JR East Start Up

JR East Start Up is the corporate venture capital arm of East Japan Railway Company, based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 2018, it operates an incubator and accelerator program to support startups in Japan, with a focus on local companies that can complement JR East's business and mobility ecosystem. The program offers mentorship, resources, and investment to help early- and growth-stage startups scale, typically prioritizing ventures that enhance transportation, logistics, urban mobility, and related areas within JR East's network. By investing in and collaborating with startups, JR East Start Up aims to foster innovation that aligns with East Japan Railway's strategic interests and regional economic development.

Yutaka Shibata

President and CEO

42 past transactions

Yuime

Series B in 2025
Yuime is an HR consulting firm that offers agricultural staffing, contract farming, and recruitment services.

Ken Robotec

Series B in 2025
Ken Robotec provides labor-saving solutions that promote productivity improvement and reduce the burden on workers at construction sites. They contribute to the evolution and development of the construction industry. The objective of Ken Robotec is to create a joyful construction site where robots and humans may collaborate.

EMobi

Seed Round in 2024
EMoBi is a transportation company that provides freight transport, and electric vehicle services with reservation facilities.

YADOKARI

Series B in 2024
YADOKARI is a real estate consulting company specializing in the design and construction of mobile properties, tiny houses, and community buildings. The company focuses on optimizing idle real estate and creating movable structures, offering comprehensive planning and development services. Additionally, YADOKARI supports community development through events and provides facility management services. By connecting new space owners with operators, the company enhances regional development and offers business consulting, enabling clients to access a range of support and financial services tailored to their housing needs.

Mode

Series B in 2024
Mode, Inc. is a technology company that develops a cloud platform designed to facilitate the creation and operation of Internet of Things (IoT) products. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan, Mode provides end-to-end semi-custom IoT and artificial intelligence solutions. Its platform enables devices to communicate with mobile clients, allowing organizations to track and manage their devices and users effectively. Mode's innovative BizStack IoT and BizStack AI solutions utilize a continuous improvement technology stack that collects real-time data from various sources, including sensors and legacy systems. The platform sanitizes and structures this data, delivering it through customizable dashboards that offer powerful insights. By streamlining data integration and providing operational improvements, Mode's solutions can be implemented significantly faster and more cost-effectively than traditional development methods, supporting organizations in transforming innovative ideas into practical, sustainable applications.

Lineside Marugoto

Seed Round in 2023
Lineside Marugoto is a lineside rehabilitation company that entails converting derelict houses along railway lines into hotel rooms and treating the entire lineside neighborhood as a hotel.

Petokoto

Series B in 2023
Petokoto is a pet wellness company that develops and sells fresh pet food, operates pet media, and provides a comprehensive pet information platform and services. The platform combines expertise from internal and external contributors to create a trusted information source on nutrition, health, and care. It also offers a safe matching service to connect prospective adopters with dogs and cats and provides pet-related services and information about dog cafés and inns, aiming to reduce abandonment and help owners maximize their pets’ happiness.

ARK

Seed Round in 2022
ARK specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of land-based aquaculture equipment and systems for sustainable fish farming. The company develops closed-circulation land-based marine environments to support off-the-grid aquaculture powered by solar and wind energy and solar hot water supply, enabling zero-emission production. Its solutions are designed to democratize aquaculture by providing scalable, independently powered systems that help protect the ocean while allowing clients to cultivate fish in controlled, land-based settings.

Photosynth

Series A in 2021
Photosynth is an information technology company that designs and operates cloud-based entrance and exit management systems and IoT-enabled smart locks for homes and businesses. It develops and provides Akerun Access Intelligence, a cloud-based authentication platform that enables personal authentication and security through edge devices connected to the cloud, serving both corporate and residential customers. The company also offers facility management services via Migakun, a BPaaS platform that coordinates gig workers to address labor shortages across various spaces. Through its IoT and cloud initiatives, Photosynth integrates physical access control with scalable authentication and workforce enablement.

Good Aid

Venture Round in 2021
Good Aid is a Japanese company based in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, focused on transforming healthcare through innovative business models. The company operates pharmacies, home-visit nursing services, and a pharmaceutical e-commerce platform, aiming to provide new medical options in the evolving healthcare landscape. By allowing customers to purchase minimal amounts of medication without prescriptions, Good Aid seeks to enhance convenience and reduce medical costs, challenging traditional healthcare norms. In response to the societal changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the company is dedicated to developing solutions that align with the needs of the post-pandemic era, thereby contributing positively to society.

SQUEEZE

Venture Round in 2021
SQUEEZE Inc. is a technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, that specializes in providing innovative solutions for the lodging business. Founded in 2014, SQUEEZE develops a range of software products aimed at enhancing the management of vacation rentals, hotels, and ryokans. Its offerings include Mister Suite, a comprehensive management system; SuiteBook, which facilitates operations for vacation and short-term rental properties; and Mister Suite Lab, a demand analysis tool that leverages market data for improved decision-making. Additionally, SQUEEZE provides the igloohome smart keybox, a Bluetooth-enabled device designed for secure key exchanges in various settings, and Minn, a hospitality technology platform that enhances guest accommodation experiences. The company focuses on streamlining operations for the hospitality industry, allowing operators to efficiently manage guest information and service requests while optimizing revenue.

TENT Japan

Venture Round in 2021
TENT Japan operates an online platform that specializes in the rental of outdoor equipment and camping tents. The company focuses on providing a comprehensive product management and distribution system, alongside a rental-only inventory management tool that employs Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This innovative approach aims to reduce the barriers to purchasing outdoor gear, promote sustainable consumption, and help minimize waste of goods and resources. Through its services, TENT Japan seeks to facilitate outdoor experiences while encouraging environmentally responsible practices.

Sonas

Venture Round in 2021
Sonas Inc. is a Tokyo-based company specializing in the planning, design, manufacturing, and sale of innovative hardware and software solutions for sensing and measurement. The company is developing its UNISONet technology, which aims to enhance the Internet of Things (IoT) by providing high-quality wireless sensing capabilities. This technology addresses traditional challenges in IoT communications by utilizing advanced features such as power-saving mechanisms, high-speed data acquisition, low-latency bidirectional communication, and robust retransmission controls to prevent data loss. Sonas's solutions enable the sensing of various parameters, from small-scale measurements like temperature and humidity to larger-scale data such as acceleration and images, thereby positioning the company as a key player in the evolving IoT landscape.

Fermenstation

Venture Round in 2021
Founded in Iwate Prefecture, Japan in 2009, Fermenstation specializes in consultation services for utilizing unused biomass and ethanol production. The company offers feasibility studies, co-development projects, and brand consulting services, along with manufacturing rice-based home ethanol, Komesshu air freshener, and Oshu soap.

Connected Robotics

Venture Round in 2020
Founded in 2014, Connected Robotics designs and manufactures robotic arms for enterprises. Its flagship product, OctoChef, provides automated cooking services, catering to individual restaurants, shopping malls, stations, service areas, amusement centers, and large-scale events.

Photosynth

Grant in 2020
Photosynth is an information technology company that designs and operates cloud-based entrance and exit management systems and IoT-enabled smart locks for homes and businesses. It develops and provides Akerun Access Intelligence, a cloud-based authentication platform that enables personal authentication and security through edge devices connected to the cloud, serving both corporate and residential customers. The company also offers facility management services via Migakun, a BPaaS platform that coordinates gig workers to address labor shortages across various spaces. Through its IoT and cloud initiatives, Photosynth integrates physical access control with scalable authentication and workforce enablement.

DennoKotsu

Venture Round in 2020
DennoKotsu Inc. is a Japanese company based in Tokushima, established in 2015, that specializes in the development and provision of cloud-based taxi dispatch systems. The company operates call centers for taxi companies, offering a contract dispatch service that streamlines operations for multiple operators. Its platform is designed to enhance dispatch efficiency by providing drivers with navigation maps through vehicle-mounted tablets. DennoKotsu's solutions aim to improve regional transportation services, delivering cost-effective and customized dispatch systems that cater to the evolving needs of the taxi industry.

CoCooking

Venture Round in 2020
CoCooking Co.Ltd is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2015 that operates the online platform Tabete, aimed at reducing food wastage. The platform connects users with restaurants, take-out food stores, and bakeries that have excess food nearing expiration, allowing them to sell it at discounted prices rather than disposing of it. This approach helps both consumers and businesses reduce global food waste while promoting sustainability and creating a positive social impact. Additionally, CoCooking organizes events and workshops focused on food conservation and uses food and cooking as a means to foster creativity, diversity, and well-being within individuals and communities.

VILLAGE

Venture Round in 2020
Village Inc., headquartered in Shimoda City, Japan, specializes in outdoor experiential learning and operates camping facilities, restaurants, and commercial spaces. The company offers training programs and events for businesses and organizations, focusing on nature-based learning experiences. Additionally, it manages and produces private campsites for various purposes.

Asulabo

Venture Round in 2020
Asulabo Co., Ltd., founded in June 2010 and based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, operates primarily in property management and consulting services for business development. The company focuses on creating innovative mechanisms and environments, offering services that include human resources development through share houses, as well as revitalizing regional central cities and managing commercial facilities. Asulabo also engages in the rental, purchase, sale, and appraisal of real estate. In addition, it has developed a dining establishment called Yokocho, which highlights local ingredients and cuisine, promoting regional charm on a national scale.

Hmcomm

Venture Round in 2019
Hmcomm is a technology company that develops and provides AI-powered voice recognition solutions and related services. It operates a cloud-based platform for speech recognition, natural language processing, and automatic summarization, and offers research and development along with sales of speech recognition engines. The company also develops IoT-oriented features such as firmware-over-the-air updates and IoT systems. Its solutions include abnormal sound detection, cloud-based voice recognition, text recognition in voice calls, and meeting minutes creation, aimed at improving efficiency for government agencies, financial institutions, and IoT and robotics applications. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in China and India, Hmcomm serves diverse business needs through technology-driven voice and language analytics.

Timee

Venture Round in 2019
Timee, established in 2017 and headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Japan, specializes in developing and operating applications. Its flagship product is a work sharing platform that connects available workers with businesses facing labor shortages, addressing the issue of fluctuating work demands. As Japan's leading gig work platform, Timee aims to expand work opportunities and alleviate labor market imbalances.

Address Japan

Venture Round in 2019
Address Japan is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in co-living services, offering a diverse range of luxurious residences across urban and rural areas in Japan. The company provides an online property rental marketplace that allows users to access a variety of comfortable properties equipped with essential amenities. With a fixed-price membership service, Address Japan enables individuals to enjoy flexible living arrangements without the complexities of traditional rental agreements. This model facilitates a flat-rate system, making it easy for people to live in different locations throughout the country.

CBcloud

Corporate Round in 2019
CBcloud is a Tokyo-based logistics platform that matches shippers with drivers through a crowd-sourcing style network. Founded in 2012, the company leverages technology to transform delivery operations, solve transportation challenges, and optimize efficiency while improving the working environment for drivers. Its platform provides software that facilitates, automates, and enhances collaboration across the logistics chain, enabling shippers to access new services, improving service quality for customers, and creating a more convenient and transparent logistics experience.

Al Travel

Venture Round in 2019
Al Travel is a next-generation cloud-type business travel arrangement and management system (BTM). AI Travel reduces business travel arrangements by up to 90% and simplifies application and reporting operations and significantly cuts operations that do not generate profits in the batch settlement.

Pixie Dust Technologies

Venture Round in 2019
Pixie Dust Technologies develops computational technologies focused on ultrasonic phased array systems and digital fabrication. Its offerings include an ultrasonic phased array system capable of generating forces in mid-air, moving objects without contact, and delivering differentiated sounds to individuals in crowds, with implications for guiding dogs and agricultural applications. The company also provides a platform that integrates ultrasonic phased array technology with sound-absorbing materials and spatial analysis tools to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and user experience across industries such as healthcare, architecture, and digital transformation. Based in Tokyo, Japan, the company was founded in 2015.

Nature Innovation Group

Venture Round in 2019
Nature Innovation Group Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based company that operates i-kasa, a mobile-based umbrella-sharing platform. The platform allows customers in Japan to easily search for and rent umbrellas through a mobile application, providing a convenient solution for inclement weather. Users can access umbrellas from various rental spots, helping to ensure they stay dry and comfortable during rainy days. By combining technology with a practical service, the company addresses the everyday needs of individuals seeking shelter from the rain.

Tripla

Series C in 2019
Tripla provides AI-powered chatbot and hotel booking engine services as software as a service to improve customer satisfaction across hotels, transportation, travel-related sectors, and other industries. The company offers a suite of products including Tripla Book, Tripla Boost, Tripla Bot, Tripla Connect, Tripla Link, Tripla Analytics, and Tripla Success, designed to enable easy setup and rapid enhancement of customer interactions. Its chatbot solution combines learning AI with human support to reduce inquiry costs and offer multilingual assistance via chat and voice platforms, targeting a better guest experience. The hotel reservation engine includes OTA price comparison and automatic best-rate adjustment to increase in-house bookings and profitability. Based in Japan, Tripla serves hundreds of customers such as hotels, car rental and transportation providers, delivering an integrated platform that supports multilingual reservations and cross-channel engagement for tourists.

VACAN

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in Tokyo in 2016, VACAN develops a digital platform that provides real-time vacancy information about restaurants and cafes via mobile devices and digital signage. Its technology uses sensors to monitor open seats and display relevant advertisements or announcements.

WAmazing

Series B in 2019
WAmazing is a Tokyo-based travel technology company that serves foreign visitors to Japan by combining mobile connectivity, content, and booking services. The company provides free SIM cards to allow travelers to register before arrival and offers an app with up to 500MB of complimentary internet access, reducing barriers created by Japanese signup pages. It also operates an online travel booking platform with a multilingual tourist guide, delivering reservations information and tourism content through smartphones. WAmazing supports local governments and tourism associations with tourism consulting and inbound marketing services for domestic partners, helping them reach inbound visitors. Founded in 2016, WAmazing integrates mobility, information, and reservations to simplify travel in Japan.

Foodison

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 2013, Foodison operates UoPochi, an online platform enabling customers to order fish and seafood from various restaurants. It also runs Sakana Bacca, a specialty fish shop offering marine products sourced globally.

Pocket Change

Venture Round in 2019
Pocket Change Inc., established in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in converting leftover coins, bills, and foreign currency into electronic money, gift codes, and coupons. The company operates through kiosks strategically placed at airports and train stations, offering a convenient service for travelers to exchange their unused currency into more usable forms.

WAmazing

Venture Round in 2019
WAmazing is a Tokyo-based travel technology company that serves foreign visitors to Japan by combining mobile connectivity, content, and booking services. The company provides free SIM cards to allow travelers to register before arrival and offers an app with up to 500MB of complimentary internet access, reducing barriers created by Japanese signup pages. It also operates an online travel booking platform with a multilingual tourist guide, delivering reservations information and tourism content through smartphones. WAmazing supports local governments and tourism associations with tourism consulting and inbound marketing services for domestic partners, helping them reach inbound visitors. Founded in 2016, WAmazing integrates mobility, information, and reservations to simplify travel in Japan.

TBM

Venture Round in 2019
TBM Co., Ltd. is a company based in Tokyo, Japan, that specializes in the research, production, and sale of LIMEX, a limestone-based material serving as an alternative to paper and plastics. Founded in 2011, TBM offers a diverse range of products, including LIMEX sheets for menus, business cards, displays, maps, and bags, as well as LIMEX plastic alternatives for containers, posters, and stationary goods. The company distributes its innovative products globally, contributing to environmentally friendly solutions in various sectors. TBM also has additional offices in Kyoto, Japan, and San Francisco, California, and operates as a subsidiary of ZERO Co., Ltd.

WAmazing

Venture Round in 2019
WAmazing is a Tokyo-based travel technology company that serves foreign visitors to Japan by combining mobile connectivity, content, and booking services. The company provides free SIM cards to allow travelers to register before arrival and offers an app with up to 500MB of complimentary internet access, reducing barriers created by Japanese signup pages. It also operates an online travel booking platform with a multilingual tourist guide, delivering reservations information and tourism content through smartphones. WAmazing supports local governments and tourism associations with tourism consulting and inbound marketing services for domestic partners, helping them reach inbound visitors. Founded in 2016, WAmazing integrates mobility, information, and reservations to simplify travel in Japan.

Sirc

Venture Round in 2019
Sirc, established in 2015 and based in Osaka-shi, Japan, specializes in manufacturing sensors and other electrical components. These components are integral to various devices, enabling and enhancing their functionalities.

PicoCELA

Corporate Round in 2018
Founded in Japan in 2008, PicoCELA specializes in wireless mesh networking solutions. It develops the PCWL series of mesh Wi-Fi access points using its proprietary PicoCELA Backhaul Engine technology, enabling multi-hop communication for stable broadband transmission with low latency. The company serves various sectors including enterprise, manufacturing, energy, and smart cities, with over 3,000 units operating daily worldwide.

Showcase Gig

Venture Round in 2018
Showcase Gig Inc., founded in 2012 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in omni-channel marketing services through its innovative mobile wallet solution, O:der. The company develops a mobile platform that focuses on the planning and development of digital services tailored for small-sized retailers. Its offerings include smartphone applications designed for next-generation IoT stores, alongside a customer relationship management suite that facilitates enhanced consumer engagement. By enabling retailers to accept credit card payments via a mobile wallet before product pickup, Showcase Gig enhances the shopping experience, allowing for a seamless integration of technology in retail environments.

Metro Engines

Venture Round in 2018
Metro Engines is a technology company specializing in remote sensing solutions. It offers Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology alongside atmospheric measurement devices, meteorological information, and Internet of Things (IoT) services.

Akippa

Venture Round in 2018
Akippa Inc. is a Japanese company that operates a parking lot reservation application designed to facilitate the sharing of parking spaces. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Osaka, with an additional office in Tokyo, Akippa enables users to make online reservations for available parking options, including private garages, vacant lots, and commercial facilities. The platform connects individuals and businesses with unoccupied parking spaces, allowing space owners to monetize their vacancies while providing users with convenient parking solutions. The company's focus is on enhancing the parking experience through its innovative mobile app, which supports peer-to-peer reservations and offers additional services related to parking and car rentals. Akippa was formerly known as Galaxy Agency Inc. before rebranding in February 2015.

BackTech

Seed Round in 2018
BackTech is a digital health company based in Kyoto, Japan, that develops health management solutions for working people. Its Pocket Therapist app measures shoulder stiffness and low back pain to support symptom management and reduce medical costs while improving productivity. The company also provides health management information and collaboration tools that visualize organizational productivity and help teams address health issues. Its platform covers mental and physical health content, enabling organizations to support employee well-being and coordinate health management across the workforce.
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