BloomX raises $13 million for robotic pollination aimed at blueberries and avocados

Specialty growers who rent hives every bloom know how fast pollination risk shows up in packouts. BloomX, an Israeli company building robotic pollination tools for fruit, has raised another $13 million to expand that idea in Latin America and South Africa and to prepare a U.S. entry, according to Future Farming and Techwire Israel.

The funding and the business model

Future Farming reported the Series A at $13 million (€11.2 million), led by Elah Fund with participation from the Israel Innovation Authority and other investors. Total capital raised is about $20 million. Techwire, citing Hebrew-language coverage, likewise put the round at $13 million and said the money will fund Latin America expansion and entry into the U.S. market.

Unlike many field robots sold as iron, BloomX offers pollination as a service: growers pay for the job rather than buying the machines. Future Farming noted that the company has not disclosed service pricing or costs per hectare, so U.S. blueberry or avocado operators will need local quotes before budgeting.

Two machines, two pollination tricks

Future Farming described two commercial systems that combine robotics with AI-based management software:

• Robee for blueberries mimics buzz pollination. Controlled vibrations help anthers release pollen that is otherwise hard to free — the same physical idea behind bumblebee pollination.
• Yahav 2400 for avocados, commercially launched in 2026, uses high-voltage electrodes to create an electric field that helps detach pollen, collects it on a textile meant to mimic a bee’s body surface, then transfers pollen to receptive female flowers.

Both are positioned as complements to bees when weather, hive strength or bloom timing leaves gaps. A single operator can cover up to 3.5 hectares (about 8.6 acres) per day, BloomX told Future Farming.

What the company claims — and what is still missing

BloomX says farms using the systems have seen average yield increases of about 20%, with better fruit size and quality, and reports returns on investment as high as 10.5 times. Future Farming flagged that the company has not published trial methodology, comparison plots or the period behind those ROI figures, so the performance claims stay company-reported until outside trials confirm them.

Techwire similarly summarized a company claim of roughly 20% average yield gains. Named customers in Future Farming’s report include Peru’s Agrovision, South Africa’s Allesbeste and Israel’s Granot Group. Current operating countries listed are Peru, Mexico, South Africa and Israel, with almonds among crops under study for future use.

Questions U.S. specialty growers should ask

1. Service cost vs. hive rent and expected packout. Without published pricing, demand a written per-acre quote tied to bloom windows.
2. Independent side-by-side data in your variety and climate, not only company averages.
3. Bee coexistence rules with your certifier, neighbor hive contracts and any organic standards.
4. Labor and logistics — who operates the units, how many acres per day are realistic on your blocks, and what happens in wind or rain.

For other ag-tech coverage, see our JD AI assistant farm-data checklist and the Specialty Crops and Machinery & Tech sections.

General information on a developing technology. It is not investment, agronomic or purchasing advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much did BloomX raise?

Future Farming and Techwire report a $13 million Series A; Future Farming puts total funding near $20 million.

Does the robot replace bees?

No. Coverage describes the systems as supplements that work alongside bees when natural pollination is incomplete.

Can U.S. growers buy a machine today?

BloomX is preparing a U.S. entry and currently emphasizes a service model abroad. Ask the company for U.S. availability and pricing rather than assuming retail equipment sales.