Electric Plant Raises $11.2 Million to Decode Plant Signals With Bombadil AI
Electric Plant raises $11.2 million for Bombadil, an AI model decoding electrical signals from 125 plant species to cut water use 20% or more and lift yields.
Summary
As of October 20, 2026, Electric Plant founders Justin Mast and Lee von Kraus, a neuroscientist who has worked with DARPA, have spent three years developing Bombadil, a cloud AI model that interprets electrical signals from about 125 plant species. Inspired by research showing a wired houseplant moving itself toward light, the company aims first to reveal plants’ water, nutrient and light needs, then eventually enable two way communication. Bombadil was trained using soil probes, handheld spectroscopes and satellite imagery; its first hundred plus species include ferns, redwoods, tomatoes and dahlias. Mast calls it the most diverse biological electrical signal model yet created, with no animal equivalent.
Electric Plant raised an $11.2 million seed round led by Onto Ventures and Climactic, joined by Ponderosa, Endeavor Catalyst, Ludlow, Michigan Rise, The Fund, Schox VC and Dug Song. Its sensors cost tens of dollars, compared with thousands for existing tools, and are about the size of a regular iPhone folded lengthwise. Stainless steel screws penetrate the cambium to capture microvolt changes, then low power wireless sends readings to a base station for cloud analysis. Mast says a couple of sensors per acre can guide watering and fertilizer schedules, increasing yields while reducing water use by 20% or more. Initial customers remain undisclosed, although agriculture and forestry are prospective markets.
Positives
- Bombadil interprets electrical signals from about 125 species, including ferns, redwoods, tomatoes and dahlias.
- $11.2 million in seed funding will support commercialization of Electric Plant’s sensors and cloud AI.
- Sensors costing tens of dollars could replace plant monitoring tools that typically cost thousands.
- A couple of sensors per acre can provide readings for watering and fertilizer decisions.
- Mast claims the system can increase yields while cutting water consumption by 20% or more.
Risks & concerns
- Stainless steel screws must penetrate the cambium, the plant’s living tissue, to detect microvolt changes.
- Electric Plant is currently listening to plant signals, while two way communication remains a future goal.
- Initial customer identities and supporting field trial results have not been disclosed.
- Bombadil requires low power wireless transmission, a base station and cloud processing to return recommendations.
- The claimed 20% or greater water savings and yield gains currently rely on Mast’s account.