Sabanto Taps Industry Veteran John M. Raines for Board of Directors
John M. Raines, a veteran of The Climate Corporation and TELUS Digital Agriculture, has joined the board of Iowa-based Sabanto. The appointment follows an oversubscribed Series B funding round that positions the company to scale its autonomous retrofit technology for farmers struggling with labor shortages and rising production costs.

Raines joins the company with over three decades of experience in technology commercialization and digital transformation. During his tenure as President of TELUS Digital Agriculture & Consumer Goods, he expanded the division’s reach into 50 countries while leveraging cloud computing and machine learning. His background also includes a pivotal role as Chief Commercial Officer at The Climate Corporation, where he helped scale the digital farming platform Climate FieldView.
CEO Craig Rupp emphasized that the move is designed to bridge the gap between technical innovation and commercial viability. Sabanto plans to use the new capital to expand its manufacturing capabilities and accelerate the development of its proprietary Vehicle Operating System and mission control software. By enabling farmers to retrofit existing equipment, the company aims to lower the capital expenditure barriers typically associated with high-tech agricultural adoption. Raines currently serves on the boards of FMC Corporation and Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners, providing Sabanto with deep expertise in both global agricultural commerce and retail dealership operations.
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