Burro, CEO & Co-Founder Charlie Andersen | Founding Philly Ep. 41

Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs.

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In this episode, I interview Charlie Andersen, CEO & Co-Founder of Burro, autonomous robots that work side-by-side with farm workers to make agriculture more productive and sustainable.

Charlie was always the 'machine guy,' and grew up on a family-owned fruit and vegetable farm that also ran a construction company. 

Constantly exploring ways to enhance productivity with machinery and technology, Charlie recognized the untapped potential for autonomy in agriculture.

Motivated by this potential, Charlie founded Burro in 2017 to solve labor issues faced by farmers with robots that collaborate seamlessly with farm workers.

"Our mission at Burro is to liberate farmers from the day-to-day strenuous work, allowing them to focus on more valuable tasks by deploying autonomous robots that not only solve labor challenges but also enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability."

Today, hundreds of these robots are deployed worldwide in nurseries, vineyards, berries, and even construction, helping to move cargo and relieve farm workers of strenuous tasks, allowing them to concentrate on their most valuable work.

These autonomous robots significantly improve productivity of farm workers both indoors and outdoors. 

For instance, an eight-person harvest crew using just one Burro can harvest 15% to 30% more fruit daily, and a single Burro can also replace a tractor and its operator, especially useful for towing trailers in nurseries.

Earlier this year, Burro announced they raised a $24M Series B from Catalyst Investors, Translink Capital, and others. 

In this podcast episode, Charlie shares his journey of building Burro, discusses the impact of autonomous vehicles in agriculture, and outlines his vision for the future of farming with robotics.