ABOUT US
Founded in 2020 out of the DFG Excellence Cluster PhenoRob at the University of Bonn, we combine cutting-edge AI and robotics research with practical agronomy. We transform high-resolution field data into actionable, economically relevant decisions — making precision agriculture accessible to everyone, from individual farmers to global research organizations.
Our AI-based technology reduces time and cost while increasing accuracy in digital agronomy — empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions that optimize yield potential and farm income, and enabling enterprises to scale complex field trials with unmatched precision and efficiency.
Built on European values of innovation, sustainability, and data sovereignty, Pheno-Inspect delivers AI that truly works — where it matters most: in real fields.
About Us in 5 Minutes
OUR VISION
AI-Powered Revolution for Sustainable Agriculture
We build the most trusted, open platform for digital agronomy — empowering a new generation of precision and data-driven farming, breeding, and agricultural research for a more productive, sustainable, and resilient food system in Europe and beyond.
OUR MISSION
Make Drones Everyday Farm Tools
We make advanced agronomy accessible to everyone — from farmers in the field to enterprises running complex micro-plot trials.
By combining the latest advancements in drone technology and automation with our proprietary AI, we empower our customers to analyze their fields with single-plant accuracy — faster, more affordably, and with complete independence.
Our goal: to make drones an everyday tool for digital agronomy — always available, easy to use, and trusted to deliver reliable insights when they matter most.
WHAT DRIVES US
Democratising
Agronomy AI
We believe digital agronomy shouldn’t be reserved for big players. Every farmer deserves access to reliable, transparent AI tools — without complexity, lock-ins, or hidden costs.
AI Made in Germany
– for European Farmers
Our models are trained on real-world field data from European crops, climates, and conditions.
All data is processed and stored within the EU — fully GDPR-compliant and always under your control.
Independent Advice
Farmer in Control
You’ll never be alone in the field again. With our digital agronomist at your side, you remain in charge — while our tools deliver actionable insights that are fast, objective, and easy to understand.
Built for a
Changing World
We simplify fieldwork in times of climate change, tighter regulation, and labor shortage — with software that adapts.
By focusing on off-the-shelf drones you stay hardware-independent and ready for every new generation of technology.
Our Journey
2020
FOUNDED FROM EXCELLENCE
Pheno-Inspect was founded at the University of Bonn within the Cluster of Excellence PhenoRob — Germany’s leading research hub for robotics and AI in agriculture.
2021
STRATEGIC R&D COLLABORATIONS
Initiated major commercial R&D projects with leading seed and crop protection companies, validating AI-driven agronomy in professional field trial environments.
2022
LAUNCH OF PLANTANALYZER™ FOR ENTERPRISE AUTOMATION
Introduced the PlantAnalyzer™ web platform, enabling enterprise-level field evaluations and streamlined data workflows for high-throughput, millimeter-precision phenotyping.
2024
LAUNCH OF AUTOPILOT™ & ECOMAPPING™ FOR SCALABLE DATA COLLECTION
Released AutoPilot™ and EcoMapping™, revolutionizing drone-based data acquisition with efficient, high-resolution, and fully self-service operation using off-the-shelf drones.
2025
FARMANALYZER™ PUBLIC PREVIEW FOR FARMERS
First public demonstration in November at Agritechnica 2025 Hannover, where farmers experienced firsthand how AI transforms crop scouting.
2026
LAUNCH of FARMANALYZER™ FREE & PRO
With the launch of FarmAnalyzer™, farmers in Germany gain direct access to AI-powered agronomy — fully self-service, fast, and field-proven.
From flight to decision in hours: detect weeds, optimize inputs, and act with precision — all in one platform.
Meet Our Team
Learn more about the people behind Pheno-Inspect — a team of scientists, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of digital agronomy.
Co-CEO / Chief Technology Officer / Founder
Dr. Philipp Lottes
As founder and CEO, Philipp leads Pheno-Inspect’s strategy and vision at the intersection of ag-tech and automation. With more than ten years of experience in AI and agricultural innovation, he drives product direction, technological excellence, and long-term growth.
Co-CEO / Chief Growth Officer / Founder
Dr. Josef Exler
As Co-Founder of Pheno-Inspect, Josef drives the company’s strategic development and international growth through strategic partnerships, global scaling, and innovative go-to-market strategies. Since January 2026, he has officially taken on the role of Chief Growth Officer. Previously, he led global go-to-market strategies for AI-driven agricultural products at Bayer’s Digital Farming division
Founder & Scientific Advisor
Prof. Dr. Cyrill Stachniss
As the spokesperson of the Excellence Cluster PhenoRob — Germany’s leading research network for robotics and AI in agriculture — Cyrill bridges scientific excellence with a strong ecosystem of top research talent. As Scientific Advisor at Pheno-Inspect, he ensures that every innovation is built on cutting-edge AI research and meets the highest standards of scientific and technical quality.
Product Owner – AI & Automation
Dr. Jan Weyler
Holding a PhD in drone-based AI for agriculture and with over eight years of technical experience, Jan drives innovation at Pheno-Inspect across computer vision, autonomous flight, and precision data analytics — advancing the company’s full product portfolio.
Product Owner – Web Services & SaaS Platform
M.Sc. Jan Quakernack
Since Pheno-Inspect's inception, Jan has been developing our software in close alignment with agricultural users. Today, he leads the evolution of our cloud product with more than five years of expertise – from seamless user experience and performant backend systems to traceable ML deployments.
NEWS & EVENTS
Pheno-Inspect News
The platform partnership between Pheno-Inspect and FarmBlick combines plant-level crop scouting with seamless digital workflows.
From drone imagery and AI-powered analysis to prescription maps – enabling farmers and service providers to assess crops more precisely and apply inputs more efficiently.
Pheno-Inspect joined the RTL news team in the field and was featured on the evening news, highlighting how AI-powered drone technology is changing the way farmers work.
Starting April 1st, this technology will be available to farmers across Germany with the launch of FarmAnalyzer™.
Following the successful completion of our seed funding round, Pheno-Inspect strengthens its position in digital agronomy.
With CLAAS joining as a strategic investor, alongside NRW.BANK and Companisto, the funding supports the European rollout of FarmAnalyzer™.
Pheno-Inspect on NDR: AI simplifies crop protection documentation
NDR visited us at Agritechnica, where we showcased how AI reduces bureaucracy and streamlines the documentation of crop protection measures.
As part of the preview coverage for Agritechnica 2025, Pheno-Inspect was selected by landtechnikmagazin.de as one of the ten most exciting new innovations.
The magazine Profi reports on Pheno-Inspect’s demonstration of how drones and AI work together in practical field operations: precise crop analysis and site-specific applications — for greater efficiency and sustainability in crop protection.
Targeted instead of uniform: With AI-based application maps, Pheno-Inspect reduces herbicide use by up to 80% – enabling sustainable crop protection and healthier plant stands.
With Dr. Josef Exler, Pheno-Inspect gains an experienced expert in digital agriculture as well as market access and scaling strategies.
His involvement will further drive the company’s international expansion and strategic partnerships.
Pheno-Inspect impressed the jury at the 2025 Start-up Pitch of the Private Equity Conference NRW with its AI platform for agronomic analysis.
The award highlights the company’s innovative strength and its role as a driving force behind the digital transformation of agriculture.
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