Carbon Robotics Raises $30M for Laser Weeding Robots

Carbon Robotics has closed its series C funding round with $30 million to expand its pipeline of laser-enabled weeding robots.

The round was led by Sozo Ventures, alongside existing investors Anthos Capital, Fuse Venture Capital, Ignition Partners, Liquid2 and Voyager Capital. The latest round brings Carbon Robotics’ overall funding to $67 million.  Investors from Sozo and Voyager will join Carbon’s board.

The funds will be used to expand the company’s sales presence in the U.S. and launch into international markets, as well as boost manufacturing and develop the robot’s design and function.

The company’s agricultural robots use an array of lasers and sensors to identify and target weeds, using thermal energy to remove weeds without damaging nearby plants and soil. 

“This financing round further supports our mission to provide cost-effective and efficient precision ag-tech tools to growers,” said Paul Mikesell, Carbon Robotics’ CEO. “Traditional weeding methods, including hand weeding and herbicides, are expensive, unreliable and damage soil health. The LaserWeeder uniquely addresses all of these challenges.”

“Carbon Robotics' elegant use of AI, computer vision, robotics and lasers is the only solution that enables farmers to reduce their most expensive line item - weed control - without damaging plants or the soil,” said Rob Freelen, Sozo Ventures’ managing director. “I am particularly impressed with the team’s fast pace of innovation to bring breakthrough products to market, boosting farmers’ profitability across conventional, organic and no-till practices.”

Related:Carbon Robotics Unveils Autonomous Crop Control Laser

This year, the LaserWeeder will be rolled out at farms across 17 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.