Electric Plant raises $11.2 million to interpret plants’ electrical signals

Electric Plant has raised an $11.2 million seed round to develop sensors and an AI model that interprets electrical signals in plants. The funding was led by Onto Ventures and Climactic, with participation from Ponderosa, Endeavor Catalyst, Ludlow, Michigan Rise, The Fund, Schox VC and Dug Song.

The startup was founded by Justin Mast and neuroscientist Lee von Kraus. Over the past three years, it has collected data for Bombadil, a model designed to interpret electrical signals moving through plant stems and report plants’ needs to growers. Electric Plant says Bombadil can interpret signals from about 125 species.

The company’s sensors attach to plants with stainless steel screws that reach the cambium, the living tissue beneath bark. Data travels to a base station over a low-power wireless network, then Bombadil analyzes it in the cloud. Growers can use the results to adjust watering or fertilizer schedules. Mast said the company needs a couple of sensors per acre for accurate results.

Mast said the sensors cost tens of dollars, while existing tools generally cost thousands. He also claimed the system could increase yields while reducing water use by 20% or more. Electric Plant did not disclose its initial customers.

The company says its first model covers more than 100 species, including ferns, redwoods, tomatoes and dahlias. Mast said it began training Bombadil using existing tools such as soil probes, handheld spectroscopes and satellite imagery, which he described as limited in showing plants’ internal conditions in real time.