Graze Robotics CEO Logan Fahey Franz: Transforming Lawn Care with Robotics for Environmental and Economic Impact
- Graze Robotics CEO Logan Fahey Franz: Transforming Lawn Care with Robotics for Environmental and Economic Impact Devin Thorpe 26:01
I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.
Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.
When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.
Devin: What is your superpower?
Logan: I think one of the superpowers I like to think I have is the ability to just keep getting back up.
Graze Robotics is making waves by tackling environmental challenges and reshaping labor dynamics in commercial landscaping. At the helm of this pioneering company is Logan Fahey Franz, who’s raised nearly $25 million from everyday investors to scale the company’s eco-friendly, fully autonomous electric lawnmowers. These robots are purpose-built for large-scale sites, including golf courses, solar fields, and municipal properties, where they deliver precision and efficiency at a lower cost than traditional methods.
“Being a fully electric solution is important to us,” Logan explained during our conversation. “But you think about the Graze unit—the tractor holds all of the autonomy. We’re not just solving mowing; we have attachments for collecting golf balls on driving ranges and upcoming attachments to clean cart paths.” His passion for environmental solutions shines as he discusses how Graze Robotics’ Technology responds to noise restrictions and emissions bans, increasingly common at local and state levels.
The company has mastered unique capabilities like night mowing, which is ideal for solar fields since panels lie flat after sunset. Graze’s approach is both forward-thinking and practical. In Logan’s words, “Operating at night is a unique element… mowing at night is really the most efficient because the panels are set to flat.”
As Graze Robotics continues to grow, Logan and his team aim to scale their impact with a projected 150 robotic units rolling out in early 2025. With tens of thousands of potential deployments on the horizon, Graze is poised to meet the ever-growing demand for sustainable, automated lawn care.
tl;dr:
* In today’s episode, Logan Fahey Franz shares insights into Graze Robotics’ eco-friendly, autonomous robotic mowers, which are transforming large-scale landscaping for golf courses, solar fields, and municipalities.
* Logan highlights Graze Robotics’ unique night-mowing capability, which increases efficiency for solar fields, where mowing during the day would interfere with panel orientation toward the sun.
* Addressing labor shortages and rising environmental standards, Logan emphasizes how Graze’s robots reduce costs, enable workforce reallocation to higher-value tasks and comply with local noise and emissions regulations.
* Logan’s journey from nonprofit social enterprises to leading a high-tech robotics company demonstrates his passion for integrating sustainability and social good with business, especially through innovative, scalable solutions.
* For those interested in impact Investing, Logan invites potential investors to explore Graze Robotics’ offerings, which remain accessible to both traditional and crowd investors through ongoing investment opportunities.
How to Develop Resilience As a Superpower
Logan’s superpower lies in his resilience—his ability to “keep getting back up” after failures and setbacks. From early challenges in starting businesses to public defeat in a political campaign, Logan has consistently shown that he can recover and forge ahead with renewed purpose and determination.
One of the most impactful examples of Logan’s resilience came after he ran for city council in Cleveland and lost by a significant margin. Rather than letting the public loss dissuade him, he used this setback as a springboard to create Fay Group, rallying investors—including former campaign donors—to support his vision. Through this experience, he gained invaluable lessons in facing rejection and staying committed to his goals, which he has applied to his leadership at Graze Robotics and other ventures.
Tips for Developing Resilience:
* Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool – Understand that setbacks are part of the process and provide valuable lessons for Growth.
* Seek External Advisors – Lean on mentors and experienced professionals for guidance, particularly when evaluating when to pivot or persist.
* Set Personal Goals – Know what you want to accomplish so that internal motivation can fuel your resilience during tough times.
* Build a Supportive Network – Surround yourself with people who can offer perspective and encouragement, helping you see past temporary defeats.
By following Logan’s example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Logan Fahey Franz (he/him):
Chief Executive Officer, Graze Robotics
About Graze Robotics: Graze is a full-stack automation, robotics, and AI company focused on enabling the service industry to do more with less. We are more than just a developer of autonomous commercial lawnmowers; we are architects of progress. With each stride we make, we move closer to simplifying maintenance across diverse landscapes. From airports to golf courses and government properties to solar fields, we’re redefining how maintenance is approached through intelligent, eco-friendly, autonomous tools.
Website: www.grazemowing.com
X/Twitter Handle: @grazemowing
Company Facebook Page: fb.com/grazemowing
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/graze-mowing
Other URL: www.invest.grazerobotics.com
Biographical Information: Logan Fahey is the current President and CEO of Graze Robotics – a developer of fully commercial autonomous mowers for airports, golf courses and solar fields.With experience ranging from running a family office to social enterprise to disrupting markets through technology Innovation, Logan has built a unique and successful career as an entrepreneur and visionary. In a variety of roles with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, Logan has headed effective teams and met ambitious goals through strategic innovation, always with a diligent focus on managing the bottom line.Logan started his career in 2012, managing the family office for PartsSource, the world’s largest medical parts provider. He also headed the PartsSource foundation and ran the company’s real-Estate venture capital program, New Vista Ventures.Building on Relationships developed during his time with Towards Employment (former venture), Logan assembled the board of directors for Fahey Group, a holdings company that he founded in 2016. Fahey Group’s acquisitions include Landmark Lawn and Garden Supply, a northeast Ohio wholesale supplier and Retail center that was in the red.At Landmark, Logan and the new management team overhauled the business by consolidating its stores, improving its supply chain, reducing costs, expanding net margins, and increasing net income. Landmark’s successes also included launching an E-Commerce business that generated $30+ million in increased revenue, recreating its brand for the direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business markets, and selling its locations, providing a significant return to shareholders.The next venture was Robin Autopilot, a robotic lawn care company based in Dallas-Fort Worth. Fahey Group acquired Robin in 2019 as a distressed asset backed by MTD Holdings (now Stanley Black and Decker). As Robin’s new CEO, Logan hired a new management team and repositioned the company as a RaaS firm with a Software-as-a-Service component (including multi-manufacturer fleet management solutions). Robin later became a Husqvarna Venture.Logan lives in Dallas with his husband, Luke, who is a land-use attorney with Leeward and Associates, an alternative energy company. Logan and Luke enjoy traveling, skiing, and spending time with their English Bulldog, Benji.Board Activity- Strategic advisor to the Board of Sensori Robotics, a RaaS start-up based in Dallas-Fort Worth- Board member, governance chair, and executive committee member of the National Social Enterprise Alliance- Board member and chair of the Robin Autopilot Holdings board
X/Twitter Handle: @loganefahey
Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/logan.fahey.9
Instagram Handle: @GrazeMowing
Support Our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Honeycomb Credit and the SuperCrowd Mastermind. Learn more about advertising with us here.
Max-Impact Members
The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:
Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name Here
Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
* SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising Money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting free!
* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on November 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
* Superpowers for Good Televised Live Pitch, November 13, 9:00 PM Eastern during primetime. At the event, judges will select their pick, and the audience will select the SuperCrowd Award recipient. Put the date on your calendar to watch it live!
* SuperCrowdHour, November 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At November’s SuperCrowdHour, Devin will explain six common investment types you need to understand before you can invest like a pro. Free to attend.
Community Event Calendar
* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET – Click on Events
* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.
* Crowdfunding Unlocked, WorldTree, Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 ET/Noon PT. Devin Thorpe, Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Cathy Key.
* Main Street Skowhegan and NC3 Entrepreneur Finance Workshop Series, September 17 – November 19, 2023.
* 2025 Earthshot Prize Application window is open through November 15, 2024. Apply today!
* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.
If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.
We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.
Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
