# Aerobotics (Pty)

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/aerobotics-pty

- Industry: Software
- Headquarters: Cape Town, South Africa
- Website: www.aerobotics.com
- Total disclosed funding: $36M
- Latest round: Series B (Jan 26, 2021)
- Investors on record: 9

## About

Aerobotics (Pty) Ltd., based in Cape Town, South Africa, specializes in agricultural technology that enhances yield forecasting for the fruit industry using advanced AI solutions.Founded in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa, Aerobotics (Pty) Ltd. delivers technology for yield forecasting in agriculture. The company has secured a total of 6 deals, with the most recent being a Series B funding round completed on January 26, 2021, raising USD 17.000 mn. The funding round was led by Naspers, along with participation from Cathay Capital and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO). Founders Benji Meltzer and Subhrajyoti Mahanta were instrumental in establishing the company, which is currently led by CEO James Paterson.Aerobotics offers a suite of innovative yield forecasting solutions tailored for the fruit industry. Their core products, including TrueFruit Size, TrueFruit Grade, and TrueFruit Bin Scan, utilize advanced AI technology to provide accurate measurements of fruit size, color, and quality through smartphone imagery. These tools enable fruit growers, packers, and marketers to obtain real-time data on their crops, facilitating informed business planning and sales decisions. The platform's capabilities extend to various crop types, ensuring its applicability across diverse agricultural contexts. Aerobotics serves a global customer base, including prominent fruit companies in North America, Europe, and Australia, who utilize these tools to optimize production and enhance profitability.Aerobotics generates revenue through a subscription-based model, where clients engage with the company's various offerings based on their agricultural needs. Customers typically include fruit growers and packers who subscribe to access the suite of tools for yield forecasting and quality assessment. The business transactions are structured around partnerships and direct-to-client sales, allowing for tailored solutions to meet specific operational requirements. Pricing plans are aligned with the value provided by flagship products such as TrueFruit Size, which focuses on precise fruit sizing and forecasting, and TrueFruit Grade, which automates quality assessments. This structured approach enables Aerobotics to maintain steady revenue streams while supporting their clients in optimizing production outcomes.In January 2021, Aerobotics (Pty) Ltd. raised USD 17.000 mn in Series B funding, with plans to utilize this capital to further enhance their product offerings and expand into new markets. The company is focused on developing new products to improve yield forecasting solutions and plans to enter additional agricultural markets by the end of 2023, targeting regions with a growing demand for advanced agricultural technology.

## Funding rounds

- Series B, Jan 26, 2021, $17M — Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), Cathay Capital, Naspers
- Series B, Dec 11, 2020, $17M — Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), Africinvest, Naspers
- Series A, Feb 27, 2019, $2M — Paper Plane Ventures
- Series A, Jul 13, 2018 — Nedbank, Savannah Fund, 4Di Capital, AgFunder
- Seed, Aug 1, 2017, $0.6M — Savannah Fund, 4Di Capital

## Investors

- Savannah Fund (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/savannah-fund) — Seed, Series A
- 4Di Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/4di-capital) — Seed, Series A
- Nedbank — Series A
- AgFunder (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/agfunder) — Series A
- Paper Plane Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/paper-plane-ventures) — Series A
- Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) — Series B
- Africinvest (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/africinvest) — Series B
- Naspers — Series B
- Cathay Capital — Series B