TL;DR
A startup called Naware has built a steam-based system that uses computer vision to spot and kill weeds without chemicals, attachable to mowers, tractors or ATVs. Founder Mark Boysen has run paid pilots, presented the tech at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 and is pursuing partnerships, patents and outside funding.
What happened
Mark Boysen founded Naware after experimenting with several mechanical approaches to weed control, including a drone-mounted 200-watt laser and cryogenic prototypes, before settling on steam as a safe, repeatable method. The company developed a rig that pairs computer-vision models with vaporized water to target weeds in real time while mounted on lawn equipment. Boysen says the team began testing the concept with consumer garment steamers before moving to industrialized designs. Naware demonstrated the system at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 and has been running paid pilot programs. The AI element had to address a difficult “green-on-green” detection problem and now runs on Nvidia GPUs for real-time recognition. Boysen is courting strategic equipment manufacturers, claims significant chemical-cost savings for large turf operators, and plans to open a first fundraising round after bootstrapping the business so far.
Why it matters
- Offers a chemical-free alternative for weed control that could reduce reliance on herbicides used on turf and athletic fields.
- Targets recurring operating costs for large turf managers; the company estimates substantial chemical savings for some customers.
- Combines robotics, real-time AI and thermal treatment in a retrofitable package that could integrate with existing lawn equipment.
- If adopted at scale, the approach could change maintenance practices for golf courses, sports fields and commercial groundskeeping.
Key facts
- Founder: Mark Boysen began testing various mechanical weed-control ideas and settled on steam.
- Early experiments included a drone with a 200-watt laser and consumer garment steamers used to validate the idea.
- Naware’s system uses computer vision to detect weeds and kills them with vaporized water (steam), without chemicals.
- The detection problem required solving 'green-on-green' recognition and the models run on Nvidia GPUs for real-time use.
- The hardware can be attached to mowers, tractors or ATVs according to the company.
- Naware presented its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 and has run paid pilots.
- Boysen says the product can save some customers between $100,000 and $250,000 on chemicals alone.
- The company is in discussions with large equipment manufacturers (Boysen referenced $5 billion companies) but did not name them.
- Naware has been bootstrapped to date and plans to open a first fundraising round in the coming months.
- Boysen identified partnerships, patents and funding as the three keys to the company’s success.
What to watch next
- Whether discussions with large equipment manufacturers turn into formal partnerships or OEM agreements (in discussions as reported).
- Commercial rollout schedule and availability to wider customers: not confirmed in the source.
- Patent filings and intellectual-property progress tied to the steam and vision systems: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Steam weed control: A non-chemical method that uses high-temperature vaporized water to damage or kill plant tissue.
- Computer vision: A field of AI that enables machines to interpret and act on visual information from cameras or sensors.
- GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A processor designed to accelerate graphics and parallel computing tasks, commonly used to run AI models.
- Pilot program: A limited trial deployment used to test and refine a product with early customers before full-scale launch.
Reader FAQ
How does Naware kill weeds?
The system uses computer vision to locate weeds and applies vaporized water (steam) to kill them; the process is chemical-free.
Does the product use herbicides or other chemicals?
No — the company’s described approach relies on steam rather than chemical herbicides.
What kinds of vehicles can the system be mounted on?
According to the company, the system can be attached to mowers, tractors and ATVs.
Is Naware commercially available everywhere now?
not confirmed in the source
What is the company’s funding and partnership status?
Naware has been bootstrapped so far, is preparing its first fundraising round, and is in early talks with large equipment makers; specific deal terms are not provided.
Naware founder Mark Boysen first tried killing weeds with drones and a 200-watt laser. He’d been noodling on ideas for a startup with some friends, and thinking about how his…
Sources
- Naware’s chemical-free weed killer tech could change how we treat lawns
- Naware
- Blast Them: A Rutgers Scientist Uses Lasers to Kill Weeds
- Carbon Robotics: First & Only Commercial LaserWeeder™
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