Revolutionizing Agriculture: Cut Fertilizer Use & Maximize Profits!

For entrepreneurs, the evolution of sustainable farming through innovative technologies like Upside Robotics represents a pivotal opportunity to impact the agriculture sector positively. This startup‘s journey showcases how adaptability and customer-centric solutions can revolutionize traditional practices.

Based in Waterloo, Ontario, Upside Robotics is pioneering the development of lightweight, solar-powered autonomous robots designed to deliver precise amounts of fertilizer and nutrients to crops at optimal times. Utilizing advanced algorithms, their software examines weather and soil conditions to determine the exact fertilizer needs of plants.

Currently focused on corn—one of the crops that consumes the most fertilizer—Upside was founded by Jana Tian and Sam Dugan, whose shared commitment to an impact-driven business model aligned perfectly with their unique skill sets. The duo met at an entrepreneurial accelerator program and quickly identified fertilizer waste as a critical area for improvement.

With years of experience, Dugan has been engaged in robotics since childhood, while Tian has a background in chemical engineering from her time at Unilever in the food division. Customer feedback during their initial research validated the need for a more efficient fertilizer application method among farmers.

“Traditionally, only about 30% of applied fertilizer is actually utilized by the crops, with much of it wasted,” noted Tian. “Farmers often make a single fertilizer application each season, which necessitates using excessive amounts upfront. However, crops require nutrition throughout the growing season, highlighting a significant gap that many growers are eager to address.”

After officially launching Upside Robotics in 2024, the founders took a hands-on approach to their prototype. They traveled from field to field in a camper, collecting data directly from farmers to fine-tune their initial designs. This approach allowed them to iterate quickly on both hardware and software, gaining invaluable insights into the agricultural experience.

Using a manually operated prototype, they learned firsthand how to apply their fertilizing technology. “We spent so much time with the farmers that many claimed we logged more hours in their fields than they did,” Tian remarked. This grassroots engagement enabled them to rapidly adjust their designs based on real-world feedback.

Following a successful 2024 pilot season, where they demonstrated their concept on 70 acres, they ramped up operations to cover an impressive 1,200 acres the following year. As they prepare for the 2026 growing season, Upside now aims to expand its reach to over 3,000 acres, achieving 100% customer retention since their inception. The company reports a 70% reduction in fertilizer use, translating to approximately $150 in savings per acre per season for their clients.

Recently, Upside secured $7.5 million in seed funding led by Plural, with contributions from Garage Capital and the founders of Clearpath Robotics. These funds are earmarked for research and development, ensuring they can meet the surging demand from over 200 farms currently on their waiting list, with aspirations to expand into the U.S. corn belt.

“The skepticism around farmers adopting new technologies is real, yet our experiences show that as long as we can offer a clear return on investment, they are eager to embrace these innovations,” Tian reflected. “In our case, we found that farmers were actively seeking the solution we’ve developed.”