Sensoterra
Sensoterra is a Dutch IoT company that designs and sells wireless, LoRaWAN-connected soil moisture sensors with proprietary soil-type calibration, serving farmers, municipalities, and irrigation-platform integrators across 40+ countries via hardware sales, subscriptions, and API access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sensoterra does
Sensoterra International B.V. is a Dutch IoT company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Houten, the Netherlands (with a registered office in Amsterdam), that designs, manufactures, and sells wireless soil moisture sensors built on LoRaWAN connectivity. Its hardware portfolio comprises Single Depth and Multi-Depth probes that measure Volumetric Water Content at one or several depths simultaneously (10–90 cm), are calibrated per soil type in Sensoterra's Utrecht laboratory to a claimed 99.5% accuracy, and operate maintenance-free on built-in batteries for 5–8 years with IP68 weatherproofing and one-minute tool-less installation. Proprietary technology features include the soil-type calibration library, a Dynamic EC adjustment that compensates for electrical conductivity in saline or high-fertility soils, and patented mechanical and industrial-design IP across the Netherlands, US, EU, and China.
The company monetizes through a combination of hardware unit sales (packaged for 50-acre, 100-acre, 200-acre, and 2,000+ acre deployments), recurring data subscription and LoRaWAN connectivity fees (delivered via partners The Things Network, LORIOT, Comcast MachineQ, and Senet), and enterprise API/white-label licensing. Go-to-market is API-first and dual-channel: direct enterprise sales via website quote requests alongside a broad integration and reseller partner network that includes the leading global irrigation automation platforms (WiseConn, Jain, Netafim, Rain Bird, Hunter Industries), consumer platforms (Home Assistant), smart-city solution providers (WeCity), and landscaping firms (ConnectedGreen, where co-CEO René Voogt also serves). Customers span three segments — precision agriculture and horticulture, smart city and urban landscaping, and water governance/environmental monitoring — across more than 40 countries with over 20,000 sensors deployed, including named users such as McLeod Farms, California vineyards and orchards, the City of Haarlem, and Pientere Tuinen.
Sensoterra is privately held, has raised approximately EUR 3M in cumulative disclosed funding (including a EUR 1M round in August 2022 from Future Food Fund and ROM Utrecht Region and earlier support from FARE Capital), holds strategic affiliations with EPA WaterSense, Smart WaterMark, and Netherlands Water Partnership, and was named to the KVK Innovatie Top 100 van 2023. Leadership comprises co-CEO and Commercial Director René Voogt, CTO and co-founder Mark Ruys, founder Erik Damen, and Head of Marketing Jessica Nuboer.
Sensoterra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sensoterra
- Legal name
- Sensoterra International B.V.
- Website
- https://sensoterra.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sensoterra is a Dutch IoT company that designs and sells wireless, LoRaWAN-connected soil moisture sensors with proprietary soil-type calibration, serving farmers, municipalities, and irrigation-platform integrators across 40+ countries via hardware sales, subscriptions, and API access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sensoterra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Agriculture IoT Sensors
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)
- SIC
- Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fertigation & Nutrient Delivery Chemicals (Acids, Chelates, Injection Nutrients) (AFABAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Precision Sensing & Monitoring (Soil/Weather Stations, In-Field Sensors, IoT) (AFAGALAB), Precision Irrigation & Water Management (Smart Irrigation, Scheduling, VRI, Water Sensors) (AFAGALAF), Irrigation Control & Automation (Controllers, Valves, Sensors, IoT) (AFAAACAF), In-Field Sensor Hardware (Soil Moisture/Nutrient, Weather, Canopy Sensors) (AFABAMAA), Nutrient Management & Fertility Optimization Analytics (AFABAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Sensoterra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sensoterra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of wireless soil moisture sensors (Single Depth and Multi-Depth models) and LoRaWAN gateways. Sensors sold directly and through channel partners/resellers. Sensor packages available: 50-acre starter, 100-acre, 200-acre, and custom deployments for 2,000+ acres.
- Data Subscription / Connectivity: Ongoing data subscription fees for soil moisture data delivery and LoRaWAN connectivity. Sensors use Comcast and Senet as LoRa communications partners, and LORIOT for global LoRaWAN network connectivity. Subscription required for continuous data access.
- API Access and Enterprise Services: API access for integration partners building automated irrigation systems. Enterprise-level partnerships include SLA agreements for API uptime (e.g., 99.9%). Additional fees for white-label hardware customization and bulk provisioning tools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Sensor Packages (50-acre to 2,000+ acres) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sensoterra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sensoterra designs and manufactures wireless IoT soil moisture sensors (Single Depth and Multi-Depth models) with LoRaWAN connectivity, providing soil-type calibrated Volumetric Water Content (VWC) readings at 99.5% accuracy. Data is delivered through a free Sensoterra Monitor mobile/web app and an API-first integration platform that connects with major irrigation automation systems. The company targets agriculture, horticulture, smart city landscaping, and water governance applications across more than 40 countries.
Product overview
Sensoterra is a Dutch IoT company founded in 2015, headquartered in Houten, The Netherlands, offering a hardware-plus-platform product portfolio centered on wireless soil moisture sensors. The core hardware consists of the Single Depth Sensor and Multi-Depth Sensor, both with built-in LoRaWAN connectivity, 5-8 year battery life, and soil-type calibration achieving 99.5% accuracy. These sensors feed data into the Sensoterra Monitor App and the Sensoterra API platform, which together provide interpreted volumetric water content (VWC%) readings, automatic irrigation thresholds, and integration with third-party irrigation automation platforms (WiseConn, Jain, Netafim, Rain Bird, Hunter). The Soil Calibration Library, Dynamic EC Feature, and EQIP Reimbursement Support are add-on services that extend the platform's precision and usability across agriculture, horticulture, smart city landscaping, and water governance applications. The company operates on an 'API-first' philosophy, enabling seamless integration into any platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Single Depth Soil Moisture Sensor Wireless IoT soil moisture sensor that measures volumetric water content (VWC%) at a single depth, designed for active root zone monitoring. Available in multiple probe lengths, installs in under one minute with no tools, features built-in LoRaWAN connectivity, 5-8 year battery life, IP68 weatherproof rating, and soil-type calibration for 99.5% accuracy across clay, clay-loam, saline clay, sand, and peat soils.
- Multi-Depth Soil Moisture Sensor Wireless soil moisture sensor that measures VWC at multiple soil depths simultaneously (e.g., -10, -20, -30, -45, -60, -90 cm). Designed for complex terrain, capillary function analysis, deep root zones, and slope-driven moisture gradient monitoring. Calibrated per soil type per depth.
- Sensoterra Monitor App Free mobile (iOS/Android) and web application for managing sensors, setting automatic irrigation thresholds based on soil type, viewing hourly measurements, accessing average sensor values per location, and receiving 24/7 interpreted soil moisture data with high/low threshold alerts.
- Sensoterra API Platform REST API and Webhooks (HTTP Push) platform enabling integration of Sensoterra soil moisture data with any third-party platform. Supports Bearer Token (OAuth2) and API Key authentication, automated irrigation steering, bulk sensor provisioning, and LoRaWAN-to-Modbus/MQTT bridging for legacy SCADA/PLC systems. Enterprise SLA agreements available.
- LoRaWAN Connectivity Service Out-of-the-box LoRaWAN connectivity service delivered through partnerships with The Things Network (TTN), LORIOT (global), Comcast MachineQ (USA), and Senet (USA). Sensors are provisioned with region-specific LoRaWAN parameters (e.g., US915 vs EU868) for compliance with local radio regulations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sensors installed in over 20,000 locations across 40+ countries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sensoterra
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sensoterra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Sensoterra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, strategic and minor.
- LORIOTcoreStrategic partnership providing out-of-the-box connectivity to the global LORIOT LoRaWAN network. Enables Sensoterra sensors to connect seamlessly across different regions worldwide without requiring additional gateway infrastructure.
- ComcastcoreLoRa communications partner providing connectivity infrastructure for Sensoterra sensors. Comcast is based in the USA.
- SenetcoreLoRa communications partner (based in USA) providing network connectivity for Sensoterra soil moisture sensors. Part of multi-partner connectivity strategy.
- WiseConnmajorLeading irrigation automation platform integrated with Sensoterra. Growers can integrate Sensoterra data for automated on/off irrigation steering, zone-specific control, and fertigation timing.
- Jain IrrigationmajorMajor irrigation automation provider integrated with Sensoterra sensors. Enables precision irrigation based on soil moisture data for improved water efficiency.
- NetafimmajorGlobal irrigation company integrated with Sensoterra for drip irrigation optimization and automated control based on real-time soil moisture data.
- RainbirdmajorIrrigation automation partner enabling intelligent irrigation control based on Sensoterra soil moisture readings.
- Hunter IndustriesmajorIrrigation controller manufacturer integrated with Sensoterra for smart irrigation automation.
- ConnectedGreenmajorKey landscaping industry player utilizing Sensoterra sensors for data interpretation to optimize plant health through precise irrigation. René Voogt, Sensoterra Founder, serves as Co-CEO and Commercial Director of ConnectedGreen.
- EPA WaterSensestrategicOfficial partner recognized by US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program. Demonstrates commitment to water efficiency and sustainable water management practices.
- Smart WaterMarkstrategicPartnership with Smart WaterMark organization promoting water efficiency and smart water management technologies.
- Netherlands Water PartnershipstrategicNWP partnership promoting Dutch water management expertise internationally. Part of ecosystem of water technology companies.
- WeCitystrategicPartnership for smart city urban sustainability solutions. WeCity integrated Sensoterra sensors into their Healthy Urban Living Sensor Kit measuring air, soil moisture, and water quality.
- Pientere TuinenstrategicDutch citizen science initiative deploying 5,000 Sensoterra sensors in private gardens for urban sustainability research and community engagement.
- Rapid LogisticsminorShipment partner for product delivery, located in the European Union.
- The Things Network (TTN)coreCommunity-driven LoRaWAN network provider. Sensoterra participates in TTN Conference events and uses The Things Network infrastructure for sensor connectivity.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sensoterra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CropX Technologies: CropX is a direct competitor offering IoT soil sensors and a precision-irrigation analytics platform for agriculture. Like Sensoterra, it sells hardware probes plus a cloud platform, and serves growers and irrigation integrators globally.
- Sentek Technologies: Sentek manufactures in-field soil moisture and salinity probes used in precision agriculture and research. It is one of the longest-established direct competitors to Sensoterra in the soil moisture sensor category.
- Teralytic: Teralytic produces wireless soil probe sensors measuring moisture, nutrient, and soil condition data for agriculture. It overlaps with Sensoterra's probe-based hardware model and precision-agriculture customer base.
- AquaSpy: AquaSpy makes multi-depth soil moisture probes for irrigation management, with strong overlap in crop water monitoring and grower-targeted sales motions.
- Pessl Instruments (METOS): Pessl Instruments offers METOS-branded field sensors (soil moisture, weather, canopy) and a global IoT platform for precision farming. Comparable to Sensoterra in hardware-plus-platform model and agriculture customer segments.
- Irrometer Company: Irrometer manufactures soil moisture and tension sensors widely used by growers and researchers. It is a heritage direct competitor in soil moisture sensing, though with a less IoT-native product portfolio.
Emerging players
- Arable Labs: Arable builds compact all-in-one weather and crop sensors with analytics for precision agriculture. It overlaps with Sensoterra on field-sensor IoT but emphasizes climate/canopy data over deep root-zone moisture profiling.
Broad incumbents
- Davis Instruments: Davis Instruments is a long-established weather and environmental sensor maker with soil moisture stations. It competes in adjacent rather than overlapping niches and serves a broader environmental monitoring customer base.
- John Deere (Field Connect): John Deere's Field Connect soil moisture probe system bundles sensors with the broader John Deere Operations Center platform. As a major incumbent with deep dealer networks, it represents the largest long-term competitive threat to Sensoterra's grower-focused offering.
Regional players
- Stevens Water Monitoring Systems: Stevens Water manufactures soil moisture sensors and environmental monitoring equipment, primarily serving North American markets. It is comparable in product category though not as globally distributed as Sensoterra.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sensoterra social profiles
Digital presenceSensoterra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sensoterra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Sensoterra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sensoterra 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 Sensoterra
What does Sensoterra do?
Sensoterra designs and manufactures wireless IoT soil moisture sensors (Single Depth and Multi-Depth models) with LoRaWAN connectivity, providing soil-type calibrated Volumetric Water Content (VWC) readings at 99.5% accuracy. Data is delivered through a free Sensoterra Monitor mobile/web app and an API-first integration platform that connects with major irrigation automation systems. The company targets agriculture, horticulture, smart city landscaping, and water governance applications across more than 40 countries.
Is Sensoterra a public or private company?
Sensoterra is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sensoterra founded?
Sensoterra was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sensoterra based?
Sensoterra is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Sensoterra make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are data Subscription / Connectivity and API Access and Enterprise Services.
Who are Sensoterra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CropX Technologies, Sentek Technologies, Teralytic, AquaSpy, Pessl Instruments (METOS) and Irrometer Company. Arable Labs is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Davis Instruments and John Deere (Field Connect). Stevens Water Monitoring Systems is listed as a regional player.
Does Sensoterra have an API?
Yes. Sensoterra offers a REST API and Webhooks (HTTP Push) for data integration. The API uses Bearer Token (OAuth2) authentication or secure API Keys. Enterprise partnerships include SLA agreements guaranteeing API availability (e.g., 99.9% uptime). Integrators can pull historical data via REST or receive real-time soil moisture packets via Webhooks. The API enables automated irrigation strategies with moisture thresholds, slope-based control, or crop-specific rules. Bulk CSV upload tools and API endpoints allow integrators to register and assign hundreds of sensors to specific sub-accounts or Customer Orgs. Sensoterra also supports LoRaWAN-to-Modbus or LoRaWAN-to-MQTT bridge for legacy SCADA/PLC systems. Developer documentation is at www.sensoterra.com/technology/api.
What industry is Sensoterra in?
Sensoterra's product category is Precision Agriculture IoT Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAHAA, Fertigation & Nutrient Delivery Chemicals (Acids, Chelates, Injection Nutrients), with a secondary code of AFAGALAB, Precision Sensing & Monitoring (Soil/Weather Stations, In-Field Sensors, IoT). Its NAICS code is 221310 and its SIC code is 3824.