Connecterra lands EUR7.8M for its AI driven AgTech to accelerate industry digitization

Connecterra, the Artificial Intelligence leader for the dairy sector has secured EUR7.8 million in a Series B funding round. The round adds new AgTech and industry insiders as investors in the сompany.

The image by Connecterra press office

The new investors are AgTech specialists ADM Capital (investor in AgTech unicorn Aero Farms), leading international food safety enterprise Kersia, headquartered in France and Dutch impact investor, Pymwymic. Existing investors Breed Reply and Sistema_VC are among others that also joined the round.

 

Biggest ever series B funding round for a Dutch AgTech

The EUR7.8 million raised is the biggest ever series B funding round completed by a Dutch AgTech company active in farm animal technology. This is also the largest ever series B investment secured by a European livestock tech company.

With this impressive amount raised, Connecterra has support from major AgTech and industry investors to accelerate the growth of its predictive AI platform, Ida. Ida has evolved from sensor tech to a full-stack technology and AI platform, combining proprietary sensor hardware, animal data, third-party enterprise data, and machine-learning algorithms.

 

Major traction from key industry players

There has been a rapid digital transformation in the global agricultural sector over the last few months because of COVID-19. Farmers and other key industry players are more acutely aware of the need for sustainable and efficient farming practices.

Yasir Khokhar

CEO of Connecterra

Empowering farmers and the industry with a connected, AI driven platform is a necessity for the future of food production. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought into sharp focus the weaknesses in our food system that is disconnected and faces threats from climate change and a dwindling labor workforce. With the support of our top-class investors, customers and partners, we are well positioned to democratize access to our technology to millions of farmers across the globe.

Empowering farmers and the industry with a connected, AI driven platform is a necessity for the future of food production. The COVID-19 outbreak has brought into sharp focus the weaknesses in our food system that is disconnected and faces threats from climate change and a dwindling labor workforce. With the support of our top-class investors, customers and partners, we are well positioned to democratize access to our technology to millions of farmers across the globe.

 

Technology for regenerative farming practices

Connecterra has seen adoption of the Ida platform by industry giants such as Danone, Bayer and food safety expert Kersia. The technology is being used to create sustainable farming models that have eliminated the use of hormones, reduced antibiotic usage by up to 50%, and increased farm efficiency. The platform is also part of the Farming for Generations (F4G) consortium led by Danone, aimed at tackling regenerative agriculture implementation within the dairy protein supply chain.

 

Investor statements

The round adds new AgTech and industry insiders as investors in Connecterra.

Sébastien Bossard

CEO of Kersia

After a worldwide survey regarding AI for AgTech, we identified Connecterra as a promising digital partner. Beyond the technology, assessed during our survey, we have been enticed by the team. Like us, they are customer driven and partnership oriented and this made us decide to work with this innovative company. We strongly believe this is the opportunity for Kersia to make big steps in digitalization and to bring technology to our farmers and in their quest to produce better food, both from a food safety perspective, as well as from an economical KPI and CSR standpoint. The latter is a key criterion for us when we choose to partner with a company. Farmers want to make the right decisions at the right time. Connecterra has shown that technology is the right tool to do so.

After a worldwide survey regarding AI for AgTech, we identified Connecterra as a promising digital partner. Beyond the technology, assessed during our survey, we have been enticed by the team. Like us, they are customer driven and partnership oriented and this made us decide to work with this innovative company. We strongly believe this is the opportunity for Kersia to make big steps in digitalization and to bring technology to our farmers and in their quest to produce better food, both from a food safety perspective, as well as from an economical KPI and CSR standpoint. The latter is a key criterion for us when we choose to partner with a company. Farmers want to make the right decisions at the right time. Connecterra has shown that technology is the right tool to do so.

Dmitry Filatov

Managing Partner at Sistema_VC

Sistema_VC’s investment focus is on companies disrupting traditional industries with AI. Agriculture is a vivid example of an enormous market using conservative approaches and still influenced very little by modern technology. It creates a good environment for new big ideas and businesses to emerge. Connecterra is one of the most noticeable AgTech companies in Europe, transforming dairy farming with its AI. With a great team on all levels, Connecterra managed to partner with giant Danone and Kersia. Kersia’s latest investment is the best proof of the market’s need.

Sistema_VC’s investment focus is on companies disrupting traditional industries with AI. Agriculture is a vivid example of an enormous market using conservative approaches and still influenced very little by modern technology. It creates a good environment for new big ideas and businesses to emerge. Connecterra is one of the most noticeable AgTech companies in Europe, transforming dairy farming with its AI. With a great team on all levels, Connecterra managed to partner with giant Danone and Kersia. Kersia’s latest investment is the best proof of the market’s need.

 

Grow presence and invest more in AI technology

The latest funding will equip Connecterra with the funding needed to grow its presence in dairy leading regions such as Europe, North America and New Zealand and further scale out and develop the AI models and technology behind Ida.

Connecterra’s mission is to train an Artificial Intelligence to learn how to farm, so it can empower farmers of all sizes to increase productivity of their farms, while reducing the impact of farming on the planet.