South African aerial imaging startup, Aerobotics applies the use of drone and satellite imagery and infuses them with machine learning algorithms through its proprietary artificial intelligence software to discover, analyze and offer early problem detection services to wine and tree farmers to optimize crop performance.
The startup was founded in 2014 in Cape Town. It’s cloud-based application Aeroview offers farmers insights, scout mapping and other tools to curb damage to vine crops and trees from pests and diseases.
On the back of a Series A round in 2019, Aerobotics raised a ZAR100million($6.6million) fund from Naspers Foundry around May and the brand has now gone further with that round to ZAR250 with participation from FMO and Cathay AfricInvest Innovation, alongside a number of other investors.
In February 2019 in De Waterkant, Cape Town,the startup announced the expansion of its Series A funding round to the tune of $4m, in the form of a signed deal with Paper Plane Ventures.
The latest funding round will go a long way in boosting the startup’s international expansion efforts alongside its technological development.
Speaking on this, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aerobotics James Paterson, said:
“Aerobotics is happy to partner with FMO Ventures and Cathay AfricInvest Innovation to better serve our customers. Our strong relationship, coupled with this latest financial investment, will ensure that we continue to grow agriculture sustainably together. We are a proudly South African business and are proving that Africa can not only compete in technology innovation, but lead at the highest level,”
Marieke Roestenberg, FMO Ventures program manager, on her part said she was “extremely excited” about the idea to onboard Aerobotics as a new investment, she further stated:
“It is truly inspiring to see Aerobotics, an Africa-born, -grown and -based, tech company develop one of the most promising agri-tech solutions for farmers active in orchard management globally.
At FMO we are keen to promote its technology among our large network of agribusiness clients in emerging markets with the potential to create a “win/win” scenario for Aerobotics and agribusiness companies alike”.
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