Founded September 2016
Stage Technology development
Investor Trendlines Incubators Israel
CEO Raviv Kula
FruitSpec’s solution for highly accurate estimates/projections of fruit yields is based on hyperspectral machine vision technology. Specially-designed FruitSpec sensor pods are mounted on both sides of the tractor and scan the trees as the tractor moves along the orchard rows during regular activity. Applied computer vision and an AI algorithm automatically count and estimate fruit number and size. The customer (grower, packing house) receives reports regarding precise fruit yield and size distribution at both the individual tree level (lowest resolution) and the overall area scanned (highest resolution).
FruitSpec’s target customers have said, “I’ve been waiting for this for years. It will change how I manage my business.”
Granted U.S. patent
FruitSpec Co-Founder Nir Margalit (center) demonstrates the company’s “sensor pods” to AgriVest tour participants, 25 September 2019.
FruitSpec CEO Raviv Kula presents at the Technology Showcase Crops, Farming and Supply Chain Technology, Agri-Food Innovation Week, Singapore, 27 November 2018.
FruitSpec CEO Raviv Kula presents at the Radicle Challenge, June 2018. FruitSpec was one of four finalists in the Challenge.
FruitSpec’s technology is poised to solve the problem of inaccurate fruit yield estimation from an early stage (green fruit) — before key business decisions about crop maintenance/handling and sales projections are made.
FruitSpec is now funding. See the presentation (PDF). Send more information about FruitSpec.
Raviv Kula is an experienced and passionate business and marketing/sales executive. He considers himself a "value creator" who strives for success. People- and market-oriented, Raviv possesses excellent interpersonal skills, which have served him well as a manager in small and large organizations.
He has held senior positions at Comverse and start-ups Silent Communication and LiveLens.
World expert in remote sensing; managed projects building multispectral sensors; geologist and citrus grower
Agronomist, owner of a large orchard in Israel
Today, key business decisions along the fruit value chain – from growers to retailers – are based on yield estimations performed by farmers/workers using a visual “count” from a sampling of a few trees. These estimations are inaccurate and often result in damaging business decisions. With dramatic fluctuations in fruit yield between seasons (from 10% to 100%), and the lack of solutions for accurate fruit estimations, all the players along the fruit chain are losing revenues.