Skycision

Skycision, founded in 2015 by Brendan Carroll and Alec Assaad, operated as a data-driven software solutions provider for the agricultural sector. The company emerged from Brendan Carroll's academic work at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a master's degree in Information Systems Management. His initial exploration into drone-based pharmaceutical delivery for rural areas pivoted after direct interactions with farmers revealed more pressing needs within agriculture, leading him to decline a position in investment banking to establish the company.

The firm focused on converting aerial imagery from off-the-shelf drones and satellites into actionable intelligence for farmers. Skycision's SaaS platform analyzed this data to detect crop stress from pests, diseases, or irrigation issues, enabling growers to address problems proactively. By integrating historical satellite data with current drone imagery, the system could identify variances and trends over time, helping to optimize irrigation and predict crop yields.

Skycision's business model was centered on providing its data analysis platform to growers. The company primarily targeted the high-value specialty crop market, with a significant early customer base among Napa Valley vineyards. It also expanded its focus to include other high-margin produce like berries, fruits, and nuts. A key milestone for Skycision was securing $1.1 million in a seed funding round in 2018, led by Innova Memphis, to expand its operations and further develop its technology. The company has since been reported as deadpooled.

Keywords: agricultural technology, precision agriculture, drone imagery analysis, satellite imagery, crop management software, farm data analytics, yield optimization, crop stress detection, vineyard technology, specialty crops, remote sensing, AgTech, aerial survey, farm management platform, Brendan Carroll, predictive analytics in agriculture, high-value crops, digital farming, agricultural intelligence