techcrunch.com
Oct 20, 2026
Plants can speak using electricity, so this startup built an AI model to decipher their language
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Electric Plant, founded by Justin Mast and neuroscientist Lee von Kraus, has developed Bombadil, a large language model that interprets electrical signals in plant stems to determine their needs. The startup uses inexpensive, iPhone‑sized sensors that penetrate the cambium, transmitting data via low‑power wireless to the cloud. Bombadil currently covers over 125 species, from ferns to tomatoes, and claims to outperform existing tools while reducing water usage by 20% or more. The company secured an $11.2 million seed round led by Onto Ventures and Climactic.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By turning plant bioelectricity into actionable data, Electric Plant could transform precision agriculture, enabling growers to optimize resource use and increase yields with minimal investment.
