Meet the Team.
Leaficient was founded with a vision to unite technology and agriculture, driven by a passion for innovation, and a mission to push the boundaries of food production.
Created by lifelong growers and tech innovators Brian Stancil and Andy Rape, Leaficient is at the forefront of agricultural innovation. As robotics and bioengineering experts from Carnegie Mellon University, the pair have led a successful human vital signs startup, and have extensive experience in optics and image processing.
Leaficient’s flagship product, HeliOS, is a cutting-edge camera system that measures plant vitals, providing real-time insights into photosynthesis, growth, and early detection of damage or disease.
By delivering actionable data through our cloud-based platform, we empower growers to optimize their environments, correct issues promptly, and accurately estimate yields. Our mission is to equip growers with the tools needed to adapt swiftly and manage their crops effectively, ensuring a sustainable and productive future for agriculture.
Brian Stancil
CEO – CofounderHe has spent the last two decades commercializing technologies for a wide range of industries including autonomous vehicles, military robotics, and wearable healthcare systems.
In 2017 he co-founded Lifeware Labs LLC, a wearable healthcare company which has since secured over $10M of funding from the US government and sells telehealth products to professional sports leagues, the US military, hospitals and academic institutions.
Brian holds a M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech.
Andy Rape, PhD
COO – CofounderHe has extensive experience in optics and image processing and has published articles in Nature Communications, Biomaterials, ACS Nano, The Journal of Functional Biomaterials, The Journal of Cell Biology, and The Journal of Cell Science. He also has experience in small business corporate strategy and fundraising through his role at Innovation Works.
Andy is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as an NIH NRSA Postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Andy has a B.S., with highest honors, in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester, a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MBA with University Honors from Carnegie Mellon University.