GV, a corporate venturing subsidiary of internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, has led a $10m series A round for US-based fruit-picking robot developer Abundant Robotics.
Trading and services group BayWa, motorcycle and motor manufacturer Yamaha Motor Company, private equity firm Tellus Partners, venture capital fund Comet Labs and KPCB Edge, a fund run by VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, also participated in the round.
Abundant Robotics is working on a robotics system that will pick fruit. It is initially focusing on apple harvesting, but will use the series A funds to further develop its technology and expand it to other fruits.
GV general partner Andy Wheeler said: “Growers are eagerly looking for an automation solution to solve labour surge issues, and Abundant Robotics is the first of its kind to meet these specialised needs.
“Between the founding team’s deep expertise in agricultural robotics, and the wide potential for expanding beyond apples to adjacent crops, Abundant Robotics is well-positioned to disrupt the orchard harvesting market.”
The round took Abundant’s total funding to $12m since it was spun out of research institute SRI International in 2016.