Paris-based Alvie, a digital service providing agricultural guidance for optimal pesticide application, has secured €2.1M in seed funding. Tilia Impact Ventures led the round with support from agritech investors Guillaume Jourdain, Damien Lepoutre, Jean-Paul Devey, and Francis Nappez. Individual farmers, including Jérôme Gallois — an investor in both seed and pre-seed rounds — also participated.
The investment profile expanded with contributions from Better Angles, Leia Capital, Climate Club, and BeAngles, a Belgian business angel network. Christian Couturier of Carbometrix, representing TechMind, also invested in this round.
The startup will use the funding for product development and international expansion.
How Alvie is tackling the pesticides’ problem
Founded in 2020 by Edita Bezegova, Nadir Ghrous, and Theo Kazmierczak, Alvie addresses a critical agricultural challenge: the overuse of farming chemicals. The company aims to reduce chemical use by up to 70% while maintaining effective crop protection.
Globally, 4 million tonnes of pesticides are used annually. These contaminated water sources (over 50% of streams and 33% of groundwater) harm biodiversity, particularly crucial pollinating insects. Plus, current plant protection practices are unsustainable ecologically and economically. Farmers often over-apply pesticides, which degrade biodiversity and increase soil CO₂ emissions. Alvie is set to solve this problem.
Behind Alvie’s SaaS HYGO
Alvie’s HYGO is a digital advisory tool that optimises pesticide application timing, technique, and mixture. The platform helps farmers maximise plant protection efficiency while reducing pesticide use and ensuring optimal crop protection.
The technology draws from a database of over 22,000 agricultural inputs to provide tailored pesticide and nutrient application recommendations. Its patented algorithm analyses weather conditions, soil properties, and crop types to determine optimal product dosages. Additionally, HYGO features an onboard micro-weather station that provides real-time data to guide spraying decisions and minimise drift and evaporation risks.
Nadir Ghrous, Co-Founder and CPO of Alvie, commented: “We designed HYGO to be practical and economically viable for farms worldwide, enabling immediate steps toward ecological transition. As a ‘muddy boots’ startup, we prioritise working alongside farmers to develop rational, actionable solutions over flashy tech.”
Investors are positive about Alvie’s potential
Field studies demonstrate that Alvie’s solution boosts plant protection efficiency and cuts pesticide use by up to 30% without compromising crop yields. By reducing chemical inputs in soil and water, the system promotes healthier soils with enhanced microbial activity, leading to better carbon sequestration and reduced atmospheric CO₂.
Petr Vítek, Partner at Tilia Impact Ventures, said: “Transitioning to sustainable plant protection requires a gradual mindset shift. Farmers need evidence that alternative approaches and reduced pesticide use can work. Alvie’s data-driven method shows superior potential for optimising plant protection compared to competitors, supporting sustainable farming and promoting more environmentally conscious practices that enhance biodiversity.”
Guillaume Jourdain, an exited agri-tech founder and angel investor of Alvie, noted: “Alvie excels by addressing a critical daily challenge for farmers: achieving efficient crop protection while reducing environmental impact. The founding team combines deep problem understanding with a practical, farmer-first approach. This focus on practicality and impact gives me confidence in Alvie’s ability to transform agriculture meaningfully.”
The post Agritech Alvie snaps €2.1M to slash pesticide usage by 70% appeared first on Tech Funding News.