Aerobotics
Leading yield forecast technology for fruit growers using AI and aerial imagery
About Aerobotics
Founded in 2014 by James Paterson, an MIT Aerospace Engineer who grew up on a fruit farm, and Benji Meltzer, Aerobotics has emerged as a pioneering agritech company based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company specializes in providing advanced agricultural technology solutions that combine aerial imagery, drone technology, and artificial intelligence to optimize crop performance for the global fruit and nut supply chain. Serving farmers, distributors, and agribusinesses across 18 countries, Aerobotics has positioned itself as a leader in precision agriculture and data-driven farm management.
Aerobotics’ flagship platform leverages sophisticated machine learning algorithms to analyze imagery captured from both drones and satellites, as well as smartphone cameras. Their Tree Insights product enables growers to identify and quantify underperforming areas, diagnose causes of crop issues, manage inventories, and effectively monitor pests and diseases. The company’s TrueFruit application provides post-harvest analysis of size, quality, and grading, helping farmers make informed decisions about crop protection and distribution strategies. By offering leaf-level insights and high-resolution aerial surveillance, Aerobotics empowers farmers to target interventions tree-by-tree, maximizing yields season after season while reducing economic losses.
Since its inception, Aerobotics has raised $27.1 million in funding, with its most recent Series B round in 2021 securing $17 million led by Naspers Foundry, with participation from FMO, Cathay AfricInvest Innovation, and Platform Investment Partners. This investment has accelerated the development of the company’s data analysis platform, drone services, and image analytics capabilities. Operating on a SaaS-based business model, Aerobotics provides subscription-based access to real-time data and actionable insights, enabling the agricultural industry to create a more efficient and sustainable farming ecosystem. The company’s vision remains clear: to provide intelligent tools to feed the world through innovative technology and data analytics.
Discussion
Product Demo Video
Investors
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N
Naspers Foundry
Led Series B round in 2021 ($17M)
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F
FMO
Series B participant (2021)
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C
Cathay AfricInvest Innovation
Series B participant (2021)
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P
Platform Investment Partners
Series B participant (2021)
People
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J
James Paterson
CEO and Co-founder of Aerobotics. MIT Aerospace Engineer who grew up on a fruit farm.
- MIT Master of Science in Aerospace EngineeringnUniversity of Cape Town BSc in MechatronicsnFounded Aerobotics in 2014
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B
Benji Meltzer
Co-founder and CTO of Aerobotics. Technology leader driving the company's AI and machine learning innovations.
- Co-founded Aerobotics in 2014nLeads technology developmentnExpert in AI and machine learning
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L
Liaan Janse van Vuuren
General Manager: Actions and Insights. Extensive experience in farming and agriculture industry.
- General Manager at AeroboticsnExpert in farm managementnBackground in soil science