Wootzano one of 200 startups invited to showcase its tech in San Francisco

Wootzano, a robotics innovator based in County Durham, showcased its cutting-edge technology alongside some of the world’s most dynamic startups at this year’s TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 event in San Francisco, California.

The company was one of just 200 international startups invited to participate. Wootzano’s highly agile robotic system, designed to revolutionise food packing within the agricultural sector, left a strong impression on TechCrunch judges who were on the lookout for “game-changing startups with the potential to make a positive global impact.”

This event followed closely on the heels of Wootzano’s recent expansion into California, so came at an opportune time since the global robotics market is projected to reach £30 billion in the next two years. Wootzano’s Avarai technology is being positioned as a major cost-saver and capacity generator for food producers. Earlier this year Wootzano announced its involvement in the £9m ‘Agri-OpenCore’ project, part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, alongside other organisations.

Using an “electronic skin” the robot can estimate weight, prune, quality-check and package fresh produce into punnets before it is delivered to retailers. The technology will assist a gap in labour in the agricultural sector, alongside also providing the basis for studies into automated harvesting systems that can match the speed of human picking.

Dr Atif Syed, CEO and founder of Wootzano Limited, said: “Having expanded into the US earlier this year, we are thrilled to have been selected for this year’s Battlefield 200 in San Francisco. As we continue to expand across the state, it’s incredible to be among so many incredible innovations, especially as we push our labour-saving solution, Avarai, across new agricultural horizons in the US market.”