Novariant

About Novariant

Novariant operates as a specialized provider of advanced steering and machine control systems for the precision agriculture market. Established in 1994 and formerly headquartered in Silicon Valley, the company carved a niche by focusing on the development and application of high-precision guidance solutions. A significant milestone in Novariant's history was its merger with AgJunction in October 2015. This transaction created a combined entity with a formidable intellectual property portfolio, including over 140 patents at the time, aimed at delivering application-specific solutions to a global agricultural clientele. Before the merger, Novariant had already established a strong market presence, generating approximately $30 million in revenue in 2014 with its steering solutions used in over 60 countries.

The company's business model centers on providing interoperable autosteering technologies to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Value-Added Resellers (VARs). This plug-and-play approach allows for integration with a wide variety of monitors and GPS smart antennas from different manufacturers. Novariant's product line is designed to enhance farming efficiency by enabling machinery to follow precise paths, which reduces overlaps and skips in application, thereby saving fuel and minimizing the use of chemicals. Key products include the ECU-S1 Autosteering Controller, which serves as a central hub, and the MDU-G4, a mechanical drive unit for assisted steering that offers high-torque power without requiring a full hydraulic installation. A notable development was the SimpleSteer software, an award-winning solution that converts a commercial tablet into a command-and-control interface for the autosteering system, making the technology more accessible and affordable for farmers.

The merger with AgJunction was a strategic move to combine complementary product portfolios and R&D capabilities, creating a more dominant force in the automated steering sector. The joint operation was positioned to better serve global machine manufacturers who were increasingly integrating autosteer technology at the factory level. Following the merger, Dave Vaughn, who was CEO of Novariant, became the CEO of the combined company, AgJunction. The new entity continued to market solutions under the Novariant brand name, alongside others like Wheelman and Whirl. The primary clients are agricultural machinery manufacturers and technology solution providers who embed these systems into their own products, ultimately serving farmers of all sizes.