Carbon Robotics

Carbon Robotics is an agricultural technology company that has developed the world's first and only commercial laser weeding robot, the LaserWeeder. Founded in 2018 by Paul Mikesell in Seattle, Washington, the company uses artificial intelligence, computer vision, and precision lasers to eliminate weeds in agricultural fields without chemicals or manual labor.

The LaserWeeder works by driving through crop fields and using AI-powered cameras to distinguish between crops and weeds in real-time. When weeds are identified, high-powered lasers instantly eliminate them with extreme precision, leaving crops unharmed. This technology offers farmers a sustainable alternative to chemical herbicides while reducing labor costs and improving crop yields.

Carbon Robotics has achieved significant commercial success, with LaserWeeders operating in 14 countries across North America, Europe, and Australia. The company's fleet has eliminated over 10 billion weeds since 2022, and the technology is owned and operated by more than 100 growers worldwide. The company developed what it calls a Large Plant Model (LPM), trained on a dataset of over 40 million plants labeled from three continents.

The company has raised $177 million in total funding, including a $70 million Series D round in 2024 and a $20 million Series D-2 extension led by Giant Ventures. Carbon Robotics has been recognized on the 2024 CNBC Disruptor 50 list and named one of TIME's top GreenTech Companies of 2024.