Odd.Bot, a Lelystad startup specialising in autonomous agricultural robots, has secured €2 million in growth capital during a pre-Series A funding round in order to develop their sustainable robot and bring further iterations to market.
The investment was led by Iconic Ventures, with additional contributions from PolKa Capital Management, regional farmers, private investors, and Horizon, the development agency of Flevoland.
The funding comes at a pivotal time for Odd.Bot, as the first 16 Maverick weeding robots for 2025 have already sold out, indicating strong market interest. CEO Martijn Lukaart stated, “The demand for our weeding robots confirms that we are responding to an urgent need in the agricultural sector. We have chosen to deliberately limit our production capacity for the time being in order to guarantee high quality and excellent service, together with our local partners.”
Founded in 2018 by Martijn Lukaart, Odd.Bot has developed the ‘Maverick’ robot, an autonomous mechanical in-row weeding system designed to replace manual and chemical weeding methods. The Maverick operates continuously night and day, identifying and removing weeds in high-density, high-value crops without the use of harmful chemicals, thereby promoting cleaner crops, healthier soil, and biodiversity preservation.
The company originated from a collaboration with the Technical University of Delft and RoboHouse. A student team developed the first proof of principle for a weeding robot, demonstrated in January 2019. Odd.Bot received initial funding from the TMI Proof of Concept Fund Flevoland in May 2019.
Subsequent milestones include the demonstration of the first proof of concept in 2020, performance validation of the ‘Weed Whacker’ by Wageningen University & Research in 2021, and testing of the second-generation machine, ‘Quirky’, in 2022. In 2023, the company deployed the first two ‘Weed Whacko’ robots, offering weeding services to farmers. By 2024, Odd.Bot launched the complete Maverick system, now being sold to OEMs and system integrators.
Odd.Bot has expanded its operations internationally, with sales in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France, showing a rising demand for sustainable agricultural solutions.
Lukaart noted, “The challenges in the agricultural sector, such as labour shortages and stricter regulations on agrochemicals, have led to a growing need for innovative technologies such as our weeding robots. […] Our robots not only offer growers a sustainable alternative, but also help them meet the changing demands in the sector.”
The Maverick robot is expected to enter the market with a price ranging from approximately €90,000 to €120,000, depending on the configuration. Each robot is anticipated to weed about one hectare per day and is initially trained to work with crops such as carrots, onions, and chicory. The autonomous system navigates based on vision, following crop rows during weeding without the need for external navigation signals.
Additionally, Odd.Bot plans to offer the AI vision-controlled weeding elements separately under the name ‘Odd.Bot Weader’, which can be attached to standard tractors, providing flexibility for farmers who prefer to retain their existing equipment.
Dirk Kronemeijer, partner at Iconic Ventures, said “The collaboration fits seamlessly with Iconic Ventures’ strategy, which focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who create groundbreaking solutions for climate and sustainability challenges. […] Odd.Bot is a perfect example of such an innovative company, with its smart agricultural robot that replaces chemical weed control with intelligent, environmentally friendly technology.”
This investment and the upcoming launch of the Maverick aims to address pressing challenges such as labour shortages and environmental concerns associated with traditional chemical herbicides.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/12/odd-bot-secures-e2-million-to-weed-out-the-competition-with-its-autonomous-agritech-robot/
