Upside Robotics is reducing fertilizer use and waste in corn crops

Upside Robotics, founded in 2024 by Jana Tian and Sam Dugan in Waterloo, Ontario, develops lightweight, solar-powered autonomous robots designed to reduce fertilizer use and waste in corn crops. The company’s proprietary software uses weather and soil data to deliver precise, right-sized amounts of fertilizer to plants when needed, addressing the inefficiency of traditional fertilizer application methods where only about 30% of fertilizer is absorbed by crops. The founders, who met through the Entrepreneur First accelerator, combined their expertise in robotics and chemical engineering to create a solution that farmers are willing to adopt, given the significant cost savings and environmental benefits. Starting with manual testing in 2024 on 70 acres, Upside Robotics rapidly iterated its technology by working closely with farmers, eventually scaling to 1,200 acres in 2025 and preparing to serve over 3,000 acres in 2026 with full customer retention. Their technology has reportedly helped customers reduce fertilizer use by 70%, saving approximately $150 per