Australia’s Farmbot Secures $4.6M Investment to Fuel US Expansion
Farmbot Monitoring Solutions, an IoT company dedicated to optimizing water resources for agriculture, has raised $4.6 million to fuel its growth strategies for its U.S. subsidiary Ranchbot in the United States.
The Australian firm, based in Sydney, exceeded its initial funding goal of $3 million, thanks to contributions from investors like Telstra and Macdoch Ventures, in addition to new stakeholders from the U.S. ranching industry, as noted in a LinkedIn update.
According to Andrew Coppin, co-founder and managing director, the funds will facilitate Farmbot’s expansion beyond water management, incorporating capabilities for monitoring broader agricultural infrastructure and resources such as soil quality, pasture conditions, and biodiversity.
“Leveraging this investment alongside our talented teams in Australia and the United States will be critical for accelerating our growth within the farming and ranching sectors,” Coppin stated.
Currently, Farmbot serves over 3,500 agricultural producers and has a workforce of 70 employees.
The company offers a suite of products designed to monitor water levels in tanks, bores, and dams, providing real-time notifications directly to smartphones, according to Farmbot’s official site. Their technology also identifies leaks, tracks rainwater harvest, and automates pump operations.
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.