Led · Seed · Aug 2026

Founded in July 2024 by Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier and Dr Vishwanathan Mohan, Versatile RobotX develops intelligent agricultural robots combining AI, machine vision, embedded intelligence and advanced robotic manipulation. The company offers two products: the Fruit and Vegetable Autonomous Picker for automated picking of produce, and the Hydroponic Robotic Harvester for harvesting and transplanting in soilless systems. Its technology has been validated through field trials with UK growers including Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree and JEPCO. Versatile RobotX positions its systems as low-cost, field-ready platforms and plans to expand its portfolio of multifunctional robotic systems. The company intends to pursue manufacturing readiness, customer engagement and commercial expansion, and to demonstrate Robotics-as-a-Service as an adoption route for farms of varying sizes.

Led · Grant · Jul 2026

Founded in 2020, Ponda develops regenerative materials for the textile sector and its first product, BioPuff, is a plant-based insulation made from fibres extracted from bulrush grown on restored wetlands. BioPuff is positioned as a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel synthetic insulation and animal down, with the potential to reduce embedded carbon by up to 88% compared with goose down. The material has been featured in products from Berghaus, Stella McCartney, Ahluwalia and Sheep Inc. Ponda is pursuing development of the agricultural, processing and supply chain needed to produce wetland-grown feedstock at scale and is leading a 30-hectare demonstration project to do so. The company has raised capital including a €2 million round in 2025, launched a crowdfunding campaign in April, and—together with grants and awards—has secured about €5.6 million in funding to date. Through paludiculture and partnerships, Ponda aims to restore peatlands while creating commercially viable wetland crops and diversifying farmer incomes.

Led · Grant · Feb 2025

CroBio develops a living soil amendment applied in liquid form once per growing season; the product contains engineered microbes that produce bacterial cellulose to retain water and nutrients around plant roots. The amendment has a two-year shelf life, is compatible with typical farm equipment, and is positioned as a low-cost solution for large-acreage row crops. CroBio says its bacterial cellulose can hold 1,000x its weight in water and that greenhouse studies showed a 200% improvement in water retention in sandy soil. The microbes consume root exudates, produce carbon-rich bacterial cellulose that increases organic carbon and feeds the soil microbiome, and the company emphasizes benefits for nutrient management and carbon sequestration. Future work under the new award will accelerate strain development and adapt the technology for use across the UK and Europe to reduce fertiliser need and improve soil and environmental health. Financially, CroBio has progressed from bootstrap and early Catapult Ventures support to a Seed round and accelerator backing, and now its first government-funded grant to scale development. CroBio develops enhanced soil microbes that express a sponge-like material around crop roots to boost drought resilience, aid soil regeneration, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company’s core product is biologically refined bacterial strains tested in greenhouse trials with early support from Catapult Ventures’ GM&C Life Sciences Fund. Founded in 2019 by Ross Mulhall during the YES19 competition with support from his father Wayne Mulhall, CroBio secured intellectual property and initially bootstrapped development. In 2023 it received $525,000 from SOSV and joined the IndieBio accelerator to advance its strains. CroBio has now closed a €1.45 million seed round led by a group of US investors including The Grantham Foundation, with participation from SOSV and Ponderosa Ventures and continued support from the Catapult Ventures Group. The company plans to use the funding to conduct field trials with strategic partners and expand its geographical reach.

Led · Grant · Mar 2024

Fieldwork Robotics develops autonomous robots for harvesting raspberries and is transitioning from technology validation to commercial deployments. The company plans to deploy production robots via a two-year harvesting-as-a-service program in Norfolk with Place UK and conduct trials at Littywood Farm to assess operational needs. Management expects to scale to multi-robot fleets by 2027, subject to trial outcomes. Funding secured in this round and grants will be used to accelerate farm adoption and reduce reliance on seasonal labor while improving productivity. Fieldwork previously completed a £1.5 million seed round in 2023 that supported development and validation of its robotics and AI systems. The company has also obtained grant support from Innovate UK through the Farm ADOPT program, with related project activities due to begin in June 2026.