Jaisimha Rao
Founder & CEO
MANUFACTURER FIELD SHEET / TFR / 20958
Three farm robots, one company up close, and the week's funding and news, with sources. Free, weekly, from a farm owner. Latest issue →
People
Founder & CEO
Field relationships · Niqo Robotics
Company deployment
Partner · Active · Other · US
Salinas, California
leafy greens, strawberries, onion, and celery · incubator residency
Niqo Robotics is among startups taking to the field this spring at Reservoir Farms Salinas Valley.
Company deployment
Partner · Active · Other · US
Yuma, Arizona
leafy greens and brassicas · Yuma winter 2026–27 residency
Niqo Robotics is among startups taking to the field this winter at Reservoir Farms Yuma.
Company funding · Niqo Robotics
May 14, 2024
$13.0M USD
Niqo Robotics raised a $13 million Series B led by Bidra Innovation Ventures, with Fulcrum Global Capital and Omnivore, taking total funding to $21 million.
Aug 25, 2021
$5.0M USD
TartanSense raised a $5 million Series A led by FMC Ventures and Omnivore, with Blume Ventures, taking total funding to $7 million.
Mar 11, 2019
$2.0M USD
TartanSense (now Niqo Robotics) raised a $2 million seed led by Omnivore, Blume Ventures and BEENEXT to scale BrijBot for cotton weeding.
Product family · 5 robots

AI-powered precision spraying robot that reduces chemical usage by 90% through targeted application using computer vision

AI-powered precision spraying robot that achieves 97% accuracy in lettuce thinning through targeted application using computer vision

Niqorobotics.com/products/robo-weeder/: Niqo RoboWeeder™ 3-in-1 AI robot that can weed, thin, and beneficial-spray in one pass. Tractor-mounted; up to 4.5 mph; CAT II / 50 hp / 160 bar; 51 × 266 × 55 in working; 3,682 lb / 1,670 kg unladen. Distinct from existing RoboSpray and RoboThinner rows.

Tractor-pulled hooded AI weeder with a 46-foot working width that extends to 50 feet. Five bays, 14 Niqo Sense cameras, and a 350-nozzle spray array. About 4,900 lb. Works with any 5 Series or larger tractor at 135 HP or more. Weeding, thinning, and beneficial spraying in one pass. No recurring software subscription. Orders open for 2027 delivery.

Single-bay tractor-mounted AI thinning and weeding robot. Spot-spray weeding; up to 4.5 mph; CAT II / 50 hp / 160 bar. Operating size 2.6 × 2.1 × 1.6 m; 800 kg including fluids. Tested on tomato, onion, chilli, melon, broccoli, turf, kale and lettuce. Distinct from the wider RoboWeeder boom.
Categories · Niqo Robotics
Video
Niqo Robotics Launches the RoboWeeder F50: North America’s Widest Hooded AI Weeder
Product demo · Niqo Robotics · RoboWeeder F50 launch
Podcasts
Podcast · Niqo RoboWeeder F50 · Oct 28, 2026
The Modern Acre
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
Jaisimha Rao, Founder and CEO of Niqo Robotics, joins hosts Tim and Tyler on The Modern Acre. He covers Niqo’s 20- and 24-foot tractor-mounted AI spot sprayers, the dual-tank weed and beneficial lines, lettuce work in Salinas, Yuma, Georgia, and Washington, and the F50 debut at FIRA USA. Charles Smith also appears. Apple Podcasts lists the episode at 59 minutes, published 29 October 2026 at 05:51 UTC.
Podcast · Niqo RoboWeeder · Mar 9, 2026
The Digital Executive / Coruzant
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
Speaker Jaisimha Rao, Founder & CEO of Niqo Robotics; The Digital Executive Ep 1208 with Brian Thomas. Also on Apple Podcasts.. No official company video.
Podcast · Niqo RoboSpray · Feb 20, 2026
Farm To Table Talk
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
Speaker: Jaisimha Rao. Page posted February 20, 2026. AI + cameras to distinguish crops and weeds, then spray herbicides on weeds; dual-tank system; mechanical manufacturing in the US. Distinct from the 2026-10-02 Digital Executive and FoA rows.
Podcast · Niqo RoboSpray · Nov 20, 2024
Future of Agriculture
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
Apple Podcasts lists 20 Nov 2024. Host notes Robo Thinner on display at that FIRA..
Press
Trade press · Niqo RoboWeeder F50 · Oct 26, 2026
Growing Produce
Growing Produce recap of the RoboWeeder F50 launch at FIRA USA 2026 in Yakima. Names a 50-foot hooded AI weeder for large specialty-crop farms including grass seed and turf; five-bay weeder with 350 nozzles; up to 25 acres per hour; about 4,900 lb; any Series 5 and above tractor; orders open for 2027 delivery. Also calls the machine F46.
Trade press · Niqo RoboWeeder F50 · Oct 23, 2026
Arable Wire
Recap of FIRA USA 2026 in Yakima. Names an autonomous Kubota M5L from Agtonomy and a 46-foot hooded spot sprayer from Niqo. The announcement names that weeder RoboWeeder F50.
Updates
Product news · Oct 21, 2026
fruitgrowersnews.com
Opening day of FIRA USA 2026 in Yakima featured the Parade of Robots, Burro Grande 44 general availability, Boson automated tasks, Spray Logics orchard spraying, and Niqo’s RoboWeeder F50. Matt Mollard of Niqo also said the weeders now work with ISOBUS tractor displays. Aymeric Barthes, president of the organizing association, joined a Florida and Southeast grower-needs session.
Product news · Oct 20, 2026
niqorobotics.reportablenews.com
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
At FIRA USA 2026 in Yakima, Niqo added the RoboWeeder F50 beside the 20-foot flagship and the 24-foot F24. The F50 has a 46-foot working width extendable to 50 feet, five bays, 14 Niqo Sense cameras, and 350 nozzles. About 4,900 lb, up to 4.7 mph, up to 25 acres per hour. Jaisimha Rao, founder, said growers told Niqo the narrower machine could not keep pace. Orders are open for 2027 delivery. No recurring software subscription. Booth 26; Smart Tech Pitch Tuesday 15:30–15:50 Stage 2; vegetable demos Tuesday 14:30 and Wednesday 12:00.
Product news · Oct 20, 2026
fira-usa.com
Jaisimha Rao · Founder & CEO
At FIRA USA 2026 Niqo added the RoboWeeder F50 to its U.S. lineup beside the 20-foot flagship and the 24-foot F24. The F50 has a 46-foot working width extendable to 50 feet, five bays, 14 Niqo Sense cameras, and 350 nozzles. About 4,900 lb, up to 4.7 mph, up to 25 acres per hour. Jaisimha Rao, founder: growers said the narrower machine could not keep pace. Orders are open for 2027 delivery. Booth 26; Smart Tech Pitch Tuesday 15:30–15:50 Stage 2; vegetable demos Tuesday 14:30 and Wednesday 12:00.
Company news · Oct 16, 2026
reservoir.co
The Salinas Valley campus is 40 acres of leafy greens, strawberries, onion, and celery. Robot companies on the current field roster include Beagle Technology, BHF Robotics, Bonsai Robotics, Niqo Robotics, Sami Robotics, Synphony, and TRIC Robotics.
Company news · Oct 16, 2026
reservoir.co
The Yuma campus is open for the October through March season on 500 acres of leafy greens and brassicas. Robot companies on the current winter roster are Beagle Technology, BHF Robotics, Niqo Robotics, Sami Robotics, and TRIC Robotics.
Appearances
Product · Niqo RoboWeeder
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
demo
Vegetable Demo Zone Tuesday 20 October 14:30 and Wednesday 21 October 12:00. Expo map also places Niqo in the vegetable zone.
Product · Niqo RoboWeeder
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
exhibitor
Growth exhibitor. Booth 26 on the October expo map. Showing the RoboWeeder lineup, including the F50 debut.
Product · Niqo RoboWeeder
Oct 20, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Yakima, US
speaker
Jaisimha Rao, founder, speaks Tuesday 20 October 2026, 15:30–15:50 Stage 2, Niqo Robotics: Faster, Smarter, Built for Growers.