In 2023, the visionaries behind Upside Robotics came together with a shared goal: to create a company that positively impacts both climate and agriculture. Less than a year later, they found themselves living in a camper beside a cornfield in Canada, diligently working on their robotics venture.
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, Upside Robotics specializes in developing lightweight, solar-powered autonomous robots designed to deliver precise amounts of fertilizer and nutrients to crops at optimal times. Their innovative software utilizes proprietary algorithms to analyze weather and soil data, determining the exact needs of the plants.
Focusing on corn--one of the most fertilizer-dependent crops--was a strategic choice, as co-founder and CEO Jana Tian explained in an interview. She and co-founder Sam Dugan, who met through the Entrepreneur First accelerator, recognized the significant potential to minimize fertilizer waste through robotic solutions, aligning with their personal interests and professional backgrounds.
Dugan, who has been passionate about robotics since childhood, and Tian, a seasoned chemical engineer with experience in Unilever's food division, validated their concept through discussions with farmers. They discovered a strong demand for improved fertilization methods.
"Historically, only 30% of applied fertilizer is utilized by crops, leading to considerable waste," Tian noted. "Farmers typically apply fertilizer once per season, which means they must use a large quantity upfront. However, crops require nutrients throughout the growing season. We identified this challenge as a critical area for innovation."
After founding Upside Robotics in 2024, the duo immersed themselves in the field. "We bought a camper trailer and moved from field to field, often staying overnight. We dedicated countless hours to working directly in cornfields," Dugan shared.
Initially, Dugan created a remote-controlled robot in just two weeks, which they used to gather data and demonstrate their fertilization system to farmers. "Our manual applications during the first year allowed us to rapidly iterate on both hardware and our understanding of farming practices," Tian reflected. "Farmers remarked that we spent more time in their fields than they had in a lifetime, providing us invaluable insights."
After a successful first season, Upside developed the fourth generation of their robot for the 2025 growing season, expanding from 70 acres in 2024 to 1,200 acres in 2025. Now, they are preparing to serve over 3,000 acres in the upcoming 2026 season, boasting a 100% customer retention rate since inception. Upside has successfully enabled its clients to reduce fertilizer usage by 70%, translating to approximately $150 in savings per acre each season.
Recently, the company secured a $7.5 million seed funding round led by Plural, with contributions from Garage Capital and founders of Clearpath Robotics. This funding will support ongoing research and development to meet the high demand, as over 200 farms are currently on their waitlist. Upside also aims to expand beyond Canada, targeting entry into the U.S. corn belt.
"There's often skepticism about farmers adopting new technologies, but our experience has shown that they are eager for effective solutions that demonstrate clear returns on investment," Tian stated. "In many cases, farmers have actively sought out our technology."
