Stenon
Potsdam, DE · 7 known investors
Stenon provides real-time soil data analytics for agriculture businesses using a portable sensor device (FarmLab) combined with AI and cloud software. The platform serves input retailers, machinery dealers, agricultural consultants, and food producers to optimize crop yields, reduce input costs, and improve sustainability practices.
Also known as stenon · Stenon GmbH
Investors · 7
Also in the syndicate · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Stenon GmbH is a German agricultural technology company based in Potsdam that produces real-time digital soil data. Its core product, FarmLab, is a portable soil-analysis device combining an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) sensor, optical sensors and a GPS module with artificial intelligence, agronomic models and cloud software. The device captures and maps more than 4,500 data points in seconds and returns soil nutrient results in the field, removing the wait associated with laboratory soil testing. Measured parameters include plant-available nitrogen (Nmin), soil organic carbon/organic matter, temperature and moisture; the software layer provides nutrient composition, field mapping, soil development trends and region-specific fertilization recommendations, with data export and integration into existing systems.
The company positions nitrogen management as its central competence, combining real-time plant-available nitrogen readings with soil organic carbon data so that growers can adjust fertilizer rate and timing while tracking longer-term soil productivity and supporting carbon-related programs. Devices are assembled in Germany, individually tested, and hold certifications from TüV and DLG; earlier certification was issued by the main European farmers' association in collaboration with institutes including the Julius Kühn Institute. Before entering a market, Stenon runs a regional calibration process; in the São Paulo and Paraná regions of Brazil it took over 6,000 FarmLab measurements alongside several thousand laboratory soil samples analyzed in Brazil and Germany.
As of 2026 the company is preparing a next-generation platform that moves from handheld field sensing toward a machine-integrated, real-time nutrient intelligence system, expected to be announced later in 2026.
Founding story
Stenon was founded in 2018 in Potsdam, Germany. Dominic Roth, co-founder and CEO at the time of the 2021 Series A, described the company's mission as becoming the soil data company in agriculture and eliminating the need for physical soil laboratories, arguing that scalable soil data is a prerequisite for regenerative and autonomous farming.
Business model
Stenon sells a hardware-plus-software offering: the FarmLab measuring device paired with cloud-based analytics software, described by one investor as a scalable hardware-SaaS model. It reaches growers both directly and through commercial partners such as input retailers and machinery dealers, for whom the product represents an additional revenue line and differentiator.
Combined hardware and cloud software offering characterized as a hardware-SaaS model; revenue is generated from the FarmLab device and associated soil data software and services sold to agriculture businesses and channel partners.
Traction
The platform is deployed across several million customer acres in multiple countries. Multi-year, multi-country customer data cited by the company shows 20-40% nitrogen fertilizer savings and 2-8% yield increases across corn, beans, cotton, sugarcane, coffee, grains and vegetables, plus a stated 20-40% average ROI on nitrogen fertilizer. A German vegetable producer reported fertilizer savings of up to 20% with consistent yields. In 2021 the technology was described as live in 20 countries.
Latest developments
On July 1, 2026 Stenon announced €18 million ($20.5 million) in Series B financing led by Pymwymic, with DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF) joining as a new investor and participation from Atlantic, Oyster Bay, Founders Fund, TIME Ventures and Bernd Hoffmann. Proceeds are earmarked for new product development and for expanding commercial and service operations, regional agronomic calibration, product localization and customer support in South America (with Brazil as a core market), Central Asia and select European countries. CTO Jens Meichsner said the company is moving from handheld field sensing toward a machine-integrated real-time nutrient intelligence system, which is expected to be announced later in 2026. Leadership cited in 2026 coverage lists Niels Grabbert as founder and CEO.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
The company describes itself as the global market leader in real-time digital soil data. Press coverage identifies AgroCares, 360 Soilscan and ChrysaLabs as its main competitors, and places it among field-based crop and soil nutrient testing companies such as Picketa Systems and TerraBlaster. Investors describe its sensor system as difficult to replicate.
Stenon states its ability to measure plant-available nitrogen at the plant level directly in the field allows immediate action, more frequent measurement and accounting for within-field soil variability, in contrast with laboratory testing where results are weeks old. The pairing of nitrogen with soil organic carbon data links short-term fertilizer decisions to longer-term soil productivity.
Technology
FarmLab uses proprietary optical and electrical sensing (including an EIS sensor) plus GPS, capturing over 4,500 data points per measurement in seconds. Sensor fusion models trained on a database of millions of analyzed data points convert raw signals into nutrient values, with localized calibration per region. Cloud software delivers mapping, trend analysis and fertilization recommendations. The technology is patented and independently certified (TüV, DLG; earlier certification involving the Julius Kühn Institute).
Go-to-market
Stenon works through agribusiness channel partners — input retailers, machinery dealers and agronomic consultants — that resell or deploy FarmLab to their grower customers, alongside direct engagement with food producers. In Brazil it has a longstanding partnership with input retailer Lavoro Ag, which introduced FarmLab to Brazilian farmers. Market entry follows a staged model: regional calibration and validation against local laboratory standards first, then commercial launch.
Input retailers, agricultural groups, machinery dealers, agricultural consultants and food producers, which in turn serve growers across row crops, vegetables and permanent crops including corn, beans, cotton, sugarcane, coffee and grains.
Geography
Headquartered in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, with devices assembled in Germany. FarmLab is commercially available in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Greece, Kazakhstan and North Kyrgyzstan, Brazil, and California in the United States. Brazilian activity covers the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Paraná and São Paulo. The company states it is working to open further regions in South America.
History
Founded in 2018, Stenon received an investment from Cherry Ventures in 2019 and its real-time soil analysis was exhibited with agxtend at an agricultural trade fair that November. In December 2021 it raised a $20 million Series A led by Founders Fund with The Production Board and existing investors Cherry Ventures and Atlantic Labs. It subsequently expanded internationally, calibrating and launching in Brazil (in partnership with Lavoro Ag), Central Asia and California. In July 2026, marking eight years of operation, the company announced an €18 million ($20.5 million) Series B led by Pymwymic with DeepTech & Climate Fonds as a new investor.
Risks & controversies
The company's demand narrative is tied to volatile nitrogen fertilizer markets: EU nitrogen fertilizer prices in April 2026 were reported about 70-71% above the 2024 average, Brazilian farmers have cut back input purchases, and US farm bankruptcies and affordability pressures have risen — conditions that pressure customers' spending capacity as well as driving interest in input optimization. Performance figures for yield gain, fertilizer savings and ROI are company-reported. Details of the next-generation product were withheld at the time of the Series B announcement.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 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 · 6
launches, deals, and filingsStenon announced €18 million ($20.5 million) in Series B financing led by European impact investor Pymwymic, with DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF) as a new investor and continued participation from Atlantic, Oyster Bay, Founders Fund, TIME Ventures and Bernd Hoffmann. Funds are directed at real-time nitrogen management and soil organic carbon capabilities, international growth in South America, Central Asia and select European markets, and a new technology platform.
$20.5M source ↗
The platform is available in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, North Kyrgyzstan, Brazil (including Goiás, Mato Grosso, Paraná and São Paulo) and California, deployed across several million customer acres.
Lavoro Ag, one of Brazil's largest agricultural input retailers, introduces Stenon's FarmLab technology to Brazilian farmers under a longstanding partnership; Brazil is described as a primary market for Stenon.
Stenon said it is preparing to unveil a machine-integrated, real-time nutrient intelligence platform building on the handheld FarmLab system, expected to be announced later in 2026.
Stenon raised a $20 million Series A funding round from Founders Fund and David Friedberg's The Production Board, with existing investors Cherry Ventures and Atlantic Labs participating.
$20M source ↗
German startup media reported Cherry Ventures investing in the soil-analysis startup Stenon.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- Stenonstenon.io · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Stenon do?
- German agtech company whose FarmLab handheld sensor and AI software deliver real-time soil nutrient data to farmers.
- Who are Stenon's investors?
- Stenon's investors include Cherry Ventures, Oyster Bay Venture Capital, Pymwymic.
- Where is Stenon headquartered?
- Stenon is headquartered in Potsdam, DE.