A Big Win for Monterey Bay AgTech: Bonsai Robotics Acquires farm-ng
Bonsai Robotics and farm-ng stand in a field alongside their Amiga robot. Credit: farm-ng
The agricultural robotics space just got more exciting. Bonsai Robotics, a San Jose–based leader in AI-driven autonomy software, has officially acquired farm‑ng, the Watsonville startup known for its modular, electric robots. This strategic move not only signals the growing maturity of agtech but also highlights the deep impact Santa Cruz Ventures and Reservoir have made in fostering innovation right here in our region.
Origins: Local Roots & Early Validation
farm‑ng began in 2020 under the helm of Ethan Rublee, who brought experience from Google and other automation ventures. With its Amiga robot—marketed to small and midsize farms for multipurpose tasks—farm‑ng quickly attracted attention. In January 2024, it raised a $10.05 million Series A round, led by Acre Venture Partners and backed by Santa Cruz Ventures (SCV) and Reservoir, marking one of SCV’s first institutional investments.
SCV’s belief in farm‑ng—and by extension, the Santa Cruz area as an agtech hub—was a powerful vote of confidence. SCV managing partner Alexi Sevastopoulos remarked that farm‑ng’s focus on affordable, open‑architecture farming robotics aligned perfectly with regional values of sustainability, collaboration, and community impact.
The Power Couple: Software Meets Hardware
Fast forward to July 24, 2025: Bonsai Robotics seals the acquisition, combining its AI-first autonomy platform with farm‑ng's Amiga hardware. CEO Tyler Niday, who cofounded Bonsai in 2022 after significant contributions at Blue River Technology and John Deere, explains that this integration is about more than merging tech—it’s about unifying vision-based autonomy with versatile, electric robotic platforms to empower mixed fleets in the field.
Brendan Dowdle, former CEO of farm‑ng and now Chief Business Officer of Bonsai, echoes the sentiment. He pointed out how both companies’ complementary strengths—Bonsai’s software and farm‑ng’s hardware—create AI-first machines capable of meeting diverse farming needs.
Strong Leadership & Ecosystem Momentum
In conjunction with the acquisition, Bonsai has also onboarded key industry figures, including John Teeple, former Technology Director at John Deere, as COO, and Gary Bradski, OpenCV’s founder, as Chief Science Officer. This deep bench confirms Bonsai’s commitment to taking autonomy into harsher, GPS-challenged environments—from nut orchards to row crops.
The companies already had a proven track record together—field deployments in vineyards, orchards, and vegetable beds—so the marriage promises immediate impact..
Why It Matters Locally & Industry-Wide
For Santa Cruz’s burgeoning tech scene, this acquisition marks a significant milestone. SCV and Reservoir’s early backing of farm‑ng proves that real, scalable robotics and AI innovation can grow from our backyard. What began as one of the region’s first investments is now part of a much larger narrative: Santa Cruz–area teams are delivering world-class agtech solutions that capture attention well beyond Silicon Valley’s borders.
“We’re incredibly excited about the acquisition of farm-ng by Bonsai Robotics,” said Alexi Sevastopoulos, co-founder at Santa Cruz Ventures. “While this may be considered an early exit in traditional VC terms, we see it as the beginning of a much larger opportunity. With farm-ng now operating under the Bonsai banner, we’re proud to continue as investors in this next chapter. It’s a strong validation of our unique thesis—that visionary, technical founders in our underdog region can build world-class, category-defining companies. This milestone reinforces the strength of our model and the momentum behind it.”
This move is also indicative of a wider trend: the agtech industry is maturing, with consolidation becoming more common. Agribusiness is recognizing that sustainability, labor efficiency, and sophisticated AI-powered operations will define the next phase—and automation must be both flexible and affordable..
The Road Ahead
What’s next? Bonsai promises to integrate farm‑ng’s Amigas into its unified software suite, offering growers a single app to manage autonomous sprayers, shakers, sweepers, and row-crop robots—bridging together capabilities for vineyards, orchards, and bedded fields. With Bonsai already deploying over 50 machines in California and Australia—and farm‑ng ordering upward of 230 Amigas since 2020—the stage is set for significant commercial momentum.
As a proud part of the Santa Cruz ecosystem, it’s thrilling to watch local innovation take root and flourish on a global stage. Bonsai’s acquisition of farm‑ng is a testament to the power of regionally supported ventures—and a clear signal that the future of agtech will be shaped right here, from Watsonville to the world.
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