A new agricultural technology company, TerraForce, has officially launched at The Pantheon in Vincennes, bringing AI and robotics to automate farm labor. Founded by CEO Michial J. Jacob, TerraForce has developed an AI-driven harvester capable of identifying, grading, and robotically harvesting large fruits like watermelons, pumpkins, and cantaloupe. The technology aims to reduce labor costs by nearly $700 per acre, helping U.S. farmers stay competitive against lower-cost labor abroad. At the launch event, Jacob credited community support for the company’s success, noting that over 90% of TerraForce’s funding came from Knox County investors. He emphasized the importance of local innovation and entrepreneurship, calling on the community to continue supporting startups.
