WeedOut
WeedOUT Ltd. is an Israeli agtech company developing proprietary sterile pollen-based biological herbicides to combat herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer Amaranth, targeting large-scale commercial farmers in the US, Brazil, and Argentina pending US EPA approval.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNess Ziona, Israel
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What WeedOut does
WeedOUT Ltd. is an Israeli agricultural biotechnology company developing a proprietary biological herbicide platform to combat herbicide-resistant weeds in large-scale commercial agriculture. Founded in 2018 and headquartered at 13 Einstein St., Ness Ziona, Israel, the company operates with 11–50 employees and targets row-crop growers in the US, Brazil, and Argentina whose yields are threatened by resistant species such as Palmer Amaranth, Waterhemp, Blackgrass, and Rigid Ryegrass. The company is venture-backed by Syngenta Ventures, Fulcrum Global Capital, Bunge Ventures, Clay Capital, and CE Ventures, with cumulative funding of approximately USD 12.4 million across grants and Series A tranches.
WeedOUT's core technology is a species-specific biological herbicide based on sterile weed pollen that, when applied during the weed flowering period, outcompetes naturally occurring pollen and fertilizes the ovule to produce non-viable seeds. This mechanism of action is orthogonal to all existing chemical herbicide modes of action and is designed to inhibit soil seed bank replenishment without affecting the crop. The lead commercial target is Palmer Amaranth, with additional proof-of-concept work completed on Waterhemp, Blackgrass, and Rigid Ryegrass, indicating a multi-species platform rather than a single-product company.
The company's revenue model is product sales of its biological herbicide, deployed via a B2B enterprise field-sales motion targeting large-scale farmers and agricultural enterprises. WeedOUT remains pre-commercial, with US EPA approval pending and active field trials underway in target geographies; use of the February 2024 USD 8.1M Series A is explicitly allocated to expanding those US trials and submitting the EPA application. The company is governed by Co-CEOs Dr. Efrat Lidor Nili and Dr. Orly Noivirt-Brik, with Derek K. Rapp serving as Chairman and an advisory board anchored by leading weed scientists from Iowa State University and the Weizmann Institute of Science.
WeedOut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WeedOut
- Legal name
- WeedOUT Ltd.
- Website
- https://weedout-ibs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WeedOUT Ltd. is an Israeli agtech company developing proprietary sterile pollen-based biological herbicides to combat herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer Amaranth, targeting large-scale commercial farmers in the US, Brazil, and Argentina pending US EPA approval.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where WeedOut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ness Ziona
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
WeedOut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Biological Herbicide Product Sales: WeedOUT generates revenue through the sale of its biological weed control product, a proprietary sterile pollen solution designed to combat herbicide-resistant weeds. The company is pursuing EPA approval for commercial deployment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
WeedOut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WeedOUT develops and manufactures a biological herbicide based on proprietary sterile weed pollen that, when applied during the weed flowering period, outcompetes naturally occurring pollen and leads to the formation of non-viable seeds. This blocks the production and spread of herbicide-resistant weed seeds (first commercial target: Palmer Amaranth; additional proof-of-concept work in Waterhemp, Blackgrass, and Rigid Ryegrass) for large-scale commercial farmers.
Product overview
WeedOUT offers a biological herbicide platform using proprietary sterile weed pollen technology. The core product is a species-specific biological solution targeting herbicide-resistant weeds, with its first commercial target being Palmer Amaranth. The technology mimics natural reproduction mechanisms by applying sterile pollen during weed flowering to prevent viable seed formation, providing a new mechanism of action orthogonal to all existing herbicide modes of action. Additional proof-of-concept work has been conducted with Waterhemp, with potential applicability to other problematic resistant weeds including Blackgrass and Rigid Ryegrass.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Biological Herbicide for Palmer Amaranth Proprietary sterile weed pollen applied during the weed flowering period via artificial pollination. The pollen competes with naturally occurring weed pollen, fertilizes the ovule, and leads to formation of non-viable seeds, blocking production of herbicide-resistant weed seeds. First commercial target is Palmer Amaranth, with proof-of-concept work in Waterhemp, Blackgrass, and Rigid Ryegrass. Designed for integration into existing Integrated Weed Management programs for large-scale commercial farmers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Seeds derived from WeedOUT's pollen completely lost their ability to germinate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WeedOut
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WeedOut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WeedOut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WeedOut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Indigo Ag: Indigo Ag is a larger agricultural biologicals and digital agronomy company with a broad portfolio including microbial seed treatments and biostimulants. Overlaps with WeedOUT as a biology-driven input company targeting row-crop growers, though Indigo's portfolio is broader and more diversified.
- Bayer Crop Science: Bayer (which acquired Monsanto) is the global leader in row-crop herbicides including the dicamba and glyphosate franchises facing resistance pressure. Directly relevant as the dominant incumbent whose herbicide chemistries WeedOUT's solution is designed to complement and extend.
- Syngenta: Syngenta is one of the world's largest crop protection companies and a WeedOUT investor (Syngenta Ventures). Comparable as a developer and seller of agricultural herbicides including resistance-management solutions, and a potential strategic acquirer or distribution partner.
- BASF Agricultural Solutions: BASF is a top-tier global crop protection company with a major herbicide portfolio including resistance-management products. Comparable as a large incumbent addressing the same weed resistance problem that WeedOUT targets, and a potential strategic acquirer.
Direct peers
- AgBiome: AgBiome is a US-based biological crop protection company developing microbial-based products for pest and weed control, including the bioherbicide Howler. Direct competitor in the biological herbicide space serving row-crop agriculture with similar EPA-registered biopesticide products.
- Marrone Bio Innovations (now Bioceres Crop Solutions / Pro Farm Group): Marrone Bio (now part of Bioceres/Pro Farm Group) is a biological crop protection company that developed and commercialized biopesticides and bioherbicides. Directly comparable as a bioherbicide/biopesticide company targeting row-crop weed and pest challenges with similar regulatory pathways and customer base.
Emerging players
- Pivot Bio: Pivot Bio develops microbial nitrogen-fixing crop solutions as a biological alternative to synthetic fertilizer. Comparable as a venture-backed agtech company deploying biological alternatives to traditional chemistries in row crops, though focused on nutrition rather than weed control.
- Sound Agriculture: Sound Agriculture develops bio-inspired crop input solutions (including SOURCE for nutrient efficiency) using microbiome and molecular approaches. Comparable as a biology-driven row-crop input company pursuing novel modes of action orthogonal to traditional chemistries.
- NewLeaf Symbiotics: NewLeaf Symbiotics develops pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) as agricultural biologicals for row crops. Comparable biologicals company pursuing EPA-regulated microbial products for major row-crop markets.
Regional players
- BioHerbicides Australia: BioHerbicides Australia is developing fungal-based bioherbicides for invasive and resistant weeds. Direct technical peer in bioherbicide development, though operating primarily in Australia and not directly competing with WeedOUT in US/Brazil/Argentina markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WeedOut social profiles
Digital presenceWeedOut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WeedOut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
WeedOut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WeedOut M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WeedOut
What does WeedOut do?
WeedOUT develops and manufactures a biological herbicide based on proprietary sterile weed pollen that, when applied during the weed flowering period, outcompetes naturally occurring pollen and leads to the formation of non-viable seeds. This blocks the production and spread of herbicide-resistant weed seeds (first commercial target: Palmer Amaranth; additional proof-of-concept work in Waterhemp, Blackgrass, and Rigid Ryegrass) for large-scale commercial farmers.
Is WeedOut a public or private company?
WeedOut is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was WeedOut founded?
WeedOut was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WeedOut based?
WeedOut is headquartered in Ness Ziona, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does WeedOut make money?
One revenue line is on record: biological Herbicide Product Sales.
Who are WeedOut's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Indigo Ag, Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta and BASF Agricultural Solutions. Direct peers are AgBiome and Marrone Bio Innovations (now Bioceres Crop Solutions / Pro Farm Group). Emerging players are Pivot Bio, Sound Agriculture and NewLeaf Symbiotics. BioHerbicides Australia is listed as a regional player.
Does WeedOut have an API?
No public API is recorded for WeedOut.