Nebraska startup recently closed an initial seed fund which will be utilized to complete several units of a robot that acts as a caretaker in poultry barns.
Birds Eye Robotics, an agricultural robotic company, announces the close to an initial seed fund to accelerate the company’s cutting-edge robot that is designed to assist in the daily care of poultry barns. The fundraising round included investors Invest Nebraska, Innova Ag Innovation Fund, Iowa Ag Startup Engine, Burlington AG-VENTURE, and several angel investors from the industry.
The funding will be utilized to complete several Version-3 units of the Poultry Caretaker, allow for the deployment of the robots in concert with partners and growers, build the data acquisition capabilities of the robot and user interface software, as well as allow the company to add experienced members to their team.
Birds Eye was founded by CEO Scott Niewohner. Scott is a serial inventor and entrepreneur with deep experience combining existing technologies into novel new uses for adjacent industries. Birds Eye has worked closely with poultry professors and scientists to ensure the robot makes sense economically and with industry standards.
Birds Eye Robotics is now an alumnus of The Combine, an agriculture technology startup incubator located on Nebraska Innovation Campus and program of Invest Nebraska. The Combine has eight modules from Goal Setting to Capital Readiness, and Birds Eye’s completion of an initial seed fund promotes the startup to a graduate of the incubator.
“Birds Eye Robotics would not be where it is today without its support from The Combine Incubator Team,” said CEO, Scott Niewohner. “When we entered the incubator program our team had lots of market and technological assumptions that needed to be further proven, and we were fortunate to have a great partner prepare us for our seed fundraise.”
The Combine Program Director, Matt Foley, states, “This company from Herman, Nebraska is an impressive example of how rural Nebraska will lead the next generation of impactful ag technology solutions on the farm.”
About Birds Eye Robotics, Inc.
The upkeep and maintenance of poultry houses represent a real challenge for farmers and growers. With continual pressure in agriculture labor markets, Birds Eye’s autonomous robotic solution aims to connect cutting-edge technology with farmer common sense. The company’s “Caretaker” can perform routine but critical needs of grow-out barns, by removing mortality, tilling the bedding, and improving the overall health and welfare of the birds, thus impacting the growers’ bottom-line profitability. For further information, please consult the company’s website at www.birdseyerobotics.com. Direct all inquiries to info@birdseyerobotics.com
About Invest Nebraska
Invest Nebraska is a private, non-profit statewide venture development organization focused on high-growth companies in Nebraska and growing the state’s entrepreneurial economy. Invest Nebraska works directly with entrepreneurs, researchers, and companies to help commercialize their technologies, launch and grow new businesses, and access needed capital. Invest Nebraska’s Combine Incubator is a statewide initiative focused on supporting high-growth agri-food entrepreneurs through mentoring, commercialization support, physical incubation space on Nebraska's Innovation Campus, and a network of supporting farmers and ranchers across the state.
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