In a significant leap for agritech innovation in India, Harvested Robotics, a Hyderabad-based startup, has raised ₹50 million (approximately $580,000) in seed funding to advance its AI-driven laser weeding solution. The startup, founded in 2023, combines artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainable farming principles to help farmers remove weeds without chemicals.
This funding round included participation from a consortium of early-stage venture capital firms, agri-tech angels, and impact investors focused on precision farming and climate-resilient agriculture. The capital injection will help the company scale its engineering team, ramp up production, and conduct field trials across India.
Addressing a Persistent Agricultural Challenge
Weed control continues to challenge Indian farmers, especially those managing small to medium plots. Traditional methods involve manual labor, which increases costs and reduces efficiency. Farmers who opt for chemical herbicides often face harmful side effects — environmental damage, reduced soil health, and long-term dependence on inputs.
Harvested Robotics tackles this issue with a non-chemical, autonomous weeding solution. The startup’s flagship product integrates with existing tractors and uses a combination of machine vision and laser-guided targeting to detect and eliminate weeds. The system scans crop beds in real time, identifies weed growth using AI algorithms, and precisely zaps unwanted plants with thermal energy without damaging the crops.
This process saves time, reduces the need for manual intervention, and helps farmers transition to more sustainable farming practices. With India facing rising concerns over chemical overuse and soil degradation, the timing of this innovation couldn’t be better.
Engineering Innovation Rooted in Indian Farms
The founders of Harvested Robotics — engineers from IIT Hyderabad and agronomists from ANGRAU (Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University) — spent over a year in research and field immersion before launching the company. They visited farms in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to understand pain points at the grassroots level.
“We didn’t want to build tech for the sake of it,” said Anirudh Kumar, CEO and co-founder of Harvested Robotics. “Our goal was to create something simple, modular, and impactful — something that could plug into a farmer’s existing tractor and start making a difference from day one.”
The team engineered a compact module that mounts onto the rear of a tractor. This unit houses a stereo vision system, an AI inference engine, and high-precision laser emitters. When the tractor moves, the system analyzes the soil surface at high speed, classifies plant types, and neutralizes weeds within milliseconds.
Field tests have demonstrated over 90% accuracy in weed identification and removal, even in densely planted fields with mixed crops. The laser system ensures minimal energy use while maintaining high kill efficiency. The company has also incorporated safety protocols, including crop-detection algorithms and real-time overrides.
Funding Partners Align with Long-Term Vision
Several investors backed Harvested Robotics for both its technology and its potential environmental impact. AgriTech Angels Network led the round, with participation from SatSure Ventures, Omnivore Foundation, and a few high-net-worth individuals who specialize in deep tech and clean farming solutions.
The investors aligned themselves with the company’s vision: to create affordable, scalable, and climate-conscious agricultural machinery that could empower Indian farmers in the next decade. Many also praised the team’s pragmatic approach — designing a product that integrates with tractors already used in Indian farms, avoiding the need for expensive hardware replacements.
“In the Indian context, frugality matters,” said Vikas Mehta, a partner at SatSure Ventures. “Harvested Robotics did not invent an entirely new machine; they enhanced what already exists. That’s a smart, farmer-first approach.”
The startup plans to use the funding to expand its engineering division, run large-scale pilots across five Indian states, and set up a small-scale assembly facility in Telangana. The company will also build partnerships with agri-input dealers, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), and government agricultural extension programs to drive adoption.
Building for the Bharat Farmer
Harvested Robotics has made accessibility and affordability its top priorities. The team designed the laser weeder as a plug-and-play module that can work with mid-size tractors in the 30–50 HP range, which thousands of Indian farmers own.
The company estimates that farmers will recover the cost of the device within two seasons through savings on herbicides, labor, and crop yield improvements. It also offers a rental model where farmers can use the device through community centers or agri-machinery banks.
“We designed our business model for Bharat — not just for India’s industrial-scale farms,” said co-founder and CTO Divya Ramesh. “The average Indian farmer owns about 1–2 hectares. We wanted to ensure our tech fits their land, their budget, and their tractor.”
In addition to pricing innovation, the company has started training programs to help operators run the equipment. It offers support in local languages and has built a mobile app interface for monitoring performance and receiving updates.
Aligning with India’s Agri-Tech Future
This development aligns well with the Indian government’s push toward sustainable agriculture and agri-tech adoption. Initiatives like PM-KISAN, Digital Agriculture Mission, and Startup India have created an ecosystem where startups like Harvested Robotics can thrive.
The Ministry of Agriculture has also begun exploring chemical-free weed control under its National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). With rising concerns about herbicide resistance and the export risks of chemical-laden produce, Indian policymakers increasingly support alternative weed management solutions.
By eliminating the need for herbicides and reducing water and labor costs, Harvested Robotics strengthens the case for climate-smart agriculture. It also fits into India’s broader goals of increasing farm productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Future Roadmap: From Weeding to Whole-Field Intelligence
While weed control remains the core focus, Harvested Robotics doesn’t plan to stop there. The company has already begun prototyping additional modules for pest detection, soil nutrient mapping, and real-time crop health assessment.
“Our laser platform serves as a base. Over time, we’ll add sensors and analytics that turn every tractor into an intelligent, self-learning farm companion,” said Anirudh. “We want farmers to make better decisions — not just weed faster.”
The company also plans to explore overseas markets, especially in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa where chemical usage poses similar challenges. It has started discussions with NGOs and farm cooperatives in Vietnam and Kenya, which face comparable issues with weed management.
Within the next 18 months, Harvested Robotics aims to scale from 50 trial units to 1,000 deployed units. The company believes it can build a pan-India footprint within three years if it maintains affordability, reliability, and local partnerships.
Final Thoughts
Harvested Robotics has entered the agri-tech space with bold innovation, grounded in deep farmer insight. Its AI-powered laser weeder addresses a decades-old pain point in Indian agriculture and offers a chemical-free, intelligent, and scalable solution.
With $580K in new funding, the startup now stands at a critical growth juncture. If it executes its plans effectively, it could not only change the way Indian farmers fight weeds — it could lead a new wave of precision farming across the Global South.