Agtonomy

Agtonomy is a San-Francisco-based startup offering a hybrid autonomy and tele-assist platform that uses sensor technology to convert tractors and equipment into autonomous machines. Farmers can control and assign jobs to the tractors using a mobile phone app. Agtonomy’s solutions cover routine land maintenance operations, which include mowing, weeding and land clearing.

The company adopts a B2B go-to-market approach where they develop the necessary software and partners with OEMs to transform the latter’s tractors and equipment. Agtonomy was running a small fleet of Proof-of-Concept (PoC) electric vehicles at his own farm (Trattore Farms) for a year and as of January 2022 reported plans to launch commercially in 2023, starting production for a few hundred tractors. At the time, the company also mentioned plans of conducting 50 trials for its autonomy and tele-assist platform.

The company claims that its solution would provide farmers with autonomous tractors at a cost of USD 50,000, which would reportedly be below the cost of John Deere’s tractors priced in the range of USD 0.5-1 million. In January 2024, Agronomy unveiled AT450X, its first autonomous, electric articulating tractor collaborating with Bobcat. In February 2024, The company has unveiled its Smart Farm Task Ecosystem to remotely plan and autonomously execute daily field tasks in orchards, vineyards, berries, and specialty crops. 

Key customers and partnerships

In February 2023 , Agtonomy partnered with Silver Oak Cellars, a premium wine producer, to advance climate-smart farming technologies. During the same period, the company partnered with Bobcat Company, a farm and construction equipment manufacturer, to advance Bobcat’s agricultural productivity in electrification, autonomous operation, and digital technology. In March 2023, the company partnered with Fixposition , a Swiss company developing high-precision positioning solutions, to integrate Fixposition’s Vision Fusion Technology into Agtonomy’s TeleFarmer solution.

Funding and financials

In December 2023, Agtonomy raised USD 22.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Momenta, to expand its customer pilot program and accelerate product development. Previously, in September 2022, the company raised USD 4.5 million in a third seed funding round led by Inven Cavallo Ventures and Mirae Asset Venture Investment, bringing its total seed funding to USD 13.5 million to date.

The company also received an undisclosed investment from Bobcat Company in May 2023 to assist specialty agriculture farmers and growers in lowering operating costs, achieving greater efficiencies, and addressing ongoing skilled labor shortages.