Oslo-based Saga Robotics, the company behind Thorvald, a leading autonomous platform for grapevine and strawberries, has raised €9.5 million in equity capital to scale its commercial operations in the UK and US.
The round was backed by new and existing investors, including Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, a Luxembourg-based VC fund focused on scalable AgTech solutions. Returning investors include Aker, Nysnø Climate Investments, Blystad, Hatteland, Melesio, Sanden, and MP Pensjon.
“We’ve proven Thorvald works, now we’re scaling it,” said founder Pål Johan From, who recently relocated to California to lead US operations. “This raise gives us the runway to accelerate adoption, improve efficiency in agriculture, and reduce chemical use across two of the world’s most chemically dependent specialty crop markets.”
Founded in 2016, Saga Robotics is the company behind Thorvald, a modular, field-proven robotic platform built for soft fruit and grapevine production. From UV-C disease control to precision data collection, Thorvald delivers automated services that reportedly help growers boost yield, cut labor costs, and reduce chemical use. Their aim is to promote cleaner food, greater efficiency, and more sustainable farming.
Alongside the raise, Saga Robotics has strengthened its Board with additional industry expertise. Dorn Wenninger (Chair), Atle Eide (Aker) and Yvonne Silden Langlo (Nysnø) remain in place, joined by new members Laila Danielsen, CEO of the global AI software company Elliptic Labs, and Alice Laurora of Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, who joins as an observer.
“The Thorvald robot has moved from a prototype to a fully commercially deployed autonomous solution, already servicing thousands of acres in 2025,” said Alice Laurora, Vice President at Praesidium Agri-FoodTech. “We’re investing in Saga Robotics because they have the right team, the right tech, proven technology, and a clear path to scale in high-value, underserved agricultural sectors.”
The raise was completed in two tranches:
- Tranche 1: €6.6 Million, closed 23rd June 2025 – oversubscribed, allocated primarily to existing investors
- Tranche 2: €2.9 Million, closed 8th July 2025 – targeted new investors and strategic partners
Dorn Wenninger, Board Chair of Saga Robotics commented, “Our solid commercial performance was an important enabler for us to close this funding round in what is a relatively demanding capital market. The continued backing of existing shareholders who know the company well, along with the addition of new investors such as Praesidium Agri-FoodTech is testament to the solid foundations of our core business and our pipeline of growth.”
Saga Robotics will use the capital to accelerate the commercial rollout of Thorvald across the UK and US.
In the UK, Thorvald now supports 13 leading strawberry growers and treats around 20% of the national market, with a target to exceed 30% in 2026. In the 2025 growing season Saga recorded its first commercial revenue from its yield prediction data tool.
In the US, Thorvald is already operating across more than 1,300 acres of vineyards, with plans to triple that footprint by 2026. The platform has been approved and included in California’s CORE incentive programme, offering substantial grants for robot sales.
In total, over 150 Thorvald 3.0 units are active in the field in the 2025 growing season.
“When I joined Saga Robotics, the potential was clear, and this level of investor interest confirms it,” said CEO Sacha de La Noë. “With Pål driving expansion in the US and strong traction in the UK, we’re entering a new phase focused on scale and impact. We’re not just gaining ground, we’re accelerating.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/08/norways-saga-robotics-harvests-e9-5-million-to-grow-its-fleet-of-autonomous-farm-robots/
