In this edition, we witness a decisive shift from digital dashboards to Physical AI, as over $30M in fresh capital floods the sector to put “brains into the brass.” From Singapore’s self-recharging pollination drones to Ontario’s nitrogen-sipping robots, the focus has moved toward autonomous hardware that can navigate, learn, and act directly in the field. With major players like FarmX and BigHaat setting aggressive 2026 roadmaps for global scale and profitability, the industry is no longer just collecting data—it is deploying the intelligent machinery required to solve the global labor and sustainability crisis head-on.
Brilliant Harvest Raises $4M to Expand AI Platform for Heavy Equipment Dealers
Calgary-based agtech startup Brilliant Harvest has secured $4 million in seed funding to scale its AI-powered customer experience platform for heavy equipment dealerships. The round saw participation from FTW Ventures, Alpaca VC, Automotive Ventures, SVG THRIVE, NYA Ventures, along with existing investors. The platform is already used by dealerships representing over 50% of CNH Industrial’s large dealer stores and is backed by multiyear renewals from major groups such as Titan Machinery and Rocky Mountain Equipment. Focused on delivering verified, OEM-compliant AI knowledge, Brilliant Harvest plans to use the funding to expand product capabilities and deepen adoption across the dealer ecosystem, helping improve service efficiency and customer response times.
Polybee Raises $4.3M to Scale Physical AI Drones for Pollination and Yield Forecasting
Singapore-based Polybee has secured $4.3 million in seed funding led by Paspalis Capital and elev8 VC to rapidly scale its AI-powered drone platform for agriculture. The company uses tiny self-recharging drones as “physical AI agents” to forecast yields, detect crop stress, and perform autonomous pollination in greenhouses and open fields. Polybee plans a five-fold expansion to cover over 4,000 acres by 2026, driven by strong commercial traction across Australia, the US, and the UK. Its technology has delivered up to 15% higher yields in greenhouses and 3x profit improvements in leafy greens by optimizing harvest timing and reducing losses. By replacing manual scouting and unreliable pollination methods, Polybee gives growers real-time visibility and control over crop variability. The company follows a subscription-based, hardware-inclusive model, making advanced agri-robotics accessible without upfront capital.
FarmX Acquires Amos Power to Scale AI-Driven Autonomous Farming
FarmX has acquired Amos Power, a developer of fully electric autonomous tractor technology, strengthening its vision to build a vertically integrated, AI-powered agriculture platform. The acquisition, alongside new funding, enables FarmX to combine electric machinery with its advanced AI, machine learning, computer vision, and autonomy software to deliver continuously learning, data-driven farming systems. The integrated platform is designed to operate reliably even in GPS-challenged environments and across diverse farming systems, including orchards, vineyards, and row crops. With expanded manufacturing capabilities and a growing global footprint across India, Japan, and Australia, FarmX plans to begin integrated production deployments under a unified roadmap in 2026, accelerating the global rollout of intelligent, autonomous farming solutions.
Agovor Raises AU$3 Million to Scale Autonomous Horticulture Robotics
New Zealand-founded Agovor has secured AU$3 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by Tenacious Ventures, with participation from Hort Innovation and investors via New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus scheme. The company develops autonomous electric eTractors with interchangeable attachments such as mowers and sprayers, designed to address labor shortages and reduce operating costs in horticulture. Early adopters report annual savings exceeding $30,000, a 90% reduction in water use, and lower chemical inputs. The new funding will accelerate R&D, expand manufacturing in Sydney, and strengthen sales and service networks across Australia and New Zealand as Agovor scales its robotics platform for commercial deployment.
MyEasyFarm Launches MyEasyAI to Drive Low-Carbon Sugar Beet Production
MyEasyFarm has launched the MyEasyAI project in partnership with Cristal Union and the University of Reims Champagne Ardenne (URCA) to accelerate the agroecological and low-carbon transition of sugar beet cultivation in France’s Grand Est region. Backed by €1.6 million in funding from the European Union, the French State, and the Grand Est Region, the initiative will use AI-driven decision support and primary farm data collection to improve sustainability monitoring and advisory services. The project aims to shift carbon accounting to farm-level data, targeting a 27.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions along with improved water efficiency and reduced input use. By integrating artificial intelligence with agronomic expertise, MyEasyAI seeks to enhance resource efficiency, strengthen farmer competitiveness, and support measurable environmental outcomes across the sugar beet sector.
CryoBio Raises $1.3M to Develop Novel Frost Protection for High-Value Crops
New York-based startup CryoBio has secured $1.3 million in pre-seed funding to advance its innovative frost-protection technology for apples, grapes, and other high-value crops. Inspired by antifreeze proteins found in cold-adapted animals, the company engineers microbes to produce protective molecules that prevent damaging ice crystal formation in plants. The spray-on solution, applied before frost events, aims to offer a more reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods such as orchard heaters, wind machines, and nutrient sprays. Following successful greenhouse trials, CryoBio is preparing field tests in New York, Washington, and Canada, with plans to scale production and potentially launch commercially by 2027.
BemAgro Raises US$5.83 Million to Scale AI Solutions for Agriculture
Brazil-based agtech company BemAgro S.A has secured approximately US$5.83 million (R$30.3 million) in a Series A funding round backed entirely by agriculture-focused investors. New backers include The Yield Lab LATAM and Grupo Colorado, while existing shareholders CNH and Atvos expanded their participation. Additional support comes from agro-industrial and investment partners across sugarcane, grains, forestry, and biofuels. Founded in 2018, BemAgro develops artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies to enhance farm productivity and resource efficiency. The new capital will fund product development and expansion, strengthening the company’s mission to deliver scalable, image-based AI solutions for sustainable agriculture.
Upside Robotics Raises $7.5M to Scale Autonomous Fertilizer Technology
Upside Robotics has secured $7.5 million in seed funding, led by Plural, to expand its autonomous fertilizer robots designed to reduce nitrogen waste in row crops. Backed by investors including Garage Capital and the founders of Clearpath Robotics, the company aims to replace early-season mass fertilizer applications with lightweight, AI-driven robots that apply nutrients precisely when and where crops need them. Having already logged over 10,000 autonomous kilometers across 1,200 acres, Upside plans to operate on more than 3,000 acres in Ontario and the U.S. in 2026, with reported fertilizer reductions of up to 70% and potential savings of $150 per acre. The company is preparing to expand into the U.S. Corn Belt amid strong farmer interest.
BigHaat Targets $1B Revenue with Global Expansion Plans
Bengaluru-based agtech platform BigHaat has unveiled plans to expand across India and enter African and Southeast Asian markets, aiming to achieve $1 billion in annual revenue within five years. Founded in 2015 by Sateesh Nukala and Sachin Nandwana, the company has grown from an online farm input marketplace into a full-stack agri value chain platform serving nearly three million monthly active farmers. Following a recent $10 million funding round led by Bidra, the VC arm of OCP Group, BigHaat says it is close to EBITDA breakeven and expects full profitability by 2026. The company plans to scale its input and market linkage businesses, monetize its large agricultural data platform, and expand sourcing of traceable spices, grains, and pulses, positioning itself as a capital-efficient, last-mile digital connectivity platform for rural markets.
Editor’s Note
Built for Decision Makers
As we wrap up this 4th edition, the clear takeaway is that 2026 is becoming the “North Star” for the industry. Nearly every major update this week—from FarmX’s integrated production to BigHaat’s profitability targets and Polybee’s 4,000-acre expansion—points toward 2026 as the year these technologies move from pilot programs to global infrastructure.
We are moving past the era of “experimental” agtech. With over $30 million in new funding flowing into specialized AI and autonomous hardware, investors are betting on solutions that provide immediate, measurable ROI: 70% less fertilizer, $30,000 in labor savings, and 15% higher yields. The “Physical AI” revolution isn’t just coming; it’s already in the field, recharging its own batteries and preparing for the next harvest.
