Vertical farming robotics specialists Seasony has announced the successful closing of its latest funding round, securing €1.5m (US$ 1.6m) in investment. The funds will allow Seasony to accelerate its product development and expand towards key markets in the Middle East and North America.
The round was led by North Ventures and EFIO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark). Alongside them several prominent and experienced business angels invested including Vagn Ove Soerensen, Torben Wind, Klaus Holse, Barbara Taudorf Andersen, Nicolaj Reffstrup (Look Up Ventures) and many more.
The technology firm’s autonomous mobile robot ‘Watney’ automates core processes in vertical farms and provide growers with valuable data insights – offered in a ‘Robotics-as-a-service’ model.
Seasony’s core objective is to bring the best of mobile robotics automation, otherwise mostly known from Amazon warehouses, into indoor farming. Using mobile robots, growers are offered a flexible and cost-effective automated solution as an alternative to both scissor lifts as well as static elevators and conveyor belts.
“We are thrilled to have successfully closed this funding round and are grateful for the support and trust shown by our investors,” says Christopher Weis Thomasen, co-founder and CEO of Seasony. “This significant investment will fuel our ability to drive innovation in vertical farming robotics and bring us closer to realising our vision of a more sustainable and resilient food system.”
“We aspire for Watney to be the John Deere of indoor farming. Watney handles both heavy and dangerous lifting while analysing each plant down to the smallest detail – with a memory that enables vertical farms to significantly streamline operations and get more output from every square meter,” he added.
Watney can work around the clock, from the moment the seeds are sown to when the plants are harvested. When Watney moves around in a vertical farm, it takes care of tasks such as moving plant trays up and down from 10-meter-high shelves and transporting them to different stations. All while constantly analysing, reporting, and storing data about the characteristics of each individual plant and the environment in which they grow.
A combination of advanced sensors, robotics, and algorithms from Seasony allows for intervention at a much earlier stage in the vertical farming process. If a plant needs more water, nutrients, light, or CO2 then the systems will be able to provide this critical information. This creates the best conditions for the vertical farm to achieve maximum yield.
