About Ecorobotix
Certified B Corporation®
Ecorobotix is a Swiss, Certified B Corporation®, founded to radically change agriculture to better respect the environment by reducing chemical and energy use, minimizing CO2 emissions, and preserving plant and soil biodiversity.
The Roots
Ecorobotix came into being when Steve Tanner crossed paths with Aurélien Demaurex at an environmental conservation gathering. Steve, intimately familiar with the laborious task of field weeding due to his upbringing as a farmer’s son, and Aurélien Demaurex, whose family venture focused on robotics, shared a moment of insight. Observing the shift from manual weeding to extensive chemical application, they pondered together: could artificial intelligence transform weed management in agriculture?
Company History
The upcoming era of agriculture, featuring an unparalleled fusion of cutting-edge agricultural hardware and revolutionary AI software.
2011
The Founders
Steve and Aurélien initiated their idea, assessed market feasibility, and subsequently launched Ecorobotix SA in October 2011. With strategic growth over two years, they secured vital funding from the Foundation for Technological Innovation, propelling their startup journey.
2014 – 2015
Startup Phase
Steve and Aurélien hired their first employee, dedicating a substantial amount of time to growing the business. The very first prototypes were developed in 2014 and modified in 2015, thanks to the support of private investors and the Swiss Confederation through research projects with EPFL and HE-Arc.
2016 – 2018
Early Developments
In 2016, Ecorobotix debuted its autonomous machine, AVO, while also securing CHF 3 million in funding, which surged to over CHF 10 million by 2018. Subsequently, a dozen robots underwent trials across Europe, amassing a wealth of images across diverse crops to refine its algorithms.
2019
B-Corp Certification
Ecorobotix achieved the B-Corp Certification, issued to companies who meet the highest standards in social and environmental performance, legal responsibility, and public transparency.
2021
Launching ARA
The company launched the ARA smart sprayer along with the AI Plant-By-Plant™ software. Consequently, the AVO autonomous robot was put on hold for further improvement.
2022
Company Growth
In 2022, Ecorobotix welcomed Simon Aspinall as the new CEO, joining the existing team of Steve Tanner, Cyril Halter, Aurélien G. Demaurex, and Claude Juriens. Andrea Halter was hired shortly afterward as CMO.
Simon Aspinall passed away in June 2023 following a sudden accident. He was a great friend to all here at Ecorobotix.
2023
International Expansion
In March 2023, a $52 million investment round propelled the company into the Americas, starting in South America, then Canada, and finally the USA. Ecrobotix’s US branch was established by mid-2023.
2024
New CEO
In March 2024 Ecorobotix announced the engagement of their new CEO, Dominique Mégret. With over 100 employees worldwide, Ecorobotix continues to grow exponentially.