When Blue River Technology co-founder, Jorge Heraud, joined the VLAB AgTech panel in September 2015, little did we know his company would be acquired two years later by the company seated next to them on the stage.
Blue River was recently acquired by Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), a leading manufacturer of agricultural equipment for $305 million. The panel “AgTech: Sand Hill Bets on Precision Agriculture” included Ron Zink, director, On-Board Applications, John Deere and Mr. Heraud. View the video replay.
Blue River has designed and integrated computer vision and machine learning technology that will enable growers to reduce the use of herbicides by spraying only where weeds are present, optimizing the use of inputs in farming – a key objective of precision agriculture. Machine learning technologies could eventually be applied to a wide range of Deere products.
Blue River has collected impressive accolades recently. It landed on several lists including and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2017.
In fact, its technology affects 10 percent of the world’s lettuce crops.
Founded in 1837, Deere & Company is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land – those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon it.
Great things happen to VLAB participants; Blue River’s recent exit is just one of many examples. This particular one has special meaning to me because the AgTech panel was my first VLAB event as a volunteer. Furthermore, the story “John Deere Executive Offers Sound Advice for AgTech Entrepreneurs” was the first I wrote for the organization.
Reference: Deere & Company press release
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Michelle McIntyre, the author of this story, is a volunteer with the VLAB marketing team. To volunteer, please contact the marketing team.