Anand Mahindra, Arali Ventures Bet on AI-Powered Farming with Harvested Robotics
Harvested Robotics, which says it has come up with AI-based laser weeding technology for tractors, raised Rs 5 crore in a seed funding round led by Arali Ventures. Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, and Chakradhar Gade, co-founder of Country Delight, also joined the round, co-founder Rahul Arepaka informed.
Started by Arepaka and George Mathew in 2023, Hyderabad-based company works towards offering farmers a chemical-free and sustainable alternative to conventional weed management.
The funding will be used for pilots, team building, and product development.
As reported by Arepaka, Harvested Robotics has since garnered over 90 farmers' interest, even though it is just in its nascent stage. "We achieved this interest with just an idea and a website. The demand indicates the need for an effective, chemical-free solution to weed management", he elaborated.
The company first started out as an idea in a student residence of Mahindra University in Hyderabad where the founders were pursuing their studies.
Arepaka has a robotics and Mathew a software background. The entrepreneurs began the firm in their last year at university.
The firm's product is a laser weeder based on AI that is mounted on tractors. It employs cameras and AI models to identify weeds and robotic actuators with high-power lasers for burning weeds real-time.
The tech seeks to save farmers money, boost production, and encourage organic farming. The tech provides accurate weed removal without harming crops, the firm stated.
The startup concept came after discussions with farmers in the area yielded the need for high expenses and effort in prevailing methods of weed control that pushed the formation of Harvested Robotics.
Arepaka stated that angel investors' confidence in the product reaffirms the value and significance of having such a solution.
"Mahindra has a track record of investing in innovation and tech in agriculture. Gade brings experience in establishing consumer-centric businesses and gauging market need; both of which will enable us to reach the market more quickly and at greater depth", he said.
