Based in New York, Leaf is likened to the “Plaid of farm data” by co-founder and CEO Bailey Stockdale. The company specializes in structuring a farm’s unorganized data, standardizing it, and integrating it into an application programming interface (API). This streamlined process enables Leaf’s diverse range of customers, including crop insurance providers and agtech startups, to leverage and innovate with the data effectively. Customers are charged based on the number of acres from which their data is collected.
Stockdale’s inspiration for Leaf stemmed from a conversation with his family farm’s manager in 2018. The manager detailed a traditional practice of using a thermometer at 6 a.m. to decide optimal seeding days, highlighting the industry’s blend of sophistication and antiquity.
Leaf’s journey began with Stockdale’s quest to utilize his family farm’s abundant tractor data. However, deciphering this data proved incredibly challenging, prompting him to question how tech companies managed it. This led to the inception of Leaf, which delves into reverse engineering various data file types to create a cohesive solution. Since launching in mid-2021, Leaf has established partnerships with over 80 firms, including industry leaders like Bayer and Syngenta.
The company recently secured an $11.3 million Series A funding round after encountering initial investor skepticism about the severity of the farm data issue. Despite this, Leaf persevered and garnered support from investors like Spero Ventures, S2G Ventures, Radicle Growth, and SP Ventures.
Looking ahead, Leaf plans to expand its commercial team and enhance product capabilities to cater to evolving customer needs. These improvements include enhancing data quality, enabling AI prediction models, and offering end-to-end data management. Stockdale believes that Leaf’s unique positioning within the agriculture industry presents a significant opportunity for growth and innovation.
