Participated · Series B · Aug 2018

SWIIM System develops a multi‑patented water accounting platform used to help growers account for and manage agricultural water budgets and protect water rights. Its core product combines water‑balance data with decision‑support tools and is being deployed throughout the western US. The company recently acquired Fresno‑based OnFarm Systems to add online data integration and dashboard capabilities and to simplify growers' data-driven decision making. SWIIM's technology was developed over a five‑year period with support from the USDA and several western land‑grant universities, and it was named a Top 25 Most Innovative Ag Tech Company by Forbes in 2017 and 2018. Management emphasizes expanding service to growers dealing with surface water and groundwater challenges, including SGMA compliance and Colorado River allocation issues. Proceeds from the recent financing will fund platform expansion and the OnFarm integration. SWIIM System provides a water management and auditing platform that integrates in-field equipment with regional remotely sensed data to produce daily consumption estimates, delivery reports, and comprehensive water-balance reports. The platform includes a planning toolset to help growers allocate limited agricultural water supplies for highest and best use. SWIIM was developed over a five-year period in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and regional land-grant universities and was recently ranked among Forbes' top 25 ag‑tech companies of 2017. The company has expanded its presence throughout the western United States and recently renewed a long-term development agreement with Western Growers Association. Management emphasizes providing actionable data at all levels for fresh, reclaimed, blended surface water and groundwater. The business recently closed a financing round and added strategic board members to support continued growth and execution. SWIIM System offers a comprehensive water and irrigation management system that gives farmers and irrigation districts a complete picture of water use across crops. Its software lets farmers create crop plans tailored to their land using an internal database compiled from public sources and user-entered data. The system uses a modeling algorithm co-developed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to identify where water is best used and where it can be conserved. SWIIM’s platform consolidates multiple aspects of water management rather than focusing on a single metric like soil moisture or irrigation efficiency. Led by CEO Kevin France and Chairman Ed Warner, the company intends to expand its market reach domestically and internationally using recently raised funds. The product targets both individual farmers and larger irrigation districts with configurable, data-driven water allocation planning.

Led · Seed · Jun 2018

GroGuru supplies precision soil and irrigation monitoring and management systems to the commercial agriculture industry. Its solutions enable farmers to increase crop yields while using water, energy, fertilizer and labor more efficiently and sustainably. The product combines a patented wireless underground system (WUGS) for soil monitoring, an AI-based recommendation engine in the cloud, and an intuitive farmer-friendly interface accessible on tablet, computer or mobile device. The company is led by president and CEO Patrick Henry and has participated in accelerator programs including OCTANE LaunchPad, EvoNexus, AgLaunch, the Yield Lab, SVG-Thrive and Plug & Play AgTech. GroGuru closed a $2.3M Seed A financing to support expansion and commercialization. The company intends to use the funds to expand sales, continue development and commercialization of its AI-enabled continuous farm monitoring and management solutions, and grow strategic partnerships. GroGuru develops a patented wireless underground system (WUGS) that enables permanent installation of soil sensors in annual field crops, removing the need for annual installation and removal. The sensors feed data to the cloud, where GroGuru uses machine learning and other data to deliver recommendations on when and how much to irrigate. Its technology targets crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and sorghum. The company says it will use the new capital to grow its team, scale operations and deploy critical sensor technologies connected to the cloud. Leadership includes president and CEO Patrick Henry and co‑founders CTO/VP engineering Farooq Anjum, PhD, and Chief Scientific Officer Jeff Campbell, PhD. GroGuru is a portfolio company at the EvoNexus technology incubator in Southern California. GroGuru develops irrigation automation technology and a precision soil and irrigation monitoring system for the agriculture industry. The company aims to improve on-farm efficiencies amid a severe labor shortage. It plans to advance its automation technology using proceeds from new funding. GroGuru secured $250,000 in seed funding from Western Growers and Radicle Growth. The financing was awarded as part of the Radicle Automation Challenge. GroGuru is part of the EvoNexus startup incubator, which operates locations in San Diego and Irvine, and is led by CEO Patrick Henry.