In Singapore, about 1% of land is used for agriculture. So, when Polybee founder Siddharth Jadhav first conceived of a horticulture startup using drones for pollination, he knew it would have to be international.
In Australia, he’s found innovation partners, investors and collaborators who became customers. He’s found a base for development and a foundation from which to build a global business. He’s found a place for his startup to call home.
Robot bees deliver data to close information gaps
Polybee builds AI-powered mini drones, which scout farms for indicators of stress and to forecast yield. They can also automate pollination, effectively behaving like robot bees.
‘Farming has been helplessly unpredictable for centuries,’ Jadhav says.
‘Farms are getting bigger in size, the number of farmers is dwindling, and climate change isn’t making it any easier for us to predict what’s going to happen.’
Polybee’s tech can turn farms into ‘data-driven factories’, Jadhav says, filling that information gap, boosting output, and increasing profitability.
The spirit of collaboration
In 2025, Polybee announced a significant investment in Australia, opening its Australia/New Zealand headquarters in Victoria. This followed a collaboration with La Trobe University, enabling researchers to collect plant data for digital phenotyping in greenhouse environments.
The headquarters is a base for further R&D, deepening relationships and driving growth in Australia. It’s also the latest step in a seemingly natural progression.
Three years ago, Polybee embarked on a A$1.3 million research project to trial drones for pollination. The company partnered with Hort Innovation, Western Sydney University, and major grower Perfection Fresh on the trial.
Since then, Polybee has onboarded more local customers. It has continued working with Hort Innovation on R&D, including a project with Flavourite Group that trialled yield prediction.
Both Perfection Fresh and Flavourite remain key collaboration partners and customers, Jadhav says. They represent the spirit of the Australian agritech community — tech-forward, innovative, and open to new ideas.
‘Australian growers were willing to work alongside us; inviting us to their farms to test the product and figure it out together,’ he says.
‘Our early adopters are equal innovators alongside us. We wouldn’t have been able to build this product without their feedback and their involvement.’
A budding opportunity
Currently, Polybee is focused on 5 key crops: leafy greens, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, and greenhouse tomatoes.
These crops alone represent a ‘massive opportunity’ in Australia, Jadhav says. ‘If we capture a sufficient fraction of it, we see ourselves making upwards of A$10 million in revenue in the next couple of years.’
That will have an outsized economic impact. For Polybee, the main measure of success is improving farm profitability — the goal is for customers to generate at least 3 times the return on investment.
‘The more footprint our product has, the more profits are being created for Australian farmers,’ Jadhav.
He also hopes that by establishing Polybee’s headquarters in Australia, the business will create high-quality jobs in research and tech.
‘We get to see what’s at the bleeding edge of AI, robotics and computer vision in agriculture, an industry which is so fundamental to the economy,’ he says.
Polybee’s AI-powered mini drones can scout farms for indicators of stress and to forecast yield.
Austrade supports helps expansion
Polybee’s relationship with Austrade dates back to 2021, as well as early discussions with Hort Innovation. At the time, Austrade provided information and support around COVID-19 travel restrictions and visas, as well as offering advice on R&D tax incentives.
As Polybee became more established, Austrade facilitated connections with growers and potential partners. Later, Austrade connected the team to the relevant state agencies for opening a headquarters here.
Austrade has also created opportunities for exposure and publicity. Jadhav was recognised by the Australian High Commission in Singapore in its ‘60 for 60’ list, which highlighted individuals who have influenced diplomatic relations between Singapore and Australia, in the 60 years of Singapore’s independence.
‘That’s the kind of visibility that brings us credibility in the Australian market,’ Jadhav says.
Austrade’s support has been a constant in the journey, the founder adds.
‘It always feels like we’re reaching out to someone who knows us,’ he says. ‘If we have any uncertainty, we know we have someone reliable to ask for help and advice. We deeply appreciate that relationship.’
A strong foundation for growth
For Polybee, the Australian market was an obvious first choice for expansion. It’s geographically close to Singapore, boasts a world-renowned agricultural industry, a strong R&D ecosystem and a skilled tech workforce.
Initially, it was a sandbox. Now, it’s a core market for growth and innovation. Looking to the future, Jadhav says Australia is the best possible launchpad for global growth.
‘We believe we can make a good landing in other markets because of the confidence we’ve gained in our product, and the fact that we’ve refined the product before going to other markets.”
But what he values most about Australia is the culture of innovation and collaboration. That’s why he recommends Australia as a market for other startups.
‘It’s one of the best places to start, simply because of that collaborative spirit you see in people.
‘As a startup, you’re looking to make an early impact — to get to a stage where you have the right partners and product. Working with such people matters more than you think.
‘If you have even an ounce of opportunity in Australia to build or launch your product, you should take it with both hands.’
How Austrade can help
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) supports foreign investors to establish and expand operations in Australia. Our experts in Australia and around the world can help you through every stage of your investment journey.
We offer the latest industry insights, connections with key stakeholders and decision-makers, and virtual or physical site visits to Australia. Thousands of foreign businesses have worked with us to tap into the Australian market.
For information on investment opportunities in Australia, contact an Austrade investment specialist.
Go further, faster with Austrade
Subscribe to the Investment Update newsletter to find out about new investment opportunities, insights and investor success stories across Australia.