US billionaire Tim Draper, famed for investments within the likes of PayPal, Tesla, Twitter, Coinbase and Robinhood, has backed Australian-based drone planting eco-tech agency Lord of the Bushes (LOTT) in a $US1.25 million (A$1.67m) pre-Seed spherical.
The funding values LOTT, based in 2019, at A$7 million.
Lord of the Bushes is a world reforestation firm that makes use of swarms of precision drones, AI and proprietary seed pods that is ready to plant as much as 400,000 seed pods in 12 hours.
The startup already has initiatives underway in Townsville and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, with imminent plans for brand spanking new planting the World Heritage-listed Daintree rainforest, Greece and elements of America.
LOTT founder Aymeric Maudous stated discussions are underway with native and worldwide authorities businesses, NGOs, environmental teams, mining firms and agricultural landowners for brand spanking new initiatives.
Lord of the Bushes founder Aymeric Maudous
His drone planting answer has the potential to remodel reforestation packages and the dimensions they will function at.
“Not all planting is created equal. The outdated guide, hand planting strategies have been time-consuming and got here with a excessive failure charge, so the complete strategy to reforestation wanted a significant rethink,” Maudous stated.
“By combining the information of atmosphere specialists, scientists, engineers, animal safety businesses and indigenous communities we’re in a position to deploy swarms of drones to undertake companion planting.”
Maudous stated the LOTT planting pace enhances the crops’ symbiotic relationship to make sure success of the replanted areas.
“I consider our vital analysis and tech capabilities actually appealed to Tim Draper, and we’re delighted to welcome him as Lord of the Bushes’ lead investor,” he stated.
Draper stated LOTT was the reply to a query he’d been asking for a while.
“For ages I had been desirous to put money into an organization that’s actually dedicated to planet regeneration, after which I discovered Lord of the Bushes!” he stated.
“I used to be thrilled by their easy technological answer and progressive enterprise mannequin, plus their dedication to satisfy the rising wants of carbon discount throughout the globe. I marvel on the prospects this firm is creating for our planet and their dedication to restoring our ecosystems.”
