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AvL Motion is an agricultural technology company based in Wanroij, North Brabant, Netherlands, that develops autonomous, selective harvesting robots for the horticulture industry. The enterprise primarily designs machines to harvest white asparagus, addressing severe agricultural labor shortages by providing equipment that operates independently to extract crops with precision. To further expand its agricultural product line, the firm introduced the lighter and more maneuverable AvL Compact model in late 2021. Operating with an estimated 10 to 50 employees, the business has raised €1 million in seed funding and successfully sold its first two commercial robots. The company is backed by institutional investors including Brightlands Agrifood Fund, Future Food Fund, and Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij, while supplying its robotic systems to commercial growers such as launching customer Neessen. AvL Motion was founded in 2018 by Arno van Lankveld.
AvL Motion has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round.
AvL Motion has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
AvL Motion has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in November 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2019 | $1M Seed | — | Brightlands Venture Partners | Announced |
AVL Motion is a Dutch agritech startup developing autonomous harvesting robots to address labor shortages in agriculture. It builds the AVL Compact S9000, a fully electric, lightweight robot that harvests up to 9,000 asparagus spears per hour—30 times faster than a human—while operating 24/7 without compacting soil.[3] The robot serves asparagus growers facing rising labor costs and shortages, using smart cameras and software to detect, cut, and collect produce efficiently, delivering it via conveyor to operators for crating.[3] Backed by investments from Brightlands Agrifood Fund, BOM, and Future Food Fund, AVL Motion has scaled from prototype to market launch, winning awards like first prize at the 2023 Robotics & Smart Implements Challenge in Vienna and third place at World FIRA in Toulouse.[3]
Founded by inventor Arno van Lankveld, AVL Motion emerged to solve the acute labor crisis in asparagus farming, where seasonal shortages and high costs threatened growers.[3] Van Lankveld developed the initial harvesting robot concept, launching the first version in spring 2021 after recognizing the need for a reliable, all-weather alternative to human labor.[3] Early traction came through targeted funding: in 2019, a €1 million investment from Brightlands Agrifood Fund, BOM, and Future Food Fund fueled prototype refinement.[3] By 2022, additional Innovation Credit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and follow-on funding from existing backers enabled scaling and commercial rollout, marking pivotal steps from idea to market-ready product.[3]
(Note: AVL Motion is distinct from AVL List GmbH, a separate Austrian mobility engineering giant focused on automotive simulation and testing.[1][2])
AVL Motion rides the agritech automation wave, capitalizing on global labor shortages in farming amid aging workforces and urbanization—trends intensified by post-pandemic supply chain strains.[3] Its timing aligns with rising demand for sustainable, precise agriculture, where robots reduce waste and enable year-round operations in high-value crops like asparagus.[3] Market forces favoring it include EU subsidies for green tech (e.g., RVO credits) and investor focus on food security, positioning AVL Motion to influence the ecosystem by proving scalable robotics for row crops, potentially expanding to berries or greens.[3] This contributes to broader precision ag shifts, lowering costs and boosting yields for growers worldwide.
AVL Motion is poised for expansion beyond asparagus, leveraging its proven tech stack to target other labor-intensive crops amid escalating automation needs in agrifood. Trends like AI advancements and climate-driven labor gaps will accelerate adoption, with potential partnerships or acquisitions by larger ag giants amplifying its reach. Its influence could evolve from niche solver to category leader, redefining harvest efficiency and tying back to its core promise: fast, reliable robots that keep growers in business.[3]
AvL Motion has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
AvL Motion's investors include Brightlands Venture Partners.
