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Tech start-up Vivid Machines has closed a $4.3 million oversubscribed seed funding round. The funding round was led by BDC Capital Thrive Venture Fund and featured participation from StandUp Ventures, Algoma Orchards, Tall Grass Ventures and others. Founded in 2020 by Jenny Lemieux and Jonathan Binas, Vivid Machines helps fruit growers produce more food on existing acreage and provides early yield predictions to packhouses, marketers and retailers. The company has developed a real-time spectral sensor and computer vision technology – Vivid XV – to capture plant-level data below the canopy across production and provide fruit-level data to optimise the fruit supply chain. The funds will be used to expand Vivid Machine's range of system applications and broaden its capacity to cover a more diverse selection of fruit crops. Kirk Kemp, owner of Algoma Orchards, said: “We’re very happy to have been one of the first to try Vivid Machines’ Vivid XV spectral imaging system to increase yield forecasting accuracy in our apple orchards. By the end of the season last year, yield prediction accuracy was, on average, 90%, which gave us the confidence to commit to working with Vivid. We knew their technology could help us improve yield and quality while also increasing sales. We look forward to making full use of the Vivid XV system this growing season.” Michelle Scarborough, managing partner at BDC Capital Thrive Venture Fund, added: “Vivid Machines brings a higher level of transparency and efficiency to the fruit supply chain. Its unique technology integrates machine learning to image capture methods and leverages real-time analytics and output, helping growers increase their production. We are excited to support Jenny and Jonathan, and the whole Vivid Machines team, in their important work to revolutionize fruit production and reduce food waste.’’