Carbon Robotics raises additional $8M as maker of AI-powered weed zapper eyes new ag-tech product

Carbon Robotics, makers of a weed-zapping machine powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision technology, has raised an additional $8 million which it plans to use to accelerate development of a new product line in agriculture tech.

Carbon Robotics CEO Paul Mikesell with the company’s weed-zapping robot. (Carbon Robotics Photo)

The new cash extends a Series C round that has now pulled in $43 million for the Seattle startup. Carbon Robotics has raised $80 million in total.

The company declined to share details on what new product it’s developing, but said it’s not related to its flagship LaserWeeder machine, which uses thermal energy to eliminate weeds without damaging crops or disturbing soil.

″Demand and units shipped for LaserWeeder tripled in 2023 versus 2022 — so this was a good opportunity for us to accelerate another new product project we are very excited about,″ Carbon VP of marketing Brett Goodwin told GeekWire. ″As an AI robotics company, we’re big believers in the power of software and hardware together to create value.″

Founded in 2018, Carbon is led by Isilon Systems co-founder Paul Mikesell, who sold Isilon for $2.25 billion in 2010 and spent time at Uber and Facebook before embarking on another entrepreneurial journey.