At Hone, our ethos lies in enabling anyone, anywhere, to test what they want, when they want.
HONE FOUNDERS
Founders Story
Hone’s journey began with the vision of our founders – Jamie Flynn, Antony Martin, and William Palmer. Their commitment to bringing the lab to the field, disrupting traditional agricultural practices, and empowering farmers, has laid the foundation for the company.
HONE FOUNDERS
Dr. Jamie Flynn
Jamie has a background in medical research and deep technology development. From designing electrical interfaces with neurons to building advanced 3D medical microscopes, Jamie has always had a passion for creating and sharing new technologies. He co-founded Hone to apply his skills to the exciting area of in-field chemical testing in Agriculture and hopes to improve the data legacy passed onto the next generation of farmers and land custodians.
"At Hone, we're transforming agricultural practices through cutting-edge in-field chemical testing, ensuring the performance of our land is enriched for current and future generations." – Dr. Jamie Flynn.

Dr. William Palmer
William worked in several successful managerial roles in industry before finding his passion for Biotechnology. Having developed rapid phenotyping engines and cutting-edge optical platforms, he has a keen eye for innovative technology and how to convert expensive, labor-intensive tasks into efficient, high-throughput solutions. William splits his time between the Hone R&D workshop, and out in the field to find the most needed applications for the Hone Platform.
“We aim to unlock advanced, well proven analytical lab techniques for the agricultural industry, making high-throughput solutions accessible and useful for the end user” – Dr. William Palmer.

Dr. Antony Martin
Antony has 10 years experience in the field of chemometrics and crop phenotyping giving him a deep understanding of field based testing in agriculture. His experience working with optical hardware and machine learning processes has revealed an opportunity to bring Hone's next generation testing platform out of the lab and into the hands of businesses and consumers.
"By merging advanced chemometrics with purpose built, tough hardware, we're bringing the next generation of agricultural testing directly to those who need it" – Dr. Antony Martin.

BOARD AND ADVISORS
Peter Johnston
Our Managing Director, Peter Johnston (PJ) brings a wealth of experience and a profound understanding of the agricultural technology landscape to the team at Hone. As a key member of our board, PJ provides strategic direction, ensuring Hone continues to thrive and innovate in the ever-evolving ag tech industry.
“At Hone, we redefine possibility by empowering farmers to test anything, anywhere. We don’t just disrupt, we lead—partnering strategically and championing real world outcomes for our customers. We thrive on dialogue, inviting all to witness the evolution of impactful, innovation that shapes the future of agriculture.” – Peter Johnston.

Rob Hulme
Rob brings over 35 years of global agribusiness experience from startups to corporates, including Bayer where he had several roles across research, marketing, sales, M&A and country management. Rob’s passionate about growing companies and scaling innovative solutions, and as Chairman has a key role in guiding the future growth of HoneAg.

HONE INVESTORS
GrainCorp
GrainCorp, an iconic Australian agriculture company with a rich history spanning over 100 years, has played a pivotal role in connecting growers to domestic and international markets. Founded to bridge the gap between local farmers and wider markets, the company has undergone a significant transformation since its privatisation in the 1990s. This change has been marked by a commitment to adding value to the commodities produced by farmers, emphasising the enhancement of quality and profitability in the agricultural sector.
Jesse Scott, Chief Innovation and Growth Officer at GrainCorp, articulates the history between Hone and GrainCorp:
“We’ve been working with Hone from the very beginning of their journey, as we saw a unique opportunity in their technology to empower growers to make informed decisions about monetising their farm products.”
“Hone is about broadening or democratising the access to that technology, allowing anybody in the agriculture value chain to measure, certify, and really understand the quality of what’s moving through that system.”

TIMELINE
Milestones
Hone’s journey has been marked by significant milestones. From inception to commercialisation, our timeline showcases the dedication, hard work, and continuous innovation that has propelled us forward.
2016 – The Beginning
Established as Rapid Phenotyping in 2016, Hone was founded by three PhD researchers at the University of Newcastle.
2018 – Minimum Viable Product
Hone develops its first predictive models for grain quality measurement.
2020 – Hardware Release
The first Hone Lab is released.
2021 – Expansion
GrainCorp becomes a strategic investor, enabling Hone to expand its operations and explore potential industry applications.
Hone’s On-Farm Grain Analyser receives the Gold Winner award at the Good Design Awards.
2022 – Focus
Reaching a peak of 38 staff and addressing 14 industry applications, Hone narrows its focus to emphasise core strengths and capabilities.
2023 – Today
Hone holds 9 patents, 2 registered designs, and 12 trademarks.
The company, now with 20 employees, is rapidly advancing the development of core capabilities in soil carbon and grain testing applications.
Each milestone represents a step closer to realising our vision of being a global leader in agricultural technology.
INVEST IN HONE
Shaping the future of agriculture technology
At Hone, we are not just transforming agriculture; we are pioneering a future where data-driven decisions empower farmers globally.
Our strategic vision
Hone’s strategy revolves around knowing our market and understanding our customers. We don’t sell products; we co-create solutions with the market. We believe that collaboration and customer-centricity are the cornerstones of success.
Openness and collaboration
We value transparency, and as an investor, your expertise is more than capital. We seek strategic partners willing to be integral to Hone’s growth.
Data-driven evolution
In an era of artificial intelligence (AI), the demand for data is soaring. Hone is at the forefront, creating valuable data that supports informed decisions.
What makes Hone different?
By addressing multiple verticals in one device with simple subscription ‘add-ons’, Hone is able to provide better value to the customer whilst realising higher revenues from one piece of hardware.
Join us in reshaping the landscape of agricultural technology
Investing in Hone means investing the future of sustainable agriculture. Interested?
Get in contact, express your interest via the form below:
Get in contact, express your interest via the form below: