Smooth Ag automates cattle feeding with the Ranch Rover - an autonomous vehicle that saves ranchers time and labor while collecting valuable data on herd health and pasture conditions, revolutionizing
Current Status
Smooth Ag has secured its first purchase order from a top cattle research university and has letters of intent for three additional Ranch Rovers. We've built a working prototype, assembled a skilled team of robotics engineers and ag experts, and established key manufacturing partnerships. Currently, we're finalizing production units while gathering valuable feedback from early adopters, positioning us for market expansion.
Problem or Opportunity
Ranchers face a critical labor shortage and spend hours every day manually feeding cattle - a repetitive, time-consuming task that doesn't require skilled labor. The Ranch Rover automates this process, freeing up ranchers to focus on more valuable work while providing data insights to improve herd management.
Solution (product or service)
The Ranch Rover is an autonomous feeding vehicle that combines rugged hardware with smart technology to automate cattle feeding. Built tough like a pickup truck but equipped with AI and sensors, it navigates ranch terrain to deliver precise feed amounts while gathering data on herd health and pasture conditions. Think of it as a reliable ranch hand that never gets tired, works 24/7, and helps ranchers make better decisions through data-driven insights.
Business model
Smooth Ag operates a hybrid hardware and software model. We sell the Ranch Rover directly to ranchers for $60,000-$80,000, followed by annual subscriptions ranging from $1,200-$10,000 based on service level. This subscription provides software updates, data analytics, and remote support, creating recurring revenue while continuously improving the product through real-world feedback and data collection.
