Big moment for the robotics company as it transitions from initial market traction to large-scale commercial adoption
Saga Robotics, the company behind the Thorvald robot, has raised £8.4 million in equity capital to scale its commercial operations in the UK and US.
The business said the funding round marks a pivotal moment as it transitions from initial market traction to large-scale commercial adoption.
The round was backed by a mix of new and existing investors, including Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, a Luxembourg-based VC fund focused on scalable agritech solutions. Returning investors include Aker, Nysnø Climate Investments, Blystad, Hatteland, Melesio, Sanden, and MP Pensjon.
Alongside this, Saga has strengthened its board with additional industry expertise. Dorn Wenninger (chair), Atle Eide (Aker) and Yvonne Silden Langlo (Nysnø) remain in place. They are joined by new members Laila Danielsen, CEO of the global AI software company Elliptic Labs, and Alice Laurora of Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, who joins as an observer.
“The Thorvald robot has moved from a prototype to a fully commercially deployed autonomous solution, already servicing thousands of acres in 2025,” said Alice Laurora, vice-president at Praesidium Agri-FoodTech. “We’re investing in Saga Robotics because they have the right team, the right tech, proven technology, and a clear path to scale in high-value, underserved agricultural sectors.”
Wenninger added: “Our solid commercial performance was an important enabler for us to close this funding round in what is a relatively demanding capital market.
“The continued backing of existing shareholders who know the company well, along with the addition of new investors such as Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, is testament to the solid foundations of our core business and our pipeline of growth.”
Saga Robotics will use the capital to accelerate the commercial rollout of Thorvald across the UK and US. In the UK, Thorvald now supports 13 leading strawberry growers and treats around 20 per cent of the national market, with a target to exceed 30 per cent in 2026.
In the 2025 growing season Saga recorded its first commercial revenue from its yield prediction data tool. The company has a unique opportunity to leverage the data collected during its treatment of thousands of acres each week.
In the US, Thorvald is already operating across more than 1,300 acres of vineyards, with plans to triple that footprint by 2026. The platform has been approved and included in California’s CORE incentive program, offering substantial grants for robot sales.
In total, over 150 Thorvald 3.0 units are active in the field in the 2025 growing season.
“We’ve proven Thorvald works; now we’re scaling it,” said Saga’s founder Pål Johan From, who recently relocated to California to lead US operations.
“This raise gives us the runway to accelerate adoption, improve efficiency in agriculture, and reduce chemical use across two of the world’s most chemically dependent specialty crop markets.”
Saga’s CEO Sacha de La Noë added: “When I joined Saga Robotics, the potential was clear, and this level of investor interest confirms it. With Pål driving expansion in the US and strong traction in the UK, we’re entering a new phase focused on scale and impact. We’re not just gaining ground, we’re accelerating.”
