Scythe, a robotic lawnmower startup, has raised $42 million in a funding round led by Balderton Capital.
The company makes an electric, autonomous mower that can be used by homeowners and commercial customers.
Scythe plans to use the funding to expand its team and grow its business in Europe and the US.
The startup was founded in 2017 by husband and wife team Sam and Johanna Bennett.
The Scythes are among a new wave of entrepreneurs developing robotic solutions for the gardening and landscaping industry.
Other companies in the space include Lixar, a Canadian firm that makes robotic lawnmowers for golf courses, and tractor manufacturer John Deere.
Scythe says its mower is designed to be more efficient than traditional gas-powered mowers, and can reduce the carbon footprint of lawn care by up to 90%.
The company is also working on developing a community-based sharing model for its mowers, so that multiple users can share one machine.
The idea is that the mower could be used by a group of neighbours, or by a commercial business, such as a hotel or an office park.
Balderton Capital partner Mark Evans said in a statement that the firm was impressed by Scythe’s “vision, product and team”.
“We believe that the company is well-positioned to disrupt the large and growing global market for lawn care,” he said. Scythe has raised $57 million to date, and its other investors include Hiro Capital, 360igo and Seedcamp. Scythe, the electric robotic mower startup, has raised $42 million in a Series B funding round.
The round was led by SoftBank Group, with participation from Oji Ventures, Dentsu Ventures, and existing investors, including DENSO and Toyota Tsusho.
Scythe plans to use the new funding to expand its team, develop new products, and grow its business in Europe and the US.
Scythe’s electric robotic mowers are designed to autonomously mow lawns, removing the need for humans to do the job.
The startup says its mowers can operate for up to four hours on a single charge, and can handle lawns up to 4,000 square feet in size.
Scythe’s mowers are currently available for pre-order, with shipping set to start in the spring of 2019. The company was founded in 2017 by husband and wife team Sam and Johanna Bennett.
The Scythes are among a new wave of entrepreneurs developing robotic solutions for the gardening and landscaping industry.
Other companies in the space include Lixar, a Canadian firm that makes robotic lawnmowers for golf courses, and tractor manufacturer John Deere.
Scythe says its mower is designed to be more efficient than traditional gas-powered mowers, and can reduce the carbon footprint of lawn care by up to 90%.
The company is also working on developing a community-based sharing model for its mowers, so that multiple users can share one machine.
The idea is that the mower could be used by a group of neighbours, or by a commercial business, such as a hotel or an office park.
In a statement, Sam Bennett said that the new funding would help the company “accelerate our mission to make lawn care more sustainable and accessible for everyone”.
“We are very excited to be partnering with such a prestigious group of investors who share our vision for the future of lawn care,” he said.