Key takeaways
- Top pick: Halter, best for: Dairy and beef farmers managing large herds on pasture.
- Also near the top: Ecorobotix, best for: Growers cutting chemical use in vegetables and row crops; and Carbon Robotics, best for: Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Agtech Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Halter ranks first, with a Lister Score of 96.9.
Halter is the most valuable agtech startup globally, with virtual fencing collars for cattle.
Ecorobotix leads in plant-by-plant precision spraying,
Carbon Robotics is the most proven in laser weeding, and
Inari stands out for AI-designed seeds.
Loam Bio and
Nitricity are the strongest bets on soil carbon and cleaner fertiliser.
Best Agtech Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  HalterHalter's March 2026 Series E valued the company at about US$2 billion, according to AgNavigator. | Dairy and beef farmers managing large herds on pasture | 96.9 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 2 |  EcorobotixEcorobotix says its plant-by-plant spraying can cut crop protection use by up to 95 percent. | Growers cutting chemical use in vegetables and row crops | 95.6 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 3 |  Carbon RoboticsCarbon Robotics reports a 20,000-acre leafy greens grower cut hand weeding by 75 percent after deploying its first machine. | Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs | 94.4 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 4 |  InariIn October 2025 Inari announced plans to bring proprietary GM traits to growers alongside its gene edits. | Seed companies and growers seeking higher-yield varieties | 93.1 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 5 |  Loam BioLoam Bio's Series B was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Wollemi Capital, with Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation among the investors. | Grain growers building soil carbon | 91.8 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 6 |  NitricityNitricity raised a $50 million Series B in September 2025. | Organic growers who need a reliable nitrogen supply | 90.5 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 7 |  BurroBurro said in January 2024 that more than 300 of its robots were working in nurseries and permanent crops. | Growers moving harvested crops by hand in vineyards and orchards | 89.2 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 8 |  ArableArable's $40 million Series C in July 2022 was led by Galvanize Climate Solutions, with Qualcomm Ventures participating. | Growers and agribusinesses monitoring water and crop health | 87.9 | Not public |
|---|
|
| 9 |  AgtonomyKubota invested in Agtonomy in 2026 and showed its M5 Narrow tractor with Agtonomy autonomy at CES 2026. | Vineyard and orchard operators automating tractor work | 86.6 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 10 |  StenonStenon raised an 18 million euro Series B to help farmers manage nitrogen as fertiliser prices rose, according to AgFunderNews. | Farmers and advisers who want instant soil nutrient data | 85.3 | Not public |
|---|
|
|
How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Halter (#1): Dairy and beef farmers managing large herds on pasture
- Ecorobotix (#2): Growers cutting chemical use in vegetables and row crops
- Carbon Robotics (#3): Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs
- Inari (#4): Seed companies and growers seeking higher-yield varieties
- Loam Bio (#5): Grain growers building soil carbon
- Nitricity (#6): Organic growers who need a reliable nitrogen supply
- Burro (#7): Growers moving harvested crops by hand in vineyards and orchards
- Arable (#8): Growers and agribusinesses monitoring water and crop health
- Agtonomy (#9): Vineyard and orchard operators automating tractor work
- Stenon (#10): Farmers and advisers who want instant soil nutrient data
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Solar-powered collars for virtual fencing
Halter, founded in Auckland, New Zealand in 2016, makes smart collars and an app that let farmers move, fence and monitor cattle without physical fences. It raised a NZ$377 million (about US$220 million) Series E in March 2026.
PROS- Replaces fencing and manual herding
- Very well funded for global expansion
CONS- Livestock only
- Price not published
- Best for
- Dairy and beef farmers managing large herds on pasture
- Where it falls short
- It only supports livestock and does not publish its pricing.
- Pick something else if
- you need multi-species support or transparent pricing.
96.9
02
ARA plant-by-plant precision sprayer
Ecorobotix, based in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland and founded in 2014, makes the ARA sprayer, which uses cameras and AI to recognise crops and weeds and spray them individually. It announced $150 million in new funding in October 2025, including a $105 million Series D led by Highland Europe.
PROS- Large installed base for a specialist
- Treats single plants, not whole fields
CONS- Tractor-mounted rather than fully autonomous
- Price not published
- Best for
- Growers cutting chemical use in vegetables and row crops
- Where it falls short
- The system is tractor-mounted rather than fully autonomous.
- Pick something else if
- you need fully autonomous operation.
95.6
03
LaserWeeder for herbicide-free weed control
Carbon Robotics, founded in Seattle in 2018, makes the LaserWeeder, which uses computer vision and lasers to kill weeds without herbicides, and also offers tractor autonomy technology. It raised a $70 million Series D in October 2024.
PROS- No herbicides needed
- In use on commercial farms
CONS- Mainly suited to specialty crops
- Price not published
- Best for
- Specialty crop growers cutting herbicide and hand-weeding costs
- Where it falls short
- The price is not published, so you cannot determine if it fits your budget.
- Pick something else if
- you need to know the cost upfront.
94.4
04
AI-designed seeds with gene editing
Inari, founded in 2016 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, combines AI and multiplex gene editing to design higher-yielding crop varieties for seed customers. It raised $144 million in January 2025.
PROS- Large funding for seed development
- Works across major row crops
CONS- Long breeding and approval cycles
- Regulation varies by country
- Best for
- Seed companies and growers seeking higher-yield varieties
- Where it falls short
- Long breeding and approval cycles slow time to market.
- Pick something else if
- you need faster variety release timelines.
93.1
05
Microbial seed treatments for soil carbon
Loam Bio, an Australian company founded in 2019, develops microbial seed treatments designed to help crops store more carbon in the soil. It raised an A$105 million (about US$73 million) Series B in February 2023, co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Wollemi Capital.
PROS- Simple seed-applied product
- Backed by climate investors
CONS- No new round announced since its Series B
- Soil carbon results take seasons to show
- Best for
- Grain growers building soil carbon
- Where it falls short
- Soil carbon results take seasons to show.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate soil carbon data.
91.8
06
Organic nitrogen fertiliser from farm waste
Nitricity, founded in 2018 in California, makes organic nitrogen fertiliser, using a process that turns almond waste into fertiliser. It raised a $50 million Series B in September 2025 to expand globally.
PROS- Lower-emission route to nitrogen
- Made from agricultural waste
CONS- Production still scaling
- Price not published
- Best for
- Organic growers who need a reliable nitrogen supply
- Where it falls short
- Production still scaling.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate availability or transparent pricing.
90.5
07
Autonomous carts for farm crews
Burro, founded in 2017 in Philadelphia, makes collaborative autonomous robots that carry, tow, patrol and mow in nurseries, vineyards and orchards. It closed a $24 million Series B in January 2024, co-led by Catalyst Investors and Translink Capital.
PROS- Large fleet in commercial use
- Works alongside existing crews
CONS- Hauling rather than fieldwork
- Price not published
- Best for
- Growers moving harvested crops by hand in vineyards and orchards
- Where it falls short
- The price is not published.
- Pick something else if
- you need to know costs upfront.
89.2
08
Field sensors and crop intelligence platform
Arable, founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, sells the Arable Mark in-field sensor with a subscription platform that tracks weather, plant growth, water use and irrigation. It raised a $40 million Series C in July 2022 led by Galvanize Climate Solutions.
PROS- Combines hardware and analytics
- Useful for irrigation decisions
CONS- Subscription model
- Last disclosed round some time ago
- Best for
- Growers and agribusinesses monitoring water and crop health
- Where it falls short
- The subscription model may not suit buyers seeking a one-time purchase.
- Pick something else if
- you prefer a one-time purchase.
87.9
09
Autonomy software for existing farm machines
Agtonomy, founded in 2021 in San Francisco, builds AI software that makes tractors and other equipment autonomous for mowing, hauling and spraying in specialty crops. It raised an $18 million Series B in October 2025 led by DBL Partners and Nuveen.
PROS- Works with equipment from major makers
- Backed by Kubota
CONS- Specialty crops focus
- Early commercial stage
- Best for
- Vineyard and orchard operators automating tractor work
- Where it falls short
- Specialty crops focus.
- Pick something else if
- you need broad crop compatibility.
86.6
10
Real-time handheld soil analysis
Stenon, founded in 2018 in Potsdam, Germany, makes FarmLab, a handheld soil sensor and platform that measures nutrients such as nitrogen in the field instead of sending samples to a lab. It raised an 18 million euro (about $20.5 million) Series B.
PROS- Results in the field, not days later
- Helps cut fertiliser overuse
CONS- Smaller funding than peers
- Price not published
- Best for
- Farmers and advisers who want instant soil nutrient data
- Where it falls short
- The price is not published, so you cannot determine costs upfront.
- Pick something else if
- you need to know the exact cost before committing.
85.3
Put your company on this ranking
Ask us for a quote for one, two or three years. Nothing recurring.
Positions #4 to #10 are available on request. Contact us.
Not on this ranking?Tell us about your company and we will reply by email.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Agtech Startups?
Halter ranks first on Lister. Halter, founded in Auckland, New Zealand in 2016, makes smart collars and an app that let farmers move, fence and monitor cattle without physical fences. It raised a NZ$377 million (about US$220 million) Series E in March 2026.
What are the top 10 Agtech Startups?
1. Halter; 2. Ecorobotix; 3. Carbon Robotics; 4. Inari; 5. Loam Bio; 6. Nitricity; 7. Burro; 8. Arable; 9. Agtonomy; 10. Stenon.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.
Related rankings
