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§ Private Profile · Davis, CA, USA
Help farmers make irrigation decisions with sensors / computer vision
Tule has raised $120K across 1 funding round.
Key people at Tule.
Tule was founded in 2014 by Jeff LaBarge (Founder/CTO) and Tom Shapland (Founder/CEO).
Tule has raised $120K in total across 1 funding round.
Tule helps farmers make irrigation decisions.
Using UC Davis research-based technology, our hardware sensor provides growers with field-scale crop water use measurements (i.e., actual evapotranspiration), crop water stress measurements, applied irrigation measurements, and irrigation recommendations.
Using the latest AI technology and our unprecedented crop water stress dataset, our latest product, Tule Vision, provides growers with the water stress of their plants just by taking a picture with their mobile phone.
Tule was founded in 2014 by Jeff LaBarge (Founder/CTO) and Tom Shapland (Founder/CEO).
Tule has raised $120K in total across 1 funding round.
Tule's investors include Omron Ventures.
Key people at Tule.
Tule has raised $120K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $120K Seed in August 2014.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2014 | $120K Seed | — | Omron Ventures | Announced |
Tule Technologies is an agricultural technology company that helps farmers, especially in specialty crops like vineyards, make precise irrigation decisions using advanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI). Their core product is an in-field sensor system that measures Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa)—the real water use of crops—combined with AI-powered software, including a smartphone app called Tule Vision that assesses vine water stress through imaging. This technology enables growers to optimize irrigation schedules, improve crop health, and conserve water resources. In 2023, Tule was acquired by CropX Technologies, expanding its reach and integrating its canopy and evapotranspiration data with CropX’s soil sensing and agronomic management platform, enhancing decision support for irrigation, disease, and nutrient management[1][2][3][4].
For an investment firm, Tule’s mission centers on empowering growers to be more productive and profitable while managing natural resources responsibly. Their investment philosophy would likely emphasize innovation in precision agriculture, leveraging AI and sensor technology to address water scarcity and sustainability challenges in farming. Key sectors include agtech, precision irrigation, and digital agriculture. Tule’s impact on the startup ecosystem includes advancing AI-driven agronomic solutions and setting a precedent for sensor-based irrigation management in high-value specialty crops, particularly in California’s large agricultural market[2][3].
For a portfolio company, Tule builds sensor and AI-driven irrigation decision support products serving growers, agronomists, and vineyard managers. It solves the problem of inefficient water use and irrigation guesswork by providing real-time, accurate data on crop water needs. Growth momentum is demonstrated by its acquisition by CropX, integration into a broader agronomic platform, and adoption by leading vineyards and farms in California, a critical agricultural region[3][4][7].
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Tule Technologies was founded in 2014 by Tom Shapland, PhD, a horticulture and agronomy expert from UC Davis, and Jeff LaBarge, a software engineer from Cal Poly. The idea emerged from combining agronomic research with cutting-edge AI to solve a critical challenge in agriculture: accurately measuring crop water use to optimize irrigation. The company developed the only commercially available sensor to measure Actual Evapotranspiration directly in the field, a significant advancement over estimated models. Early traction came from adoption by California vineyards and specialty crop growers who valued precise irrigation management to improve crop quality and water efficiency. The company’s evolution culminated in its acquisition by CropX in 2023, which broadened its technology and market reach[2][3][4].
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Tule rides the growing trend of precision agriculture and digital farming, where data-driven decision-making is transforming traditional farming practices. The timing is critical due to increasing water scarcity, climate variability, and regulatory pressures on water use, especially in California’s agriculture sector. Market forces favor technologies that improve water efficiency, crop yield, and sustainability. Tule’s ability to provide accurate, real-time evapotranspiration data fills a key gap in irrigation management, enhancing the broader ecosystem of agritech solutions. Its integration with CropX amplifies its influence by combining above-ground crop sensing with below-ground soil data, setting a new standard for comprehensive farm management systems[1][3][4].
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Looking ahead, Tule’s integration into CropX positions it to scale rapidly across diverse crop types and geographies, leveraging CropX’s global presence. Future trends shaping its journey include advances in AI, IoT sensor networks, and sustainability-driven agriculture policies. As water scarcity intensifies, demand for precise irrigation management will grow, increasing Tule’s relevance. Its influence may evolve from a niche vineyard-focused solution to a core component of global digital agriculture platforms, driving smarter, more sustainable farming worldwide. The company’s mission to help growers be more productive and responsible aligns well with the future of agritech innovation[3][7].
