Israeli Startup AgriPass Wins Prestigious Climate Solutions Prize 2025

In a week celebrating Israel’s cutting-edge climate innovation, AgriPass, an Israeli agtech startup, took home first place at the Climate Solutions Prize 2025 (CSP) Dealroom, a high-profile competition connecting global investors with breakthrough climate technology.

Now in its third year, the Climate Solutions Prize drew participation from more than 130 startups across Israel, with 20 initially selected to compete. From these, 10 finalists were chosen to present their solutions to a panel of international judges and investors at Startup Nation Central in Tel Aviv, in collaboration with the Kinneret Innovation Center (KIC), Israel’s leading climate innovation hub. Jeff Hart, Executive Chair of the Climate Solutions Prize Organization, highlighted the event’s mission: to “connect global capital with breakthrough Israeli solutions and inspire impactful, long-term investments.”

AgriPass, led by CEO Liron Cohen Yanay, stood out with its AI-powered, non-chemical weeding solution. The company’s Adaptive Selective Tilling (AST) technology combines real-time sensing and artificial intelligence to analyze plants at an individual level, precisely identifying and removing weeds while preserving crops and minimizing soil disturbance. By eliminating the need for herbicides, AgriPass supports both organic and conventional growers, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances operational efficiency through a flexible Robot-as-a-Service model.

Said AgriPass CEO Liron Cohen Yanay, “This win is an exciting moment for AgriPass and the fight against climate change! Agriculture is both part of the climate challenge and among the sectors most impacted by it. At AgriPass, we’re empowering farmers to transition to sustainable practices that protect both their soil and their livelihoods. With our RHIC robot now working in the U.S., Italy, and Israel, we’re proving that climate solutions can be practical, scalable, and farmer-first.”

The company’s rapid rise has been remarkable. Founded just two years ago, AgriPass already has a field-proven prototype, launched initial sales, and initiated operations with farmers in the U.S., EU, and Israel. It has partnered with leading organizations including EIT Food and Festo Automation, and was selected for NVIDIA’s Inception Program, validating its AI-driven approach. Earlier, the company’s CEO, Liron Cohen Yanay, was recognized with the Leading Woman in Food Tech Award, underscoring both her leadership and the promise of AgriPass’s technology.

Environmental expert Ruth Berlin, Executive Director of the Maryland Pesticide Education Network, praised the solution, saying, “AgriPass might be a great step forward as it appears to directly support organic practices by providing a chemical-free weeding solution. Their system can help preserve soil structure and promote fertility and beneficial microbial life — soil that can sequester carbon! It’s actually exciting.”

The CSP Dealroom agenda included morning opening remarks from Jeff Hart and other leaders, followed by pitch sessions from the ten finalists, which included Biotic, FireDome, Xfloat, Ever After Foods, CarbonBlue, BioArmix, Hydro X, DriftSense, and i-EcoGuard. After rigorous evaluation, AgriPass emerged as the first-place winner, followed by CarbonBlue in second place, with Hydrox taking home the audience choice award.

The competition, offering over $3 million in prizes and SAFE investments, is a key driver for Israel’s climate tech ecosystem, which now comprises more than 850 startups spanning energy, water, mobility, and agriculture. As Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central, noted, “Israeli ingenuity is driving solutions to the world’s most urgent climate challenges.”

With this win, AgriPass is not only gaining global exposure and strategic partnerships but also solidifying Israel’s role as a leader in climate innovation. For Liron Cohen Yanay and the AgriPass team, the award is both recognition and a launchpad for scaling their AI-driven, soil-preserving technology to farms around the world.