Sentinel Fertigation, a Lincoln-based company that helps farmers manage the use of nitrogen fertilizer, has announced a seed investment of $2.5 million. The company, which was founded by Jackson Stansell while he was a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, plans to use the funds to expand its team and scale its technology.
A Smart Solution for Nitrogen Management
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for crop growth, but it is also one of the most challenging inputs to manage. Too much nitrogen can lead to environmental problems such as nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions, while too little can result in lower yields and quality. According to the company, farmers typically apply 30% more nitrogen than needed, wasting money and resources.
Sentinel Fertigation aims to solve this problem by providing a smart solution that monitors and adjusts nitrogen levels in real time. The company’s system uses sensors, software, and hardware to measure soil nitrate and crop uptake, and then automatically injects the optimal amount of nitrogen fertilizer through irrigation systems. This way, farmers can save on fertilizer costs, increase crop performance, and reduce environmental impact.
A Growing Market for Agtech Innovation
The seed investment round was led by Homegrown Capital of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Grit Road Partners of Omaha; and Lincoln-based Invest Nebraska. The investors expressed their confidence in the company’s potential to transform the agriculture industry with its innovative technology.
“Sentinel Fertigation is addressing a huge pain point for farmers and the environment with its unique solution for nitrogen management,” said Matt Foley, managing partner of Homegrown Capital. “We are excited to support the company as it grows and delivers value to its customers.”
“Sentinel Fertigation is a great example of the agtech innovation happening in Nebraska and the Midwest,” said Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska. “We are impressed by the company’s vision, team, and technology, and we look forward to helping them achieve their goals.”
The company said it has already installed its system on several farms in Nebraska and Kansas, and plans to expand to other regions in the future. It also said it is hiring for various positions, including software engineers, agronomists, and sales representatives.