Brief
Electric Plant raises $11.2 million to launch AI model that decodes plant electrical signals
The seed round, led by Onto Ventures, will fund sensors and the Bombadil large‑language model that can read signals from about 125 plant species.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Electric Plant, a startup co‑founded by former DARPA neuroscientist Lee von Kraus and entrepreneur Justin Mast, announced an $11.2 million seed round on Oct. 20, 2026. The funding, led by Onto Ventures and Climactic with participation from Ponderosa, Endeavor Catalyst, Ludlow, Michigan Rise, The Fund, Schox VC and Dug Song, will support the rollout of its sensors and the Bombadil large‑language model that translates electrical activity in plant stems into actionable data for growers.
What happened
Over the past three years, Electric Plant collected electrical signal data from roughly 125 plant species using custom‑designed sensors that attach to the cambium with stainless‑steel screws. The data trained Bombadil, a language model that can interpret subtle voltage fluctuations and convey a plant’s needs for light, water or nutrients. The company says its sensors cost only “tens of dollars,” far cheaper than existing tools that can run into the thousands.
What the reports add
TechCrunch notes that Mast’s interest began after reading about a cyborg houseplant that moved toward light via motorized wheels controlled by its electrical signals. Mast described the moment as “the entry to the rabbit hole.” The article also quotes Mast saying current farm tools “lag quite a bit behind the real‑time needs of the plant.”
What was said
“I’m like, what the heck?” Mast told TechCrunch about the cyborg plant that sparked his curiosity.
“We’re listening more than we’re speaking, but listening’s the first step,” Mast said, emphasizing the company’s focus on monitoring plant signals.
“We know the model will surpass a lot of that equipment,” Mast added, referring to existing soil probes, spectroscopes and satellite imagery.
How it came about
Mast’s background includes a period of reading scientific literature that led him to partner with von Kraus, whose DARPA experience informed the sensor design. Their combined effort produced a prototype that demonstrated plants could be wired to a motorized stand, moving toward light when electrical currents indicated a need. Building on that proof‑of‑concept, Electric Plant spent three years gathering data to train Bombadil, positioning the startup to offer growers a low‑cost, real‑time insight tool.
Key facts
- Electric Plant raised $11.2 million in a seed round. (techcrunch.com)
- The round was led by Onto Ventures and Climactic. (techcrunch.com)
- Bombadil can interpret electrical signals from about 125 plant species. (techcrunch.com)
- Sensors cost only tens of dollars, far cheaper than existing tools. (techcrunch.com)
Sources
- [1] techcrunch.com — originally reported as “Exclusive: Plants can speak using electricity, so this startup built an AI model to decipher their language”
