Aker Technologies Inc.

Aker Technologies Inc. was established in 2016 by co-founders Orlando Saez and Todd Golly, combining expertise from the technology sector and practical farming. Orlando Saez, the CEO, has a background in software development and held C-level roles in early-stage tech companies, including Boingo Wireless. His interest in agriculture was sparked while using drones to engage kids in STEM education in the Dominican Republic, which led him to his partner. Todd Golly is a Minnesota-based corn and soybean farmer with a 6,000-acre farm, who was an early adopter of technology and a drone reseller. The partnership formed after they spent about a year traveling and exploring agricultural opportunities together.

The company provides data-driven field insights for agriculture retailers, suppliers, and growers. It operates a business-to-business model, functioning as a service provider that supports chemical suppliers and ag retailers by helping to validate the effectiveness of crop protection products and accelerate the adoption of new inputs. Revenue is generated through services like drone-based crop mapping, which was priced at about $2.50 per acre in 2018, and subscriptions for alert data and map services. Aker's clientele has included major industry players such as Bayer, BASF, and Winfield/UNITED.

Aker Technologies specializes in automated crop scouting that captures data both above and below the plant canopy, a key differentiator from satellite imaging which often only identifies stress without revealing the cause. The company's technology, including the TrueCause platform, uses patented computer vision, biometric sensors, and drones to detect and classify issues like pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stress at their earliest stages. This granular, under-canopy data allows for more precise and timely in-season management decisions, helping to optimize the use of crop protection products and improve yields. Initially launched as a drone mapping service, the company evolved to provide deeper analytics and diagnostics. In April 2023, Aker Technologies was acquired by Intelinair, a move intended to expand Intelinair's drone-based digital agronomy tools.

Keywords: crop diagnostics, precision agriculture, agtech, crop scouting, farm data analytics, under-canopy sensing, computer vision, pest detection, disease detection, drone mapping, agricultural data, crop health monitoring, field insights, input management, sustainable farming, soil moisture analysis, geospatial imaging, plant health, agricultural technology, crop management