New partners bring sensing, analytics, and robotics capabilities to ag and construction customers

Deere & Company has unveiled the five companies selected for its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program, reinforcing its push to accelerate advanced sensing, analytics, and automation solutions for agriculture, construction, and roadbuilding customers.

Launched in 2019, the John Deere Startup Collaborator Program is designed to deepen engagement with early-stage innovators whose technologies can address operational challenges across John Deere’s core industries. The initiative provides startups with access to Deere’s global network, domain expertise, and customer base, enabling collaborative exploration of practical, scalable applications.

“Through the Startup Collaborator Program, we’re working with startups whose technologies address critical challenges across the various industries we serve,” said Wes Robinson, Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy at Deere. “From real-time equipment and fleet insights to advanced sensing, AI-driven robotics, and digital crop intelligence, these collaborations can help us move faster in delivering practical innovations that improve precision, productivity, and sustainability for our customers.”

The 2026 cohort reflects Deere’s growing focus on edge intelligence, robotics autonomy, and data-driven decision-making.

AIRS ML brings edge AI capabilities that fuse sensing and machine learning directly on devices, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of industrial and mobility assets. The company’s on-device intelligence platform aims to reduce downtime and improve asset reliability without heavy reliance on cloud processing.

IoTag contributes a patented telematics solution that transforms raw machine operating data into actionable insights. By optimizing performance across mixed fleets, its technology addresses a key need for both agricultural and construction customers managing increasingly complex equipment ecosystems.

Australia-based resonAg adapts proven technologies from the medical, mining, and oil and gas sectors to develop advanced soil sensing systems tailored for precision agriculture. Its platform is designed to enhance soil intelligence, supporting more accurate input application and improved yield management.

TorqueAGI is developing an AI foundation model for enterprise robotics, focused on enabling real-world reasoning and autonomous decision-making. The collaboration underscores Deere’s long-term strategy to integrate advanced robotics into agricultural and construction workflows.

Aerobotics supports the fruit industry with drone and mobile imagery combined with computer vision and AI. Its precision insights allow growers, packers, and shippers to estimate yields more accurately and optimize orchard operations, aligning with Deere’s broader push into digital crop intelligence.

“The startups in our eighth Collaborator cohort bring complementary technologies that span monitoring, sensing, AI, robotics, and data-driven insights,” said Colton Salyards, Principal, Corporate Development, John Deere. “Through close collaboration, we’re able to explore how these innovations can translate into practical benefits for customers in agriculture and construction.”

As global agriculture and infrastructure sectors confront labor shortages, sustainability pressures, and margin compression, Deere’s continued investment in external innovation signals a strategy focused not just on machinery, but on embedding intelligence across the equipment lifecycle. The 2026 cohort further strengthens its ambition to build an integrated ecosystem where data, automation, and advanced analytics converge to enhance productivity and resilience in the field.