Today we’d like to introduce you to Elmar Mair.
Elmar, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My life feels like a circle. I grew up in a small town in the Italian Alps and spent my summers on my auntie’s farm. Curiosity drove me to study computer science, and I fell in love with mobile robots. On my mission to see these systems succeed in the human world, I worked with drones, self-driving cars, and other engineering toys at companies like Robert Bosch, the German Aerospace Center, and Google X.
Four years ago, I learned about how unsustainable our food production system is and that we are overdue for the fourth agricultural revolution: data-driven and automated farming. Starting Neatleaf and working on automation and AI for farming operations felt like a homecoming, and it is incredibly rewarding to develop technologies which help cultivators in their challenging and demanding jobs.
Early on, we quickly iterated on various product ideas by deploying prototypes in the field until we finally came up with the Neatleaf Spyder. The Spyder is a cable-based robot, like a football stadium camera, which relentlessly moves across the canopy of a greenhouse and records a comprehensive set of data, including environmental information and images. Our artificial intelligence picks up on plant stress, pests, and microclimates and offers a cultivator unique and novel insights. It takes over the tedious and time-consuming task of scouting and ensures timely notifications in case of problematic events.
Today, we have ramped up production and are deploying more and more systems in the field. We have a backlog of orders which will keep us busy in the next couple of months, and we haven’t lost a single customer yet. Working with an efficient and highly talented team on a product which will change the way how our food production works is a dream come true, and I’m excited to see where this journey will head to.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every startup is a roller coaster – at least, that’s what people say – and Neatleaf wasn’t different. The bigger the leap and the more complex the solution, the thinner the thread a technology startup is dangling on. Every day ends differently than expected; emotions rise to highs before dropping to lows on an ongoing basis. Navigating a boat through such rough waters requires strong beliefs, great companionship, and relentless positive thinking.
We’ve been impressed with Neatleaf, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As founder of Neatleaf, I was able to get my hands into all the different aspects of our technology stack: mechanical and electrical engineering, firmware and web development as well as the cloud infrastructure and machine learning components. Designing and developing such a novel system from the ground up was incredibly fulfilling. On top of that, building and running a business, with all its different facets, is a new experience which is very exciting.
How do you think about luck?
Luck is the one constant in the startup equation: no startup succeeds without luck. All you can do is to maximize your chances by making informed and smart decisions. ‘Luck’ are all the factors which one cannot control – it’s all about ‘navigating’ these external influences, paddling through the lows, and surfing the highs. Key is never to give up. And a great leader needs to keep pointing at the light when things turn dark. I often surprise myself these days how emotionally numb I got to intense situations, whether positive or negative since I know that the next surprise is just around the corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: neatleaf.com
- Instagram: @neatleaf.inc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neatleaf/
Image Credits
Neatleaf
