Who We Are

Farming roots.
Silicon Valley engineering.

Ranch Systems was founded in 2005 by Jacob Christfort, who paired a career in Silicon Valley wireless technology with generations of farming in his family to build a new kind of monitoring and control company. Two decades later, the same patented, modular platform that started with a single sensor now supports growers and water managers across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Australia.

Two decades of modular telemetry

Ranch Systems built its reputation in California agriculture, then began expanding internationally in 2008. What makes the platform different is its range: the same patented technology covers a single cellular node watching one tank at a competitive price, all the way to sophisticated farm-wide networks with real-time monitoring and control of an entire growing and irrigation cycle — cameras included. While agriculture remains the core focus, the same rugged, off-grid telemetry now serves environmental monitoring customers as well.

Where we started

  • Founded 2005 in San Francisco, CA
  • Family farming roots in Mendocino County
  • Leadership position in California agriculture

Where we are now

  • Growers across 4 world regions
  • Ranch Systems Iberica S.L.U. in Spain
  • Patented, modular hardware platform
Jacob Christfort examining Ranch Systems hardware
2005
Founded in San Francisco, California
2008
Begins expanding internationally
2017
Ranch Systems Iberica opens in Spain
Today
Resellers across 4 world regions

Led by a rancher who builds technology

Before founding Ranch Systems, Jacob spent nearly a decade at Oracle, where he built the company's first mainstream wireless application server and went on to serve as its first CTO for mobile, wireless, and voice technology — also serving a term as Vice Chairman of the Open Mobile Allience's predecessor industry body. Earlier, he advised clients at McKinsey & Company, co-founded a Danish startup building rugged field computers for agriculture and forestry, and consulted on technology for the Danish government's foreign-aid program in West Africa. He combined that career with his family's farming history — and his own experience as a rancher in Mendocino County, California — to start Ranch Systems in 2005. He lives in Novato, California.

Jacob Christfort, Founder & CEO of Ranch Systems

Jacob Christfort

Founder & CEO

  • B.S. & M.S., Computer Science — University of Copenhagen
  • M.B.A. — Harvard Business School
  • 12 issued patents
  • Former CTO, Mobile & Wireless — Oracle Corporation

Why growers partner with us

A platform built to scale with you

Modular by design

Start with one sensor on one tank, and expand to a farm-wide network without replacing the platform underneath it.

Global support network

Authorized resellers and regional offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Australia keep installations running locally.

OEM & private-label programs

Manufacturers looking to add telemetry and sensor technology to their own products can license the platform under private label.