RootWave secures $15 million to scale electric weed control technology

UK-based developer of electric weed control solutions, RootWave, has raised $15 million in a funding round to expand its chemical-free weed management technology globally. The investment is intended to support the company’s commercial rollout across Europe and entry into the U.S. market.

The funding round was led by Clay Capital, a food and agriculture-focused venture capital firm. Other investors included the Agri Investment Fund (linked to Belgian farmers’ organization Boerenbond), vineyard technology firm Xinomavro Ventures, Naruhisa Nakagawa of Caygan Capital, and Jorge Heraud, co-founder of Blue River Technology. Existing investors V-Bio Ventures, Rabo Ventures, and PYMWYMIC also participated. The round includes $3 million in debt financing from Innovate UK under the Future Economy initiative.

RootWave’s technology uses high-frequency electricity to destroy weeds, including herbicide-resistant varieties, without harming surrounding crops or soil. Field trials have shown the system can achieve up to 99% kill rates in a single pass. The equipment, compatible with conventional, organic, and regenerative farming systems, is aimed at helping farmers reduce dependence on chemical herbicides amid growing regulatory scrutiny and resistance issues.

The company currently sells tractor-mounted weeders in the UK and has established manufacturing and distribution partnerships, including with Garford Farm Machinery. Trials with additional agri-equipment firms are ongoing as RootWave prepares for wider European deployment and expansion into North America.

CEO Andrew Diprose said the new investment will accelerate RootWave’s development and global reach. “We are grateful for the support from our customers, partners, and employees, and look forward to working with the new investors,” Diprose said.

Darren Leong, Principal at Clay Capital, said RootWave’s approach offers a scalable alternative to conventional herbicides. “Decades of chemical herbicides overuse have made resistant weeds one of agriculture’s toughest challenges,” he said. “RootWave is now well-positioned to become the solution of choice for farmers seeking a safer and more effective option.”

Patrik Haesen, CEO of Agri Investment Fund, called the technology a “gamechanger” for weed control.