#Japan #Startup #AgriTech #NARUTO

Startup Collaboration Pitch Event: NARUTO CONNECT Vol.3

On February 12, 2026, the city of Naruto in Tokushima will host an exciting pitch event called "NARUTO CONNECT Vol.3 AgriTech." Organizing this initiative is ProtoStar Co., Ltd., based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, with President Hidemaru Maekawa leading the way. This event aims to foster collaboration between the vibrant startup community and the local government's agricultural sector.

With a backdrop of rich agricultural production, including Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes, lotus roots, and Naruto pickles, the program acts as a growth accelerator for startups looking to innovate and experiment in real-life agricultural settings. The event offers a unique opportunity for startups to showcase their solutions that could address pressing challenges faced by the Naruto region’s agriculture.

Event Goals and Objectives

NARUTO CONNECT seeks to provide startups with groundbreaking platforms to test and validate their products, directly contributing to the economic growth of the Naruto area while also enhancing agricultural innovation. During the event, representatives from various agricultural organizations and local stakeholders will be present, prepared to engage with participants and explore potential collaborations.

Current Challenges in Naruto’s Agriculture

Several key challenges have been identified in Naruto's agricultural practices:

1. Labor-Intensive Processes: Much of the agricultural production and shipping relies on manual labor. Key processes, such as cutting and packing the Naruto pickles or harvesting strawberries, depend heavily on skilled workers. This has led to vulnerabilities during peak seasons when labor shortages happen, as well as inconsistencies in speed and accuracy during these manual operations. Automation solutions are greatly needed for these operations.

2. Heavy Workloads and Physical Strain: Tasks that require physical effort, such as harvesting lotus roots, subject workers to significant physical strain. As a result, this can affect retention rates among younger workers and deter newcomers from joining the agricultural workforce. Innovations that focus on cost-effective and less strenuous machinery are crucial.

3. Improving Yield and Stability: Ensuring consistent yields while dealing with crop diseases and varying field conditions is challenging. Startups can contribute through predictive technologies that foresee disease outbreaks based on real-time data analysis.

4. Utilization of Non-Standard Products: Working with non-standard agricultural products and plant residues presents an opportunity to create value-added products or energy sources through upcycling.

5. Unused Farmland: The aging population and ongoing difficulties in maintaining profitable farming lead to abandoned farmland, which could threaten local agricultural branding and biodiversity. Tools that visualize and assess the potential of these areas using technology like drones or satellite imagery are in demand.

6. Facilitating Collaboration among Farmers: The production and distribution efforts by individual farmers can benefit from a collaborative framework that shares knowledge and optimizes outputs collectively. Solutions that create a digital ecosystem for operation management are welcome.

Target Submissions

The event welcomes early-stage startups with products or technologies aimed at addressing these specific challenges. Early-stage companies focusing on the following fields are particularly invited:

• - Robotics and mechatronics for automating harvesting, selecting, and packaging processes.
• - Image recognition AI and sensors that aid in crop management, disease prediction, and quality assessment.
• - Cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) for farm management and supply chain optimization.
• - Food tech products that advance the upcycling of non-standard goods and plant residues.

Application Details

Interested startups are encouraged to apply before the deadline: January 22, 2026, at 18:00. The selection results will be announced on January 29, and the pitch event will take place on February 12 from 15:00 to 17:00 at UZULAB, located in Naruto City. Space is limited to six participating companies, and a selection process will determine participants.

For more details and to register, please visit the event page here.

For inquiries regarding this event, reach out to the Alliance Division of ProtoStar Co., Ltd. at [email protected].