UV Boosting

What UV Boosting does

UV Boosting, SAS is a French agritech company founded in 2017 that develops and sells tractor-mounted UV-C stimulation equipment designed to trigger plants' natural defense mechanisms. The company's core technology uses controlled UV-C flashes that elevate salicylic acid concentrations in leaves by roughly 3x within four hours of exposure, priming crops against fungal diseases (mildew, powdery mildew, botrytis), frost damage, and water stress without chemicals or residues. Products are sold under the Helios family: Helios Vigne (vineyards), Helios Verger (orchards), Helios Gazon (turf/lawns), and Helios Fraise (greenhouse strawberries), with equipment configured for straddle or inter-row tractors in 1-4 row setups and powered via the tractor's PTO, requiring no consumables after purchase.

The company monetizes through custom-priced hardware sales and fitting services distributed via a certified dealer network and direct sales team, primarily targeting enterprise wine producers with secondary segments in strawberries, orchards, and professional turf. Named customers include Domaine Beynat, Domaine de Villaine, Château de Sérame, and Champagne Serge Mathieu, with documented outcomes including 40-50% fungicide reductions and 15-20% harvest increases. The technology originated from research by founders Laurent Urban and Jawad Aarrouf at Avignon University, with commercialization supported by Technofounders venture builder and SATT Sud-Est technology transfer office; co-founder Yves Matton and CEO Baptiste Rouesné lead operations.

UV Boosting operates from Saint-Nom-la-Brétèche, France, employs 51-100 people, and reports deployment in 8+ countries with multilingual support across 7 languages. The company has raised approximately $4M in private funding (March 2019) and secured a strategic investment from Japanese agricultural OEM Kubota in 2024, with Kubota announcing plans to commercialize UV-C machines targeting grapevines, fruit trees, and olive groves from 2026. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

UV Boosting

Legal name

UV Boosting, SAS

Website

https://uvboosting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UV Boosting is a French agritech company that sells tractor-mounted UV-C stimulation equipment (Helios product line) to activate natural plant defenses against fungal diseases, frost, and water stress, primarily serving enterprise wine producers across 8+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne-billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. UV Equipment Sales: Sale of UV stimulation equipment adapted for different crop types (vines, strawberries, orchards, turf). Equipment includes panels for straddle tractors and inter-row tractors. Custom configurations for 1, 2, 3, or 4 rows.
2. Equipment Customization Services: Custom equipment fitting services for different tractor types and row configurations. Technical support and feasibility assessments for specific crop operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

UV Boosting develops and manufactures tractor-mounted UV-C stimulation equipment under the Helios product line for agricultural crop protection. The equipment uses controlled UV-C flashes to trigger salicylic acid production in plants, activating their natural defense mechanisms against fungal diseases (mildew, powdery mildew, botrytis), frost, and water stress. The product family includes Helios Vigne (vineyards), Helios Verger (orchards), Helios Gazon (turf), and Helios Fraise (strawberries).

Product overview

UV Boosting offers the Helios product line—a family of UV-C stimulation devices that activate natural plant defense mechanisms before pathogen attack. The portfolio consists of four specialized products: Helios Vigne for vineyards, Helios Verger for orchards, Helios Gazon for turf/grass, and Helios Fraise for greenhouse strawberries. All products work by exposing plants to controlled UV-C flashes that trigger salicylic acid production, preparing plants to defend against fungal diseases, frost, and water stress. Equipment is tractor-powered via PTO and compatible with both straddle and inter-row tractors. The technology complements conventional and organic crop protection programs, reduces fungicide dependence, and operates independently of weather conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Helios Vigne: UV stimulation equipment specifically designed for vineyards, compatible with straddle tractors and inter-row tractors for 1, 2, 3, or 4 rows.
• Helios Verger
• Helios Gazon
• Helios Fraise

Products and services

• Helios Vigne UV-C stimulation equipment designed for vineyards and grapevines to activate natural plant defense mechanisms against fungal diseases (powdery mildew, downy mildew), frost, and water stress. Equipment is compatible with straddle tractors (1-4 rows) and inter-row tractors (1-2 rows) and is powered via tractor PTO.
• Helios Verger UV-C stimulation equipment designed for orchards to protect fruit trees from diseases such as powdery mildew and scab, enabling reduction or elimination of synthetic fungicides while ensuring optimal protection. Equipment adaptable to various row spacings, leaf heights, and thicknesses.
• Helios Gazon UV-C stimulation equipment designed for turf protection, making grass more resistant to diseases such as dollar spot and fusarium while improving visual quality. Available in standalone or PTO-powered models compatible with small tractors and work carts.
• Helios Fraise UV-C stimulation equipment designed for greenhouse strawberry crops grown in substrate. Makes plants more resistant to diseases like powdery mildew and botrytis while reducing or eliminating synthetic fungicide use, supporting zero-residue certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in fungicide inputs reported by Champagne Serge Mathieu
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Université d'AvignoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Avignon University where Laurent Urban and Jawad Aarrouf discovered UV-C plant resistance benefits. The technology is the result of French research conducted at this institution.
• SATT Sud-EstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer partner (Société d'Acceleration de Transfert de Technologie) that facilitated the commercialization of university research into UV Boosting's commercial products.
• TechnofounderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenture builder co-founded by Yves Matton that partnered with university researchers in 2016 to create UV Boosting. Provides operational support and startup ecosystem for the company.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uvboosting
• Facebookfacebook.com/195136554722364
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uv-boosting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UV Boosting