10 rising startups in Japan

This week, startups focused on female empowerment, research equipment, and live ecommerce are under the microscope.

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Photo credit: quan le on Unsplash

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ClipLine has created a platform that allows businesses to make short clips for internal communication. Such clips can be used for various purposes: training videos, performance reviews, user manuals, etc. The startup’s client list includes major Japanese companies like fast-food chain Yoshinoya and high-end department store Takashimaya as well as retail shops and healthcare companies.

ClipLine’s big customers seem to have drawn in big cash. This week, it secured US$5.7 million from INCJ and Aoki Holdings.

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Co-Labo Maker just released the beta version of its sharing platform for experiment equipment. Researchers engaged in scientific experiments often need certain equipment for only a short period of time, but they are forced to pay for them in full. Co-Labo Maker addresses this problem by allowing for the rental of idle equipment to researchers. Currently, there are approximately 50 pieces of equipment available at different locations throughout Japan.

Co-Labo Maker also scooped up US$280,000 from Primal Capital and Japan Finance Corporation.

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Exest connects foreign tourists to English-speaking local guides in Japan via its matching platform, WOW U. More tourists are visiting Japan each year, so the startup hasn’t cornered the market: US-based Detour and Airbnb also offer tours in the country.

Exest partners with 20 Japanese broadcasting companies and works to transmit content overseas through its WoWUmedia Facebook page. Tours are mapped all over Japan and range from food trips, spiritual journeys, and outdoor adventures.

The startup just raised US$470,000 from Mizuho Capital, MUFG Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, TSS, and a few angel investors.

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Photo credit: Tiko Giorgadze on Unsplash

Blast is a media company that aims to empower women. Based on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, it aims to produce news and interviews on topics like career, fashion, lifestyle, and social justice issues.

While the company was only established in January, Blast has already received funding from One Media, B Dash Ventures, and Adways.

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Crowdport is a peer-to-peer social lending platform, which takes out the need for banks, financial institutions and other intermediaries to bridge the gap between lenders and borrowers. The site compares different funds using details such as interest rate, length of time, and minimum investment amount, among others. Users can choose to invest in projects both international and domestic.

Crowdport just accessed new capital, reeling in US$2.9 million from B Dash Ventures, AG Capital, and Mizuho Capital.

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Hokan is a startup that’s developing an AI-powered tool that can analyze insurance policies and offer recommendations. Users just need to upload photos of contracts and documents, and the program automatically digitizes the information and feeds that into the software. In turn, the tool can create charts, graphs and other visual representations of the provided data.

Launched in August 2017, Hokan has been gaining the attention of venture capitalists and investors This week, it pulled in US$562,000 from 500 Startups Japan, Beenext, and MID Venture Capital.

nEverynn

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The competition to be the top short-cooking video website in Japan continues to heat up. Every, the creator of Delish Kitchen, just scooped up US$28 million from KDDI, following a US$18 million fundraising at the end 2017. However, Dely – the startup behind Kurashiru – is also bringing in the cash, raising US$30 million at the end of January.

Aside from Delish Kitchen, Every also runs a plethora of other services, including lifestyle and news media sites. With this round of funding, Every and KDDI intend to work on a live ecommerce platform called Wowma!, which allows for products to be reviewed and purchased in real time.

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Through the use of unmanned iPads, Delighted has developed a way to automate many e tasks that are typically done by receptionists. The software lets clients to sign in and directly contact who they’re are looking for via integrated platforms like Slack and Chatwork. Mercari, Campfire, and Adways are among the more well-known clients of Delighted, which was featured at the TechCrunch Tokyo 2017 Startup Battle.

In its series A, the company received US$1.1 million from Daiwa and Tsuneishi Capital Partners.

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Another company that has developed an app to digitize a predominately analog industry – healthcare, in this case – received funding this week. Embrace’s app MedicalCare Station allows patients to interact with their healthcare providers privately. Files like X-rays, test results, and medical records can easily be uploaded and discussed directly through the app’s interface.

Embrace nabbed US$9.4 million from KDDI, INCJ, Nissay Capital, and SMBC Venture Capital.

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Oct has developed Andpad, a streamlined construction management app designed to improve communication and transparency by allowing users to upload documents, videos and other work-related materials. Through Andpad, work schedules, calendars, order requests and like can be handled more efficiently.

This week, Oct raised US$3.75 million from Draper Nexus Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, Beenext, and some investors. The fresh investment comes after a previous funding round held about a year earlier.