Manufacturing.
Current traders, together with Undeterred Capital, Embark Ventures, Soundboard Enterprise Fund, and Central Coast Ventures, additionally participated. TRIC mentioned it plans to make use of the seed funding to develop its robotic fleet, improve operations into new farming areas of California resembling Oxnard and Watsonville, and develop additional automation and analytics options.
The corporate reported that its robotic fleet has doubled up to now 12 months, with 9 robots in operation and three extra in manufacturing. Tric mentioned it has lined tons of of acres in business service. It asserted that Luna might help farmers improve profitability of high-value crops whereas assembly demand for chemical-free produce.
“Our mission is to offer farmers the instruments they should develop extra with much less, with out damaging the planet,” mentioned Stager. “This funding accelerates our development to carry chemical-free options to farmers throughout main specialty crop rising areas in California.”
