This article offers an in-depth exploration of tech companies in Tokyo that highlight key players across diverse industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Companies like Cosomil, Dual Move, and Ax Robotix innovate with the latest technologies in blood-based diagnostics, extended reality (XR) displays, and smart bed robotics. Backed by influential investors such as Plug and Play Japan and Global Brain, these startups impact their respective fields. For professionals seeking to collaborate or invest, the article presents valuable insights into how companies in Tokyo support rapid growth and technological advancement. Read on to discover how these startups are shaping the future of their industries.
Explore 2800+ Startups & Scaleups in Tokyo!
10 Top Tokyo Startups
- Cosomil – Single-Molecule Enzyme Activity-based Liquid Biopsy
- Dual Move – Transmissive Extended Reality Display
- Ax Robotix – Robotics-powered Bed
- Vox – Personalized Vending Box
- Yanekara – Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
- Calendar – Smart Calendar
- Dioseve – Directly Induced Oocyte
- Water Design Japan – Ultra Fine Bubble (UFB) Technology
- Robo Sapiens – Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
- a-robo – Mold Monitoring
Selection Process for the 10 Startups
The data in this report comes from StartUs Insights’ Discovery Platform, covering 4.7 million startups, scaleups, and tech companies globally. We applied filters such as location, founding year, technology readiness, and employee count, narrowing the results down to 2888 emerging companies located in Tokyo. From these companies, we selected 10 standout startups using funding information and a proprietary popularity metric called Signal Strength. Signal Strength measures the extent of a company’s influence within the global innovation ecosystem. Let’s dive in!
1. Cosomil
- Founding Year: 2022
- Industry: Healthcare
- Technology: Single-Molecule Enzyme Activity-based Liquid Biopsy
Cosomil develops advanced blood-based diagnostics for early cancer detection through its single enzyme activity-based protein profiling technology. It utilizes fluorescent probes and microdevices to detect enzyme activity at the single molecule level for ultra-sensitive and accurate analysis of enzyme behaviors directly linked to disease states. Cosomil’s technology provides early diagnosis by identifying unique enzyme activity profiles associated with specific cancers. It improves patient outcomes and advances precision medicine in oncology.
2. Dual Move
- Founding Year: 2023
- Industry: Cross-Industry
- Technology: Transmissive XR Display
Dual Move offers transmissive XR displays that deliver immersive experiences. This display technology provides visuals of both digital and physical environments by enabling high transparency and vivid visual output. Dual Move’s displays also integrate advanced light control and image processing techniques to enhance user interaction in augmented and mixed reality (MR) applications.
3. Ax Robotix
- Founding Year: 2019
- Industry: Healthcare
- Technology: Robotics-powered Bed
Ax Robotix provides a smart bed that enhances sleep quality using robotics. The bed incorporates a belt deformation mechanism that adapts to the user’s body and functions like an organ that actively controls sleep patterns. It optimizes comfort and support to improve sleep efficiency and overall well-being by adjusting in real time. This benefits individuals, particularly those with sleep disorders, chronic pain, or other conditions that affect rest as well as finds use in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
4. Vox
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Retail, Hospitality
- Technology: Personalized Vending Box
Vox creates a personalized vending box to provide instant access to premium essentials on-site. The company’s technology uses AI/ML-powered prediction to learn customer preferences for stocking the box with items before the need arises. This pre-demand delivery system eliminates the process of shopping, choosing items, and managing inventory by keeping the essentials within reach. The furniture-like design and integrated smart lock system also make it a convenient and secure solution. This assists hotels or corporate offices that offer premium experience to guests or employees.
5. Yanekara
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Automotive, Mobility
- Technology: EV Charging
Yanekara provides electric vehicle charging solutions that charge vehicles directly from rooftop solar panels using direct current. This maximizes efficiency by reducing conversion losses. Additionally, it creates a virtual power plant (VPP) by controlling and managing multiple electric vehicles as a group using cloud-based technology. This enhances energy utilization and also enables integration with clean energy grids.
6. Calendar
- Founding Year: 2022
- Industry: Fitness
- Technology: Smart Calendar
Calendar offers a smart daily calendar app integrated with a device to make exercising simple and accessible. It starts the daily exercise routine with a single touch, and the app provides a supervised program. The exercise options cater to different fitness levels with customization in workouts. The device also tracks and records daily achievements to promote consistent fitness habits.
7. Dioseve
- Founding Year: 2021
- Industry: Healthcare
- Technology: Fertilizable Egg Production
Dioseve develops Directly Induced Oocyte (DIO), a technology that produces large quantities of fertilizable egg cells cost-effectively. The technology creates oocytes from pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This addresses challenges related to infertility, including age and hereditary disorders.
8. Water Design Japan
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Cross-Industry
- Technology: UFB Technology
Water Design Japan makes UFB DUAL, an ultra-fine bubble generation device that produces nano-sized bubbles to clear clogged and damaged pipes. It uses tiny bubbles to enhance cleaning as well as provide moisturizing and gas dissolution effects. The bubbles penetrate and interact with contaminants on surfaces and within materials by reaching and lifting away dirt, biofilm, and other particles from hard-to-clean areas. This includes the interiors of pipes or the surfaces of industrial equipment, thus funding applications in industries like healthcare, housing, and agriculture.
9. Robo Sapiens
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Industrial Automation
- Technology: Autonomous Mobile Robots
Robo Sapiens offers autonomous mobile robots like BambooBot, BambooShoot Actuator, and Karugaroo. BambooBot uses sensors to navigate and perform tasks autonomously. It uses a retractable mechanism to lift sensors or cameras to heights of 40 cm up to 2 meters for correct measurements and inspections. BambooShoot Actuator is a compact and extendable actuator that elevates tools like cameras or sensors to over 2 meters. This robot benefits tasks requiring height adjustments in tight spaces. Further, Karugaroo is an autonomous transport robot that navigates elevators to deliver goods or equipment across multiple floors in complex buildings. These products enhance automation and efficiency in various industrial applications.
10. a-robo
- Founding Year: 2022
- Industry: Manufacturing
- Technology: Mold Monitoring
a-robo develops GROW-V, a mold monitoring and notification system for overseeing mold health in manufacturing. It utilizes AI to continuously monitor molds and detect potential issues early to prevent production delays or defects. The system scans molds and analyzes performance data to send real-time alerts to operators upon deviations. It also features customizable monitoring parameters and integration with existing factory setups. GROW-V system thus enhances manufacturing efficiency while minimizing downtime and maximizing mold life.
Explore the Tokyo Startup Ecosystem
Tokyo’s startup ecosystem comprises 2,888 companies, with an average of 12 employees per company which indicates a dynamic environment that balances innovation with agility. The ecosystem is particularly strong in the information technology, media, entertainment, retail, and marketing sectors, which highlights its focus on digital transformation and consumer engagement. These startups benefit from diverse funding options, including Seed, Early-Stage VC/Series A, Accelerator/Incubator, and Series B, to enhance rapid growth and scalability.
Prominent investors like Plug and Play Japan, NEXs Tokyo, East Ventures, Incubate Fund, and Global Brain actively support this ecosystem by providing both capital and strategic guidance. This investor diversity improves innovation and provides startups with access to the resources needed to bring their products to market efficiently. For corporates collaborating with these startups, the ecosystem offers a rich pool of potential partners who assist technological advancements, particularly in areas critical to future growth.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. For personalized insights into the local or global startup ecosystem, depending on your needs, get in touch with us. We can provide tailored information and analysis to help you navigate the vibrant startup landscape.
