Cameras are all around us: in cities, stores, homes, even in our pockets to track where we go, what we are wearing, who we talk to. But not in the fields with a million threats and risks to the yields. And Cropler is about to fix that.
How was 2024 for your business, a short summary?
2024 was a highly productive year for us. As a hardware startup, we successfully launched both our manufacturing process and a digital platform for farmers. We have sold our devices in 16 countries and achieved $100K in revenue. Given the challenges of setting up and scaling production, we consider this a solid achievement.
What new products/services will be launched this year?
In terms of hardware, we plan to integrate a soil moisture and temperature sensor with our camera and develop a prototype of a new, more advanced camera version with improved specifications.
On the digital platform side, we will enhance our existing plant growth stage recognition technology and introduce models for detecting leaf damage. Additionally, we aim to implement a recommendation system for agronomists powered by language models.
How did the market change in the last year?
Globally, we are on the brink of a new era where AI technologies are transforming industries, and the market has responded with significant investments in the AI sector.
As for our product, interest in plant photo-monitoring has grown substantially over the past year. This surge is primarily driven by advancements in data processing technologies. Modern farmers and agronomists are increasingly exploring AI-powered solutions, eager to integrate innovative tools into their operations.
What were the best-selling products of 2024?
If we consider stocks as a type of product, then AI-related stocks were undoubtedly the best-selling asset of 2024.
If we focus on physical and digital products, the top sellers were likely the latest iPhone, Tesla vehicles, and, in the digital space, AI-powered services like ChatGPT.
What sector of business do you think is expected to grow this year?
First and foremost, the data market, AI models, and the microelectronics sector for data processing are expected to experience rapid growth.
More broadly, any industry that integrates AI into its business processes to optimize costs or attract new customers with innovative products and services is likely to see significant expansion.
What estimations do you have for 2025?
I expect intense competition in the AI sector between China and the U.S., with new Chinese tech companies emerging in the global digital market.
China’s automotive industry will continue to expand, pushing further into international markets.
In the energy sector, fusion power is unlikely to overcome its technological barriers to become viable for industrial-scale electricity production just yet.
But perhaps the most intriguing development will be our approach toward creating a new form of life—one that doesn’t require a warm climate or cozy homes but can exist on scorching planets, withstand solar radiation, and thrive within chips and microcircuits. Given the pace of AI advancements, the once-fictional worlds of Terminator or Transformers might not seem so far-fetched as early as 2025.
A short message for collaborators for the beginning of the year.
Hold on tight, I think we’re going to take off.