FUNDING · STARTUPS · #2271
Electric Plant raises $11.2M to commercialize Bombadil, an AI that interprets plant electrical signals
Electric Plant, founded by Justin Mast and neuroscientist Lee von Kraus, has spent three years collecting data and building Bombadil, a cloud-based AI model the company says can interpret electrical signals from plant stems across about 125 species. The startup sells low-cost stem sensors (attached via stainless-steel screws into the cambium) that relay microvolt-level data over a low-power network to Bombadil; the company recently closed an $11.2 million seed round led by Onto Ventures and Climactic. Company claims include potential yield increases and >20% water savings, which remain to be independently verified.
KEY POINTS
- Electric Plant, founded by Justin Mast and neuroscientist Lee von Kraus, has spent three years collecting data and building Bombadil, a cloud-based AI model the company says can interpret electrical signals from plant stems across about 125 species.
- The startup sells low-cost stem sensors (attached via stainless-steel screws into the cambium) that relay microvolt-level data over a low-power network to Bombadil; the company recently closed an $11.2 million seed round led by Onto Ventures and Climactic.
- Company claims include potential yield increases and >20% water savings, which remain to be independently verified.
WHY IT MATTERS
If validated, a model that deciphers plant electrophysiology could provide growers direct, low-cost real-time insight into plant needs and change agricultural monitoring and resource use.