AI greenhouse ‘co-pilot’ startup bags €15m as it eyes global expansion

Amsterdam-based Source.ag has raised €15m in equity as it looks to hook up more greenhouses to its AI software platform.

The Series B round was led by agrifood VC Astanor, with participation from Dutch seed breeding firm Enza Zaden and grower cooperative Harvest House. The new cash brings Source’s total raised to just shy of €60m.

Founded in 2020, Source’s founders Rien Kamman and Ernst van Bruggen have developed an AI-based software which acts like a virtual grower for greenhouses.

Using data on things like temperature and humidity pulled from sensors installed in the greenhouse, the platform helps real growers decide when to water, how much to light, and how to tweak climate settings for the best yield and least waste.

The software also predicts when plants will be ready to harvest, how much yield to expect, and even how fruit size or quality might evolve over the next few weeks.

The idea is to help growers plan labour, packaging, and sales contracts ahead of time instead of reacting last-minute.

Source’s tech has been deployed in 300 greenhouses covering 2,500 hectares across 18 countries, it said.

Armed with fresh funding, the company plans to sign up more vegetable growers and expand globally.