South Australian AI-driven agtech startup, Cropify, has successfully raised $2 million in a new funding round, with key investments from Australian venture capital firm Mandalay Venture Partners and Singapore-based Hatcher+. The two investors contributed a combined total of $850,000, marking their first joint venture under a newly announced partnership.
Mandalay and Hatcher+ have aligned their efforts to accelerate startups that focus on solutions spanning the “farm-to-fork” journey. Their collaboration aims to support innovations in on-farm technologies, farm gate solutions, supply chain advancements, and point-of-sale systems.
Founded in 2019 by CEO Anna Falkiner and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Hannon, Cropify leverages artificial intelligence to revolutionize grain grading, making the process more accurate and efficient. The company’s technology offers a precise, objective, and repeatable method for growers, bulk grain handlers, and marketers to classify pulse samples, reducing subjectivity and error.
Cropify’s system promises significant efficiency gains across the grain industry, delivering cost savings, and advancing sustainability by lowering carbon emissions and reducing plastic usage.
Though the startup has previously been largely self-funded, it has also benefited from grants provided by the Australian Institute of Machine Learning and the AgTech Growth Fund of the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
“This funding round represents a pivotal milestone for us, enabling us to grow our team and focus on commercializing our technology within Australia by 2025,” said Falkiner in a statement to SmartCompany.
Hannon emphasized the global impact potential of Cropify, noting that the investors share the startup’s vision for transforming the agrifood sector. “This level of investment validates our technology and highlights the urgent need it addresses. The broad support we’ve received, from growers to agricultural advisors, is highly motivating.”
He further remarked on Australia’s robust entrepreneurial spirit in the grain industry, positioning the country at the leading edge of global agricultural innovations.
“The future belongs to those who embrace technology to optimize efficiency,” Hannon added. “Business owners and growers who continuously seek to refine their operations and supply chains will be best positioned for success, particularly in the face of changing economic and environmental conditions.”
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