Solvi AB is a Gothenburg-based start-up founded in 2016. Its business idea is to make advanced drone technology available and easy to use for anyone working in agriculture. Its solutions collect precise data on the growth status in the field picked up by sensors, while analysis tools tell farmers of any variations in the field so they can use this data to provide for an optimum harvest and make more accurate crop forecasts.
Solvi had an idea for a new drone-based service to help vegetable growers to make earlier and more accurate crop forecasts. In stage one there was a need to validate the idea with end-customers and identify the parameters that the growers needed to measure. In stage two there was a need for financial resources and partners to develop and test a prototype of the solution.
Through SmartAgri, Solvi was helped by Agroväst and RISE to get in touch with outdoor growers and consultants to validate its idea and produce a requirements specification for a drone-based decision support tool. It then applied for funding from the EIP for a feasibility study, followed by an innovation project. In May 2019, it was granted SEK 2.7 million to develop and test a prototype for a drone-based service to provide the grower with accurate crop forecasts and help to optimise the yield in the growth phase of the crop. Agroväst acted as the project owner to relieve Solvi of project administration and liquidity concerns. The development work was done in close cooperation with consultants and growers, including farmers affiliated to the wholesaler MOEK and consultants employed by HIR Skåne.
Along with assistance in developing the product to meet the wishes of the target group, SmartAgri helped with coaching to build up sales of Solvi’s services. This covered everything from the choice of distributors and how to work with them remotely to preparing distribution contracts and presentation material. The emphasis was always on the benefit to the customer from using Solvi’s services.
Thanks to this support, there is now a product that has gained a solid foothold in the market, and the number of users is increasing month by month. The biggest market today is the USA, but Sweden and rest of Europe are also starting to see the benefits of this service.
" SmartAgri was a huge help to Solvi, particularly with its network of partners and end-users and its assistance with business development. Regular meetings with SmartAgri’s business coach helped us to tackle the challenges in sales and marketing, and as a result we are now in a new and exciting expansion phase as we establish ourselves in the North American market. "
Igor Tihonov, MD Solvi AB
