Innovation spotlight · 30 September 2026 · 3 min read
Aerobotics: Cape Town AI that checks every tree in the orchard
Founded in 2014, Aerobotics uses drone and smartphone images to help farmers spot problems early and predict their harvest. Its February 2026 product announcement describes expansion of AI fruit grading to apples and grapes.
A farmer with thousands of trees can’t inspect every one. Pests, disease and water stress can spread quietly for weeks, and by the time anyone notices, the damage shows up in the harvest.
Eyes in the sky, and in your pocket
James Paterson and Benji Meltzer founded Aerobotics in Cape Town in 2014. Their software uses artificial intelligence to read images taken by drones and smartphones, and turns them into tree-by-tree information: which trees are struggling, where pests are spreading and how much fruit is on the way.
Counting fruit at scale
In its 2 February 2026 product announcement, Aerobotics described extending TrueFruit Grade from citrus to apples and grapes. The company’s report explains the intended measurement use; it is not independent validation of accuracy, current reach or business results.
The lesson
Aerobotics began with a local industry, South African fruit farming, and built something good enough to export. You don’t have to start with the whole world. Start with the farm down the road.
Sources
Independent editorial summary, not a Launchpad campaign or endorsement. No affiliation is implied. Claims describe the cited source’s publication period, not necessarily current performance; sources checked 30 September 2026.
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