PitchBook Report Highlights Four Agtech Segments Sustaining VC Funding

Venture capital funding for agtech startups remained subdued in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting broader economic challenges and declining farm profitability, according to a recent report from PitchBook. Despite these headwinds, certain subsegments within the agtech sector managed to attract significant investment, highlighting ongoing interest in technologies addressing critical agricultural needs.

The report indicates that $1.1 billion was invested across 147 deals in Q2 2024, with the overall number of deals continuing a downward trend. Compared to 2023, the report projects that deal values will fall by 42.4%, while the number of deals is expected to drop by 30.7% by the end of the year.

However, four specific subsegments—ag finance, livestock technology, farm robotics, and drones and imagery analytics—captured the majority of investor attention. Ag finance and insurance companies, in particular, saw a notable increase, raising $104.5 million across nine deals, marking a 12.5% increase in deal count from the previous quarter. Arbol, a company specializing in climate risk assessment and insurance, led this subsegment with a $60 million Series B round.

In the livestock technology segment, companies raised a total of $29.1 million across 12 deals. AgriWebb, a provider of livestock management software, secured $11 million in late-stage venture funding, reflecting sustained investor interest in technologies that enhance operational efficiency.

Drones and imagery analytics also attracted significant investment, raising $96.3 million across 10 deals. Synspective, a startup offering satellite data and remote monitoring services, secured $44.6 million in Series C funding, underscoring the growing demand for precision agriculture tools.

Robotics and smart field equipment startups raised $115.5 million across 19 deals, maintaining steady deal activity over the past five quarters. Among them, Ecozen, which develops hardware solutions for smallholder farmers in emerging markets, raised $30 million in late-stage funding.

The report also highlighted a bifurcation in valuations across different stages of venture capital funding. While pre-money valuations for early and venture-growth stages saw significant declines, pre-seed and late-stage valuations experienced substantial increases, suggesting a complex and evolving landscape for agtech startups.