Beyond the $40M Raise: 4AG Robotics’ Vision for the Future of AgTech

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Exclusive Interview with Sean O’Connor, CEO of 4AG Robotics

This week, Sean O’Connor sat down with AgriTech Digest to share “What vision he had for 4AG Robotics beyond the $40M Raise’ and the Vision for the Future of AgTech” As CEO and co-founder of 4AG Robotics, Sean is leading one of the most ambitious pushes in agricultural automation today. Fresh from closing a $40 million Series B round, his company is scaling globally, expanding its European footprint, and pushing the boundaries of what robots can achieve on the farm.

“The real challenge isn’t building a robot that works in the lab—it’s building one that can handle the unpredictability of real crops and complex farm environments,” he told AgriTech Digest, reflecting on the lessons learned from taking agricultural robotics from prototypes to production.

While many companies in agri-tech aim broadly, 4AG Robotics has chosen a sharp focus: mushrooms. It’s a crop that grows rapidly, requires daily labour, and is notoriously difficult to automate. By developing robots that can pick, trim, and pack mushrooms with precision—and pairing them with AI that optimises harvests—Sean and his team are tackling both labour shortages and yield consistency. The lessons learned here are setting the stage for the future of agricultural robotics across other high-value crops.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Sean, thank you for joining me today. To start, could you briefly tell us about yourself and what led you to build 4AG Robotics?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Absolutely. My name is Sean O’Connor, I’m the CEO of 4AG Robotics. We build robots that pick mushrooms. The idea behind the company was to address growing labour challenges in agriculture while also reducing the environmental impact of farming.Mushrooms grow at about 4% per hour—doubling in size daily—so they need to be harvested every day of the year, unlike seasonal crops. That makes labour availability a major challenge. By using AI, we can optimise when and how mushrooms are picked, boosting yields and reducing waste while keeping resource use steady.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Congratulations on raising $40 million in your Series B. Beyond the capital itself, what new opportunities does this unlock for 4AG Robotics?

Sean (4AG Robotics): The funding gives us more than financial flexibility—it allows us to scale globally, expand our European footprint, build manufacturing, and invest heavily in next-generation robot features. These new features will transform our solution from merely replacing labour to actively increasing farmer revenue. Our AI optimises harvests to generate the most yield, helping farmers reduce labour costs while boosting weekly output.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Where will this funding make the greatest impact—product innovation, scaling operations, or expanding into new markets?

Sean (4AG Robotics): It touches all those areas, but the most immediate impact is scaling operations and accelerating product innovation. We can deploy more robots faster while continuing to improve AI and mechanical capabilities. This also allows us to build a localised team in Europe, critical for rapid adoption and customising AI to regional farming practices.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Recently, 4AG Robotics expanded into Vancouver. What motivated that move, and how does it fit into your broader growth strategy?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Vancouver serves as a talent hub. Our headquarters in Salmon Arm is beautiful, but not everyone wants to live in a town of 20,000. The Vancouver office allows employees to enjoy city amenities while working with us. Chris Payne, who co-leads the company, is heading this new office.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): What specific problems are you most focused on solving for farmers today?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Our robots tackle two of the mushroom industry’s biggest pain points: labour shortages and yield consistency. Harvesting accounts for up to 50% of production costs, and skilled labour is increasingly hard to find. Our robots handle repetitive tasks—picking, trimming, and packing—while providing real-time insights on crop health, yield, and quality. This gives farmers predictable, high-quality output and reduces operational risk.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): From your perspective, what does meaningful automation look like in real-world farming environments?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Meaningful automation isn’t about partial replacement—it’s about full-lifecycle solutions that integrate seamlessly with farms. For mushrooms, that means robots can pick, trim, and pack 100% of the crop while optimising yield, avoiding damage, and adapting to varying layouts, crop densities, and growth stages. Automation must adapt to existing farm operations rather than forcing farms to change their processes.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Many agri-tech companies talk about automation, but what makes 4G Robotics unique in solving real-world farming problems?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Two things: our technology and our team. We’ve developed patented IP in computer vision, algorithms, robotic arms, and end effectors. But more importantly, we have an incredible team that understands what it takes to bring robotics into the real world. A robot that’s 97% finished is still unusable on the farm. That last 3%—the part that makes it commercially viable—is the hardest. Our team has the grit to push through that and deliver real solutions.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): What lessons or insights have you gained from scaling a robotics company in agriculture?

Sean (4AG Robotics): The farm is the ultimate testing ground. The real challenge isn’t building a robot that works in the lab—it’s building one that can handle the unpredictability of real crops and complex environments. Rapid iteration and close collaboration with farmers are essential—they act as co-developers, providing feedback that informs AI, mechanics, and workflow design.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): How is 4AG Robotics addressing labour shortages and sustainability pressures at the same time?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Our robots reduce reliance on manual labour, making farms more resilient to workforce shortages. At the same time, they optimise yield and reduce waste, meaning fewer inputs are required per kilogram of mushrooms harvested. By automating precise handling and providing actionable data, farms become both more productive and sustainable.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Are you focused exclusively on mushrooms, or do you plan to expand into other crops?

Sean (4AG Robotics): For now, we’re exclusively focused on mushrooms. It’s a $60 billion global market with huge labour costs, and we want to become the global leader in mushroom harvesting first. That said, our technology could eventually be applied to other high-value crops.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Looking ahead 5–10 years, what do you see for the future of mushroom farming?

Sean (4AG Robotics): The last major innovation in mushroom farming was in the late ’80s and early ’90s with phase three compost and Dutch rack systems. That innovation drove consolidation—many small farms went bankrupt or were acquired.

I believe we’ll see the same with robotics. Countries that currently have 20–30 mushroom farms may consolidate down to just a few. Those who adopt automation will outcompete and dominate the industry.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Finally, what excites you most about the future of robotics in agriculture?

Sean (4AG Robotics): Robots are entering their biggest adoption period in history. With AI, they can process unstructured and variable data to make intelligent decisions. Over the next 5–10 years, AI-driven robotics will move from niche deployments to core infrastructure for high-value crops worldwide. Robots won’t just replace labour—they’ll act as intelligent assistants that optimise yield, predict disease, and improve supply chain efficiency, and enable new, more sustainable, and profitable farm models.

Farmers will evolve from being primarily land stewards to becoming technologists as well. That’s a really exciting transformation for the industry.

Kenneth (AgriTech Digest): Sean, thank you very much for your time and insights today.

Sean (4AG Robotics): My pleasure. Thank you.