Sensory AI and Global Scale: How MACSO is Revolutionising Precision Animal Health
When we think about artificial intelligence, we often think about software processing vast amounts of data on a screen. But MACSO is taking that intelligence off the screen and putting it directly into the hands of farmers.
"MACSO is an AI and sensor fusion company, otherwise known as a physical AI company” explains MACSO CEO, Saba Samiei.
"Simply put, we deploy artificial intelligence onto physical sensors to detect the earliest signs of disease in animals."
By replicating human sensory intelligence, the ability to hear, see, and sense danger in our environment, MACSO has engineered a platform capable of detecting the earliest signs of disease outbreaks in livestock. The goal is simple: identify the risk early, and prevent a localised outbreak from becoming a major catastrophe.
The Computer Scientist in the Pig Pen
Saba’s journey to the front lines of global agriculture wasn't a straight line. "I’m a computer scientist. Before this, I was afraid of bugs, let alone going on a farm," she laughs. Her path started with a Master’s thesis in AI ethics, asking a fundamental question: How can we use AI to make a positive impact?
The answer came through a partnership with Bridgewest Ventures. While China was struggling with African Swine Fever, Saba and Bridgewest saw an opportunity to apply "Sensory AI" to a massive, real-world problem.
Proving the Platform at Global Scale
To prove the power of this technology, MACSO didn't start small. They targeted one of the most devastating challenges in the livestock industry: swine respiratory health.
"Respiratory disease is responsible for 60% of on-farm swine losses globally every year" Saba notes.
By placing their AI-enabled audio and environmental sensors directly into farms, MACSO's platform listens to the animals, detecting the earliest acoustic markers of respiratory distress long before traditional symptoms appear.
The commercial validation of this technology has been explosive.
“I have always viewed our swine respiratory solution as the ultimate proof point for MACSO’s potential. And I think we can consider it proven, having recently secured a robust pipeline of multi-year, multi-million-dollar global contracts across the animal health sector. Our pipeline is full, and our plan is to be operating in every major pork-producing country by the end of 2026.”
The Platform Playbook: Beyond the Hammer and Nail
While securing a massive foothold in the global swine industry is a phenomenal achievement, MACSO is not a single-product company. They are building a foundational platform.
In the deep tech sector, a common pitfall is falling in love with a piece of technology and trying to force it into markets where it doesn't belong. MACSO took the exact opposite approach.
"Instead of going to market with a hammer and looking for a nail, we took the opposite approach. We solved a massive, complex problem in the swine industry first, and used that experience to build a highly adaptable playbook we can now replicate across other use cases"
Having refined their core algorithms and optimised device installation processes, MACSO is now taking that proven playbook and applying it to entirely new verticals. Because their core technology is highly adaptable, the platform can be trained to monitor different species and diseases. Their roadmap over the coming years involves first expanding into other disease monitoring use cases within the swine industry, before scaling the platform across other major livestock sectors.
Resilience and the Value of a Co-Builder
The trajectory of MACSO looks like a textbook example of deep tech hyper-growth. But the reality behind the scenes required immense grit.
"We started this company during a global pandemic. We raised money during a global recession. We had to pivot from our major market, the United States, during a major regulatory change, and we are now taking it global during a major conflict," Saba reflects.
Navigating that level of global volatility requires more than just a brilliant founder and a resilient team. It requires an investment partner that brings true operational leverage to the table.
"Founders need two things to succeed globally: capital and connections. Money alone won't get you there. Bridgewest’s biggest value-add has been their deep involvement in our commercialisation pathway, providing the international connections we needed to scale this fast."
Building for the Next Hundred Years
From day one, Saba has been building MACSO to be a legacy company, one that fundamentally changes how the world manages physical risks and animal health.
"My goal for MACSO, as I've always said from day one, is in a hundred years, if someone looks us up, I want them to wonder what the world would have been like without us."
With a multi-million-dollar pipeline of global rollouts actively underway and a platform perfectly positioned to scale across the entire animal health sector, MACSO is already well on its way to making that vision a reality.