The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

Monarch Tractor closes $61M series B round

By Mike Oitzman | November 17, 2021

Listen to this article
Voiced by Amazon Polly
Monarch Tractor works in a vineyard

Monarch Tractor deployed the first production unit of its all-electric, autonomous tractor at Wente Vineyards. | Image Credit: Monarch Tractor

Electric tractor company Monarch Tractors closed a $61M Series B round, bringing the total amount of funding raised since its founding to $81 million. Monarch introduced the first production unit of its all-electric, compact tractor to the market on Earth Day 2021.

The company has a deep and diverse executive leadership team that disrupted the agtech market when it emerged from stealth in December 2020. Unlike competitive solutions that seek single-purpose autonomous machines to help automate specific tasks on the farm, the Monarch footprint is immediately familiar to every small and medium-sized farmer in the world.

Monarch’s primary innovation is to deliver an all-electric autonomous platform in the 70 hp class of tractors. The Monarch MK-V can immediately be put to work and leverage every existing implement within a farmer’s barn.

Monarch tractor with the four founders

The Monarch Tractor with the four founders. | Image Credit: Monarch Tractor

“Fruit and vegetable farmers have long been ignored in the electrification and automation movement, and that’s why the Monarch platform is built with them in mind,” said Praveen Penmetsa, co-founder & CEO, Monarch Tractor. “Due to the ever-increasing labor challenges, sustainability concerns, and food traceability and scrutiny issues farmers face, we have experienced great demand for the unique solutions Monarch Tractor offers.”

Monarch’s founders have diverse and proven experience. Penmetsa has twenty years of transportation experience; Carlo Mondavi, co-founder and chief farming officer, is a fourth-generation farmer; Mark Schwager, co-founder and president, built out the Tesla gigafactory and the first Teslas that rolled to market; and Dr. Zachary Omohundro, co-founder and CTO, has developed hundreds of tightly integrated intelligent electro-mechanical systems, bringing a full system design perspective to the development of never-before-seen products

“Monarch is transforming what is arguably the most important vehicle on the planet, tractors,” said Hendrik Van Asbroeck, partner, Astanor Ventures. “Tractors emit 14x more than a car, and have not seen the same wave of digital innovation as we have seen in the automobile industry. Beyond delivering an affordable, clean and autonomous solution, Monarch‘s tractors capture detailed on-farm data to enable the sustainable and efficient farms of the future.”

Monarch Tractor was awarded an RBR50 award in 2021 for its innovation of an all-electric, compact-class tractor.

About The Author

Mike Oitzman

Mike Oitzman is Editor of WTWH's Robotics Group and founder of the Mobile Robot Guide. Oitzman is a robotics industry veteran with 25-plus years of experience at various high-tech companies in the roles of marketing, sales and product management. He can be reached at [email protected]

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

waymo
UN allows autonomous vehicles to drive up to 130 km/h
Brian Gerkey with ROS Humble Hawksbill logo behind him
Brian Gerkey on the success of Open Robotics and ROS
june top 10 image
Top 10 robotic stories of June 2022
STARFISH gripper
RE2 hits technical milestone with STARFISH robotic gripper

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Brian Gerkey from Open Robotics discusses the development of ROS
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Magnetic encoders support the stabilization control of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle
  • How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider
  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail