Tokyo, Bunkyo Ward
Cucumber Tomato Eggplant Co.Inc (CTE) is a Tokyo University-spun-off AI startup advancing the implementation of digital technology in primary industry settings. Centered on its Digital Twin AI Agricultural Platform and agriculture-specific generative AI, it provides the AI agent “KnowKnow” series (KnowKnow Vision, KnowReco/KnowPura/KnowCast/KnowKnow Chat, for production areas). KnowKnow Vision enables 3D analysis of farms for automated status monitoring. It provides integrated support for recording, planning, forecasting, and advising. Collaborating with producers, agricultural cooperatives (JA), and local governments, it accelerates implementation to enhance decision-making and boost regional agricultural competitiveness.
The ICT Startup League is working on implementing digital twins for shiitake mushroom cultivation beds and AI-based growth diagnosis and task recommendations. SLAM autonomous robots photograph the beds, and 3D analysis quantifies each bud's volume, cap-to-stem ratio, and other metrics, suggesting optimal timing for thinning, harvesting, and interventions. Growth simulations and AR/tablet UI are being developed in parallel. Time-series changes have been quantified through verification in Iwate, and the proprietary 3D analysis pipeline is currently under patent application. The goals are to validate the effectiveness of harvest timing optimization based on cap-to-stem volume ratio and to commercialize the imaging robot and UI. Implementation aims to achieve uniform quality and improved operational efficiency.
| Representative |
Yusuke SasakiCompleted Master's program at the University of Tokyo Graduate School; currently enrolled in the Doctoral program. Research focuses on growth diagnosis methods using point cloud analysis in facility horticulture. Published numerous IEEE papers. Selected for the 2024 Exploratory Advanced Research Program. After leading agricultural solar power projects, demand forecasting, and mathematical optimization as a data scientist at JDSC Inc., founded Kyuri Tomato Nasubi Inc. and assumed the position of CEO. Promotes collaboration with producers and production areas, driving the implementation of digital technology in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. |
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| Main Achievements | 2025: Participated in the ICT Startup League 2024: Selected for the MITOU Advanced Project |
| Childhood Dream | Professional baseball player |
| Motivation, Goals, and Ideal World | We want to create a world where industries that engage with nature—like agriculture, forestry, and fisheries—are the ones that master AI and digital technology, and are seen as the coolest. |
| Company Name | CTE, Inc. |
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| Representative Name | Yusuke Sasaki |
| Address | Epoch Hongo 6F 2-27-2 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
| Official Site and Social Media |
Official Website |
| Founding Date | July 24, 2023 |
| Awards |
2024 ISUZU AI Innovation Challenge 2024 Encouragement Award 2024 MIT Venture Forum VMP24 Multiple Awards 2024 JA Accelerator 6th Cohort Innovative Award 2023 CVG National Competition MIT Award, CVG Tokyo Competition Grand Prize 2023 Public-Private Food Tech Business Contest Finalist 2022 AgVentureLab Hosted JUMP vol.1 Excellence Award・JA Zen-Noh Award |