Sabanto
6 known investors
Sabanto retrofits existing tractors with an aftermarket autonomy system so growers can run field operations without a driver.
Also known as Sabanto, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Investors · 6
Also in the syndicate · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Sabanto, Inc. develops an aftermarket autonomy system that converts existing farm tractors into driverless machines. The Sabanto Autonomy System (also described as a Retrofit Autonomy Kit) installs on a grower's tractor and combines a main control unit tied into the tractor's steering and power systems, GNSS positioning, antennas, video cameras and obstacle-detection sensors. The control unit runs Sabanto's Vehicle OS (vOS) and Vehicle Path Finding Module (vPFM), which translate field operations planned in the company's mobile and desktop software into machine instructions. Safety features include object detection, enforced geofences, a handheld killswitch, on-tractor and remote emergency stops, and live video monitoring.
Operations are planned and supervised through Vehicle Mission Control (vMC), a web and mobile application in which users define workable and non-workable zones ("Jobs"), select a tractor and implement, generate a coverage plan, and break the work into "Missions" with turn-by-turn paths that can be run simultaneously by multiple tractors in one field. Supported tasks include mowing, roto-tilling, rolling, aerating, seeding, tillage and hay cutting, and the system has been extended into planting operations. As of July 2026 the system worked with John Deere 5E, 5M and 6E series tractors and Kubota's M5 series, with integrations added for Precision Planting and DICKEY-john monitoring systems.
The company positions retrofit autonomy as a way to cut capital expenditure and address rural labor scarcity: smaller, lower-cost tractors operated around the clock in place of larger high-horsepower machines, with reduced soil compaction as a secondary benefit. Sabanto also references a "virtual Field Operator" (vFO) model in which staff remotely deploy and monitor tractors and communicate with farmers, and a developer platform intended to let implement makers and other innovators build on its systems.
Founding story
Founder and CEO Craig Rupp, a former John Deere employee who sold a prior company to The Climate Corporation in 2014, built Sabanto around the premise that retrofitting machinery farmers already own is more cost-effective than asking them to buy new autonomous equipment, addressing rural labor scarcity and rising capital costs for modern ag machinery.
Business model
Sabanto sells and supports an aftermarket autonomy kit and accompanying software for tractors farmers already own or can buy at lower cost, complemented by autonomy services, a developer platform and technical support offerings referenced in its contact channels. It also describes remote "virtual Field Operators" who deploy and monitor tractors on behalf of farmers.
Revenue derives from sale of the retrofit autonomy hardware kit and associated software/monitoring applications, distributed through dealers, alongside autonomy services and support.
Traction
Systems are deployed across the United States and in Canada and Australia. One of the company's largest customers runs 25 systems simultaneously. A Kentucky farm reduced its equipment to a single 135-horsepower tractor with a 20-foot planter using Sabanto's kit, planted its entire corn crop autonomously in 2026, and reported completing winter crop planting ten days faster with a 15-foot drill instead of a 30-foot drill. The company has moved from an original base in commercial sod production into row crops and closed an oversubscribed Series B in July 2026.
Latest developments
On 30 June 2026 Sabanto and Verdant Robotics announced a technical integration allowing Verdant's SharpShooter plant-level precision application system to run behind a Sabanto-equipped autonomous tractor. On 14 July 2026 Sabanto announced an oversubscribed Series B led by Leaps by Bayer with participation from Sustainable Forward Capital, InnoVenture Iowa, Fulcrum Global Capital, DCVC and Yara; terms were not disclosed and proceeds are targeted at customer deployment capacity, field support, manufacturing capacity, additional supported tractor platforms, AI and autonomy software, and international expansion. On 26 August 2026 the company announced the appointment of agriculture technology veteran John M. Raines to its board of directors.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Sabanto is described in trade press as best known for its agricultural autonomy retrofit system, contrasting its approach with purpose-built autonomous machines and with autonomy fitted to large-frame equipment; its investor cites retrofit economics as favorable versus new autonomous machines costing at least around half a million dollars each.
Low-cost retrofit of existing agricultural machinery regardless of make or model, paired with supporting software, rather than sale of new autonomous equipment. The company and customers cite roughly 70% reductions in equipment capital investment, use of smaller and lighter tractors and implements, reduced soil compaction, and 24/7 unattended operation.
Technology
A retrofit hardware and software stack: a main control unit interfaced to tractor steering and power, running vOS and the vPFM path-planning module; GNSS receiver and antennas; forward-mounted obstacle detection sensors; onboard video cameras; and layered safety systems (geofences, handheld killswitch, on-tractor and remote e-stops). The vMC application handles job/mission planning, real-time monitoring and obstacle alerts across desktop and mobile. Series B proceeds are earmarked in part for enhancing its AI and autonomy software and expanding supported tractor platforms.
Go-to-market
The Sabanto Autonomy System is sold through select dealers across the United States, with a ZIP-code dealer locator on the company website; the company also takes direct inquiries and demo requests for its autonomy system, autonomy services and developer platform. Marketing includes company press releases, a blog ("The Toolbox"), and customer case studies such as Kentucky grower Quint Pottinger of Affinity Farms.
Row crop producers, commercial sod producers and other farm operations seeking to automate field tasks; the company emphasizes growers facing labor shortages and constrained cash who want to avoid large equipment purchases.
Geography
Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, with a second office in Ames, Iowa. Systems operate in the United States, Canada and Australia, and the company says it has active development initiatives in other international markets without naming specific launches.
History
Sabanto was founded by Craig Rupp, who serves as CEO and previously worked at John Deere and sold a company to The Climate Corporation in 2014. The company began in commercial sod production applications and later expanded into row crop operations, adding planting functionality and precision-agriculture integrations. In January 2025 it publicized its positioning around U.S. farm labor shortages and plans to scale deployed systems and virtual Field Operators. In 2026 it announced a technical integration with Verdant Robotics, closed an oversubscribed Series B led by Leaps by Bayer, and appointed John M. Raines to its board of directors.
Risks & controversies
Sabanto did not disclose the size, target or valuation of its Series B round. The company operates in a challenging farm economy in which its customers face tight margins and constrained liquidity, and its international expansion is contingent on market conditions, regulatory environments, customer demand and farming economics.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsSabanto announced the appointment of agriculture technology veteran John M. Raines to its board of directors.
Sabanto closed an oversubscribed Series B round led by Leaps by Bayer, with participation from Sustainable Forward Capital, InnoVenture Iowa, Fulcrum Global Capital, DCVC and Yara. Financial terms, including the target and total raised, were not disclosed. Proceeds are intended to expand the customer base, field deployment and support capacity, manufacturing capacity, supported tractor platforms, AI and autonomy software, and international expansion, with a focus on row crop applications.
Sabanto extended its autonomous functionality into planting operations, enabling around-the-clock work during planting windows, and added integrations with Precision Planting and DICKEY-john monitoring systems.
Sabanto and Verdant Robotics announced a technical integration of autonomous tractor operation with Verdant's SharpShooter plant-level precision application system, allowing SharpShooter to run behind a Sabanto-equipped autonomous tractor.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Sabantosabantoag.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Sabanto do?
- Sabanto retrofits existing tractors with an aftermarket autonomy system so growers can run field operations without a driver.
- Who founded Sabanto?
- Sabanto was founded by Craig Rupp.
- Who are Sabanto's investors?
- Sabanto's investors include Cavallo Ventures, Cerity Partners Ventures.