John Deere Announces its 2026 Startup Collaborators

Core Insights - Deere & Company has announced the five startups selected for its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program, aimed at enhancing interactions with startups that can provide valuable technology for agriculture, construction, and roadbuilding sectors [1][2] Group 1: Program Overview - The Startup Collaborator Program was initiated in 2019 to foster collaboration with startups addressing critical challenges in various industries [2] - The program focuses on technologies that improve precision, productivity, and sustainability for customers through innovations such as real-time equipment insights, AI-driven robotics, and digital crop intelligence [2][3] Group 2: Participating Startups - The 2026 cohort includes five startups: AIRS ML, IoTag, resonAg, TorqueAGI, and Aerobotics, each bringing complementary technologies in monitoring, sensing, AI, robotics, and data-driven insights [3][4] - AIRS ML specializes in on-device intelligence for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance [4] - IoTag offers a telematics solution that optimizes performance across mixed fleets for agricultural and construction customers [4] - resonAg focuses on advanced soil sensing systems for precision agriculture, adapting technologies from other sectors [4] - TorqueAGI is developing an AI foundation model for enterprise robots capable of real-world reasoning and autonomy [4] - Aerobotics aids the fruit industry in making sustainable farming decisions using drone imagery and AI for yield estimation and operational optimization [4]