Aerobotics Uses AI with Drones and Mobile Devices to Support Crop Management

Founded in 2014 by James Paterson and Benji Meltzer, Aerobotics offers a service designed to optimize and improve the performance of agricultural fields through the capture of images using drones and mobile devices. These images make it possible to detect variables such as crop size, condition and production level, as well as broader metrics about the state of entire plots. All this information is integrated into a platform that compiles and presents a summary of agricultural production.

The South African startup Aerobotics has raised $27.1 million since its founding, with its most recent raise in 2021: $17 million in a Series B round led by Naspers Foundry, with participation from FMO, Cathay AfricInvest Innovation and Platform Investment Partners. With this investment, the company has sought to enhance its development in both aerial and ground-based management of agricultural fields.

Among the products developed is TrueFruit, an app that provides post-harvest analysis of size, quality and grading. The company also offers drone services to monitor pests and crop conditions.

Currently, the startup serves farmers, distributors and agribusinesses in 18 countries, with a special focus on fruit trees and vineyards. The funding has accelerated the development of improvements to its data analysis platform, drone services and image analytics.

Founders: James Paterson, Benji Meltzer

Sources: Aerobotics, Crunchbase, TechCrunch