Reservoir, an agricultural innovation center and venture capital fund, announced the acquisition of Contain, Inc., an agriculture finance and data platform, and the appointment of Nicola Kerslake as general partner. The move, announced June 22, 2026, marks Reservoir’s first acquisition and is designed to accelerate value creation for startups in the rugged Physical AI AgTech space.
Kerslake will chair Reservoir VC's investment committee and lead its due diligence and underwriting functions. Her experience in agriculture finance and data platforms is expected to strengthen Reservoir’s ability to help startups move from pilot to commercial scale. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
By integrating Contain’s marketplace, underwriting, financing, and market intelligence capabilities, Reservoir aims to expand its support for startups developing solutions for high-value crops and the rugged physical AI stack. Reservoir operates on-farm robotics innovation centers, starting in the Salinas Valley and expanding to other key regions across California and the American West.
“This acquisition adds a new layer to our value creation model,” said a Reservoir spokesperson. “Contain’s expertise in agricultural finance and data will help our portfolio companies secure the resources they need to succeed where agriculture happens—in the field.”
Reservoir’s venture capital fund backs startups solving real problems in high-value crops, combining R&D space, hands-on grower input, and early-stage capital. The addition of Contain is expected to enhance Reservoir’s ability to provide comprehensive support, from capital to commercial deployment.
For more information about Reservoir and its programs, visit https://reservoir.co.
