Brent Frei
Brent Frei is Founder, Executive and Chairman at TerraClear, and Founder and Board Member at Smartsheet. He also founded HarvestWest Investments LLC. Previously, he was CEO and Founder at Onyx Software, Executive Vice President at Intellectual Ventures, and held early roles at Microsoft and Motorola.
Remitly co-founder Matt Oppenheimer inducted into Dartmouth Entrepreneur Hall of Fame after stepping down as CEO
Remitly co-founder and chairman Matt Oppenheimer was inducted into Dartmouth College’s Entrepreneur Hall of Fame after stepping down as CEO seven months earlier, honored for making lasting positive impacts through his ventures. He credited Dartmouth’s social psychology teachings for shaping his people-focused approach to business and thanked admissions officers who gave him a chance despite “OK grades.”
TerraClear Launches TerraScout Autonomous Robot for High-Resolution Field Imaging and Rock, Weed Management
TerraClear launched TerraScout, an autonomous robot that captures ultra-high-resolution field imagery to help farmers manage rocks and weeds by converting data into actionable plans for existing farm equipment. The robot can cover over 1,000 acres daily at speeds up to 15 mph and operate autonomously for six hours, aiming to boost farming productivity.
TerraClear appoints Devin Lammers as CEO; co-founder Brent Frei becomes board chair as Trevor Thompson departs
Issaquah-based rock-clearing startup TerraClear named Devin Lammers, formerly of Farmers Business Network, as CEO while co-founder Brent Frei moves to board chair and former president Trevor Thompson has left for Scale AI.
Devin Lammers Named CEO of TerraClear to Drive Growth After $15M Series A for Rock-Clearing AI Technology
Devin Lammers was appointed CEO of TerraClear, a rock-mapping and picking startup, to lead its market expansion following a $15 million Series A funding round. TerraClear develops AI-driven technology to help farmers remove large rocks from fields, addressing a common agricultural challenge.
Brent Frei launches TerraClear to automate farm rock removal using computer vision, AI, and robotics
Brent Frei founded TerraClear after realizing during a 2014 day of rock-picking on his family farm that existing farm tractors were already self-driving, and the remaining manual task—rock removal—could be automated using computer vision, AI, and robotics; he combined his farming background and software experience to build a product for a large underserved market.
TerraClear raises $15 million to scale rock‑picking robots and expand farmer services
TerraClear, an Issaquah startup that makes a rock‑picking robot, raised $15 million and plans to use the funding to expand sales, partnerships and contractor relationships after resolving most technical challenges.
TerraClear Raises $15M to Expand End-to-End Rock-Mapping and Picking Solutions for Farmers
TerraClear raised $15 million to expand its rock-mapping and picking technology, offering an end-to-end solution for farmers to efficiently remove rocks from fields using AI-driven hardware and software. The company plans to grow its sales team and partner with equipment manufacturers, providing services like drone field mapping and rock picking through service providers.
Smartsheet Co-founder Brent Frei to Leave Board June 18; Katie Rooney Joins Amid $1B Revenue Milestone
Smartsheet announced board changes including the departure of co-founder Brent Frei and a new addition, Katie Rooney from Alight Solutions, while recently surpassing $1 billion in annualized recurring revenue. Frei, now CEO of ag-tech startup TerraClear, will leave the board effective June 18 along with Elena Gomez, former CFO at Toast.
Madrona Venture Labs Raises $11M for Fifth Fund to Accelerate AI Startups, Including Generative AI
Madrona Venture Labs raised $11 million for its fifth fund to support AI startups, planning to back 12 new companies with a focus on intelligent applications and generative AI. Since its 2014 founding, the Seattle-based studio has raised $40 million, backed 32 companies, and offers funding and advisory services to early-stage startups.
Smartsheet Founder Brent Frei’s TerraClear Raises $25M Led by Madrona to Commercialize Robotic Rock‑picking Machine ( $38M Raised Total)
Brent Frei, founder of Smartsheet, co-founded TerraClear to build an automated robotic machine that removes rocks from farm fields after experiencing the backbreaking task himself; the company has raised $38 million total, including a $25 million early-stage round led by Madrona Venture Group.
TerraClear raises $25M Series A led by Madrona to scale Rock Picker robotic stone-removal tech
TerraClear raised $25 million in a Series A led by Madrona Venture Group to scale production of its Rock Picker robotic implement that removes rocks from fields, addressing annual rock-related costs of $5,000–$150,000 for medium to large US farms. The Bellevue startup has sold out its first run, will expand mapping and clearance services, and plans broader compatibility and production increases.
TerraClear Raises $25M to Advance AI-Powered Rock-Picking Farm Technology with Fully Autonomous Version in Development
TerraClear, an ag tech startup founded by Brent Frei, has raised $25 million to advance its AI-powered rock-picking technology that helps farmers clear rocks from their fields efficiently. The company’s robotic Rock Picker can handle rocks up to 300 pounds, working with minimal soil disturbance, and is currently on its 14th prototype.
Pacific Northwest Software Founders Launch Ag‑Tech Startups — TerraClear, Carbon Robotics, Pollen Systems Draw Major VC Interest
Successful Pacific Northwest software founders are applying their startup experience to ag tech, drawing significant venture capital into farm-focused startups and developing robotics and marketplaces for agriculture. Examples include Brent Frei's rock-picking robots at TerraClear, Paul Mikesell's weed-zapping Carbon Robotics, and Keith McCall's Pollen Systems and Everyvine relaunch.
RipeLocker raises $5M to commercialize patented low‑atmosphere containers as USDA begins trials
RipeLocker, a Bainbridge Island ag‑tech startup, raised $5 million to sell patented low‑atmosphere containers that extend storage life for recently harvested flowers and produce, and the USDA has begun trials to see if the tech can reduce storage chemicals. The company is building 500 units—half for commercial customers in flowers, hops and berries and half for trials—with first sales starting this summer and total funding now at $12 million.
Brent Frei
Brent Frei credits his success to hard work and dedication, which he learned from his parents and from growing up on his family’s farm in Idaho. Though he never felt the need to be in charge, his desire to be in an environment where everyone is sinking or swimming on their own merit, including himself, led him to become the founder of three companies. Brent’s first, Onyx, IPOed in 1999, and his second, Smartsheet, IPOed in 2018. Brent reflects on the early days at Smartsheet, including the time they were almost out of money and the business model they bet…
Smartsheet co-founder Brent Frei says UX overhaul and full product rewrite, backed by Madrona, rescued the company from failure
Smartsheet co-founder Brent Frei recounted how the company nearly failed before pivoting from an enterprise-style design to a streamlined UX/UI, executing a full product rewrite with investor support that ultimately saved the business.
Organizations
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Smartsheet Founder and Board Member 2017–present, Exec, Chairman 2005–2017 · current
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TerraClear Founder, Exec and Chairman 2017–present · current
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HarvestWest Investments LLC Founder 2011–present · current
Education
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Dartmouth College BA/BE, Engineering · 1984–1988
