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Smart Apply offers the Intelligent Spray Control System, an upgrade kit for air-blast sprayers. It uses LiDAR to detect foliage density, dynamically adjusting spray volume. This technology substantially reduces chemical and water usage, minimizes airborne drift and runoff, improving agricultural spraying precision and environmental efficiency.
The company originated from a decade of precision spraying research by the USDA and universities. Smart Apply was exclusively tasked by the USDA in 2018 to commercialize this technology, launching its Intelligent Spray Control System in 2020. The founding insight addressed waste and environmental concerns from traditional chemical application in high-value crops.
Smart Apply serves high-value crop growers in orchards, vineyards, and nurseries. The company empowers producers to enhance profitability and environmental stewardship. Providing precise spraying data, Smart Apply fosters insights into crop health and productivity, driving sustainable resource management within agriculture.
Smart Apply has raised $4.3M across 2 funding rounds.
Smart Apply has raised $4.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Smart Apply has raised $4.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Smart Apply's investors include Ben Pidgeon, AGrow Ventures, Elevate Ventures, Frontier Angels, Serra Ventures.
Smart Apply has raised $4.3M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $1.3M Seed in January 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | $1.3M Seed | BEN Pidgeon | Agrow Ventures, Elevate Ventures, Frontier Angels | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2022 | $3M Seed | — | Serra Ventures | Announced |
Smart Apply is a precision agriculture technology company that developed the Intelligent Spray Control System, a LiDAR-based add-on kit for air blast and over-the-row sprayers used in high-value crops like fruits, nuts, and vines.[1][4][6] It serves orchard, vineyard, and nursery operators by solving overspraying, which wastes chemicals, increases costs, and harms the environment through runoff (up to 93% reduction) and drift (up to 87% reduction).[1][5][6] The system scans canopy density in real-time (24,000 data points per second), enabling pulse-width modulation for precise application, cutting chemical use by 50-67% while capturing data on canopy volume, spray volumes, and plant health.[1][4][6] Founded in 2021 and acquired by John Deere in July 2023 after raising $3.11M, it has expanded via a dealer network across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, demonstrating strong growth momentum pre-acquisition.[1][7]
Smart Apply emerged from earlier work under Smart Guided Systems LLC, founded in 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, focusing on LiDAR-enabled precision spraying rooted in USDA research.[3][5] The core technology advanced into Smart Apply, Inc. in 2021, building on years of development to create the first density-based intelligent sprayer that scans foliage before applying chemicals.[1][3][5] Key early traction came from in-field trials proving 50%+ chemical savings with equal crop protection, attracting investors like VisionTech Partners across three rounds.[1][7] A pivotal moment was the July 2023 acquisition by John Deere, undisclosed terms, which integrated the tech into a global ag leader and delivered returns to 44 VisionTech investors in under 19 months.[1][7] This backstory highlights a pivot from research to commercial scalability, humanizing the team's commitment to sustainable farming.
Smart Apply rides the precision agriculture wave, leveraging AI, sensors, and automation to address global pressures like rising input costs, labor shortages, and sustainability mandates in high-value cropping systems.[1][5][6] Timing aligns with post-2020 agtech boom, where chemical reduction tech gained urgency amid regulations (e.g., pesticide drift rules) and climate goals—its 50%+ savings directly counters $10B+ annual US overspray waste.[1][7] Market forces like John Deere's dominance in equipment (post-acquisition) amplify scale, influencing ecosystems by retrofitting legacy fleets and enabling data analytics for yield prediction.[1][7] It sets a benchmark for density-based spraying, pushing competitors toward LiDAR integration and fostering sustainable practices in $50B+ fruit/nut markets.
Under John Deere, Smart Apply will likely expand globally via its vast dealer network, integrating with autonomous tractors and AI platforms for end-to-end farm optimization.[1][7] Trends like regenerative ag, carbon credits, and drone synergies will shape growth, potentially doubling adoption in emerging markets. Its influence may evolve from retrofit innovator to ecosystem standard, driving industry-wide chemical reductions and tying back to its core promise: precision that saves costs, protects crops, and safeguards the planet.[6]
