Upside Robotics Raises $7.5M Seed for Precision Fertilizer Robots
Waterloo-based Upside Robotics has raised $7.5 million in seed funding led by Plural. The company develops autonomous, solar-powered robots that deliver targeted nitrogen fertilizer directly to corn roots, reducing usage by up to 70%. The capital will scale robot fleets from 1,200 acres in 2025 to over 3,000 acres in 2026 and support U.S. Corn Belt expansion.
The timing aligns with a surge in ag robotics investments. Verdant Robotics raised $58M for tractor-mounted sprayers, Aigen secured $30M+ in Series A for solar weeding robots, and Carbon Robotics amassed $150M+ for laser weeders. Upside's lightweight, swarm-based approach addresses fertilizer waste and soil compaction gaps left by larger competitors.
The Problem
Agriculture faces acute challenges: the global ag robotics market stands at $17.73B in 2025, projected to reach $56.26B by 2030 at 26% CAGR. Traditionally, only 30% of applied fertilizer is absorbed by crops, leading to waste, $150/acre extra costs, and nitrous oxide emissions. Canada's 30% fertilizer emission reduction target by 2030, labor shortages, and volatile input prices exacerbate the issue, as current broadcast methods cause runoff and soil compaction.
The Solution
Upside's 150lb solar robots navigate fields autonomously using RTK GPS and Starlink, applying variable-rate micro-doses weekly based on SoilOptix data. Unlike Verdant Robotics' high-speed tractor attachments or Aigen's weeding-only bots, Upside enables compaction-free, 24/7 operations with swarm scalability (6-30 packs). This agronomy-first platform has demonstrated 70% nitrogen savings and 100% customer retention across 200+ farm waitlist.
As co-founder Jana Tian explained:
“Traditionally, the way the fertilizer has been applied, only 30% of the total fertilizer gets taken by the crop, so a majority of it gets wasted.”
The robots have logged 10,000 autonomous km and applied 100,000 liters over 1,300 acres, proving field reliability.
Funding Story
Plural led the round with Garage Capital and Clearpath Robotics founders (ex-$600M Rockwell acquisition). Plural's deep tech focus (Wayve autonomy) and Garage's robotics exits (Clearpath, Tertill weeding) signal strategic validation for Upside's climate-agri thesis. This positions Upside for GDP-level impact in sustainable farming.
Market Context
The ag robotics sector is fragmenting: FarmWise ($45M) targets selective spraying, while recent raises like GrainCore Dynamics (Feb 2026, $70M valuation) and Greenfield Robotics ($3M+, Feb 2026) highlight momentum. Trends favor precision inputs amid regulations; Upside's nutrient specialization differentiates in a weeding-heavy landscape.
Leadership
Co-founder CEO Jana Tian brings Unilever food product management and BCG strategy, complemented by CTO Sam Dugan's Waterloo mechatronics and Aeryon Labs robotics experience (acq. by FLIR ~$200M). VP Agronomy Tanya Franklin adds 10+ years in precision ag.
What's Next
With total funding over $11M, Upside plans fleet 10x scaling, AI hires, and U.S. entry. This signals maturing ag robotics adoption, potentially cutting emissions nationwide while boosting farmer ROI.