Farm management startup AgriWebb raises $14 million and acquires UK platform FarmWizard

Sydney-based startup AgriWebb, which has created a farm and livestock management solution, has secured a $14 million investment from UK outfit Wheatsheaf Group for a minority stake in the business. “A focus on product consolidation will realise a set of features that dramatically improves the experience for our customers here in Australia as well as opening new channels for dairy producers, consultants and advisors all seeking to improve the productivity of global livestock farming.” The business was founded in 2013 by Webb, John Fargher, Kevin Baum, and Philip Chan to help farmers do away with pen and paper by giving them software allowing them to, among other things, create maps of their farm and then track mob movements and grazing, manage animals individually, and create, allocate, and track team tasks. “Wheatsheaf believes in the application of clever technology to solve big problems in global food sustainability, productivity and provenance and has extensive industry expertise and a strong conviction that gives them the confidence to have patience,” Webb said. The potential for AgriWebb to grow further is significant: a 2016 report from StartupAUS found that, supported by agtech, Australian agriculture can develop into a $100 billion industry by 2030. The remaining 30 percent of its customers are spread across seven other countries, and Webb said the startup has been “thoughtful and deliberate” in pursuing international expansion.