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Japan’s Fove unveils eye-tracking HMD, to avail prototype in 2015

Fove

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.26

Tokyo-based startup Fove announced earlier this week the development of a consumer-oriented head-mounted display (HMD) under the same name. They have completed their first proof-of-concept development and are readying a developers kit release for next year.

Earlier this month, the company was also accepted into Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in London where they will investigate possible future cooperation with Microsoft Xbox due to its global market potential. They aim to unveil their prototype and release preliminary details of their software development kit (SDK) during the Microsoft Ventures Accelerator Pitch day in December.

Fove, their product, will allow users to control a 360-degree virtual world with their eyes using a leading-edge display, eye tracking, orientation sensing and head position tracking [1]. The company wants to provide an SDK to gaming companies and encourage its adoption so that it will work with their gaming titles, while working with the rehabilitation industry to help autistic patients or the physically challenged communicate with others.

yuka-kojima-lachlan-wilson — L to R: Fove CEO Yuka Kojima, CTO Lachlainn Wilson

Founded in May by Yuka Kojima (CEO) who had been directing popular gaming titles at Sony Computer Entertainment and Gree together with Australian image-processing engineer Lachlainn Wilson (CTO), Fove recently raised seed money from Tokyo University Industry-Academia Cooperation Intellectual Backyard and plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in early 2015.

Via TechCrunch Japan

Orientation sensing is made possible by an integration of a high refresh rate gyro, accelerometer, and magnetometer sensors. Head position tracking utilizes an external unit. ↩

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Japan’s Gree teams up with house builders, starts providing flat-rate renovation packages

gree
Ieplus

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.24

Japanese internet company Gree launched today a house renovation service called Ieplus. We understand that this is part of their efforts to launch new non-game businesses that Gree executive Naoki Aoyagi unveiled last week at B Dash Camp Fukuoka 2014. As part of this effort, Gree also launched online luxury pawnshop luxury goods consignment service Uttoku in May [1] and last-minute hotel discount booking app Tonight in June. Gree has partnered with house builders around Japan to provide flat-rate renovation packages to consumers. They provide a wide range of services including wallpaper and flooring replacements, kitchen unit replacements, and termite control. In addition, the company provides a flat-rate subscription package for renovation in partnership with Crasco Design Studio, where property owners can more easily manage their apartments and keep tenants happy and less likely to move out. In this space, we’ve seen more than a few startups like Shelfy, Suvaco, and Iemo. Osaka-based startup Sekaie fundraised 260 million yen ($2.6 million) from three Japanese VC firms in May to expand their low-price, flat-rate house renovation service Renoco. via CNET Japan Revised based on the information from Gree’s public relations. ↩

As part of this effort, Gree also launched ~~online luxury pawnshop~~ luxury goods consignment service Uttoku in May [1] and last-minute hotel discount booking app Tonight in June.

Gree has partnered with house builders around Japan to provide flat-rate renovation packages to consumers. They provide a wide range of services including wallpaper and flooring replacements, kitchen unit replacements, and termite control.

In addition, the company provides a flat-rate subscription package for renovation in partnership with Crasco Design Studio, where property owners can more easily manage their apartments and keep tenants happy and less likely to move out.

In this space, we’ve seen more than a few startups like Shelfy, Suvaco, and Iemo. Osaka-based startup Sekaie fundraised 260 million yen ($2.6 million) from three Japanese VC firms in May to expand their low-price, flat-rate house renovation service Renoco.

via CNET Japan

Revised based on the information from Gree’s public relations. ↩

news

Space Market wins B Dash Camp pitch arena competition in Fukuoka

B Dash Camp Fukuoka 2014

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.24

This is a part of our coverage of B Dash Camp Fukuoka 2014. On Day 2 at the B Dash Camp event taking place last week in Fukuoka, there was a session where prominent startups from Japan and the rest of Asia completed each other. According to the organizer, 35 finalists among all 100 applicants from six countries were invited to the event and could received a preliminary screening chapter which took place on Day 1. As a result of that, only 10 startups plus other 2 invited startups could have a chance to pitch in front of a crowd of awesome investors and ambitious entrepreneurs. Let’s have a quick rundown about which startups have achieved a good result in the competition. <Top award winner> Space Market (Japan) Space Market is a platform that connects permanently- or temporarily-unused venues or facilities owned by established companies with people who are interested in using these assets for organizing an event like a big conference, a shareholder meeting, and a employee training etc. Logbook (Japan) This platform helps you find the issues to solve in your web app or mobile app. Since this complies with service analyics framework AARRR, you will be able…

This is a part of our coverage of B Dash Camp Fukuoka 2014.

On Day 2 at the B Dash Camp event taking place last week in Fukuoka, there was a session where prominent startups from Japan and the rest of Asia completed each other. According to the organizer, 35 finalists among all 100 applicants from six countries were invited to the event and could received a preliminary screening chapter which took place on Day 1. As a result of that, only 10 startups plus other 2 invited startups could have a chance to pitch in front of a crowd of awesome investors and ambitious entrepreneurs.

Let’s have a quick rundown about which startups have achieved a good result in the competition.

<Top award winner> Space Market (Japan)

Space Market is a platform that connects permanently- or temporarily-unused venues or facilities owned by established companies with people who are interested in using these assets for organizing an event like a big conference, a shareholder meeting, and a employee training etc.

Logbook (Japan)

This platform helps you find the issues to solve in your web app or mobile app. Since this complies with service analyics framework AARRR, you will be able to adopt this to improve any service regardless of its business category. Our readers may recall we have featured their platform before.

Tees.co.id (Indonesia)

This service allows you to customize or design products like t-shirt, jacket, and smartphone cases, as well as sell them online. Instead of you, the company takes responsibilities for receiving orders, manufacturing, shipping, and customer support.

Bounty Hunter (Taiwan)

This platform helps brands like Gogle, Blizzard, Gigabyte, Lexus, Kabam, and Playboy receive a best deal with a best proposal from marketing companies. Launched in Taiwan, they are now based in San Francisco Bay Area.

MindQuake (Korea)

MindQuake has developed a series of mobile services and products intended for infants and babies. Nester, one of their products, encourage children to stop using a smartphone with a children-friendly interface when they exceeded their preset usage hours per day.

Akippa (Japan)

Akippa helps customers find an available parking space online. When you book a time slot for it using your desktop or smartphone, you will be allowed to park your car there by paying up to 500 yen ($5) a day. It also allows parking lot owners to easily manage their venues via the platform as well. Our readers may recall the company recently fundraised several hundred thousand US dollars from DeNA and angel investors.

Lezhin Comics (Korea)

Lezhin Comics allows you to enjoy browsing a number of web cartoon titles for free. The company raised about $5 million from Korea’s major online gaming developer NC Soft this spring.

iChef（Taiwan)

iChef provides iPad-based quick and versatile POS (point-of-sales) solutions for restaurants. Now they have 200 restaurants using their solution in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and they are planning to expand to Japan as well. You can read more about them in our recent interview.

Textat (Korea)

Developed by Korean startup Scatter Lab, this app gives you insights about your relationship with other people by analyzing messages you have exchanged via messaging apps Line, KakaoTalk and WhatsApp.

Shakr (Korea)

Designed for small business owners, Shake Media allows you to crate a customized video only by choosing templates designed by advertising professionals. Most video clips are available for 10 to 60 US dollars.

<Invited> Keukey (Korea)

Keukey is focusing on making improvements for smartphone keyboards. It aims to improve the smartphone user experience by addressing keyboard and text input problems. Correcting typos without backspace is first solution of the company.

<Invited> Drivemode (USA/Japan)

Recently founded by entrepreneurs from Zipcar and Tesla Motors, Drivemode is a software and hardware product that gives you the coolest technology experience ever using your car and your Android.

news

Docomo Ventures starts its third incubation batch of four startups in Tokyo

NTT Docomo Ventures

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.23

Docomo Ventures, the startup-focused investment arm of Japan’s leading telco, has just announced three four startups chosen for the third batch of its incubation program. Chosen startups will be able to obtain grants of up to 5 million yen ($50,000) as well as rewards like a complimentary use of Docomo’s co-working space and mentoring/cooperation from the program’s partnering companies. Here’s a quick rundown on what they are working on. Unlog (literally meaning ‘poo log’) A free iOS app that lets you input details about each poop that you make. You can specify the size, shape, and color of your poops, as well as input how bad it smelled or whether or not you experienced any discomfort. Our readers may recall we have featured this app before. Money Smart A personal finance management platform comparable to an enhanced online account book. But details have not been disclosed. Liquid A payments and reward platform that uses your fingerprint as an authentication token, saving users from having to bring a real wallet or digital wallet when shopping. Details of the forth startup have not been disclosed. These startups will take part in the incubation program starting tomorrow, and their progress during the program period…

docomo-demo-day-broaderview — From the Demo Day event for the previous batch

Docomo Ventures, the startup-focused investment arm of Japan’s leading telco, has just announced ~~three~~ four startups chosen for the third batch of its incubation program.

Chosen startups will be able to obtain grants of up to 5 million yen ($50,000) as well as rewards like a complimentary use of Docomo’s co-working space and mentoring/cooperation from the program’s partnering companies. Here’s a quick rundown on what they are working on.

Unlog (literally meaning ‘poo log’)
A free iOS app that lets you input details about each poop that you make. You can specify the size, shape, and color of your poops, as well as input how bad it smelled or whether or not you experienced any discomfort. Our readers may recall we have featured this app before.
Money Smart
A personal finance management platform comparable to an enhanced online account book. But details have not been disclosed.
Liquid
A payments and reward platform that uses your fingerprint as an authentication token, saving users from having to bring a real wallet or digital wallet when shopping.

Details of the forth startup have not been disclosed. These startups will take part in the incubation program starting tomorrow, and their progress during the program period will be showcased at Demo Day on November 6.

news

Seedstars World to hold regional pitch competition event in Tokyo this Friday

SeedStars World

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.22

See the original story in Japanese. Following its first edition last year, Seedstars World is on a global tour to organize a series of regional pitching competition events worldwide. At this event, winners from regional events will be invited to the global final in Geneva, Switzerland, to compete for the top prize, which includes a chance to fundraise up to $500,000 from partnering investors. Retail store analytics solution Locarise won at the regional event in Tokyo last year, and the global top prize went to Kenya-based physical address sharing solution startup OkHi. This year’s Tokyo event will be held this Friday, July 25th, at The Terminal, a co-working space in Harajuku, Tokyo. The event organizer is accepting last-minute applications for presenters and audience members. Seedstars World is hosted by Sandbox, the Europe-based organization comprised of over 800 young entrepreneurs from around the world. Sandbox holds more than 150 entrepreneurship events in 25 countries worldwide annually, with the aim to find prominent startups and to put them in the spotlight, especially through the Seedstars World events. The below video is an interview with last year’s Tokyo chapter winner Locarise. It will be exciting to see who will win the regional top…

See the original story in Japanese.

Following its first edition last year, Seedstars World is on a global tour to organize a series of regional pitching competition events worldwide. At this event, winners from regional events will be invited to the global final in Geneva, Switzerland, to compete for the top prize, which includes a chance to fundraise up to $500,000 from partnering investors.

Retail store analytics solution Locarise won at the regional event in Tokyo last year, and the global top prize went to Kenya-based physical address sharing solution startup OkHi.

ssw-final-onstage — Seedstars World 2013 global event (Geneva, Switzerland)

This year’s Tokyo event will be held this Friday, July 25th, at The Terminal, a co-working space in Harajuku, Tokyo. The event organizer is accepting last-minute applications for presenters and audience members.

Seedstars World is hosted by Sandbox, the Europe-based organization comprised of over 800 young entrepreneurs from around the world. Sandbox holds more than 150 entrepreneurship events in 25 countries worldwide annually, with the aim to find prominent startups and to put them in the spotlight, especially through the Seedstars World events.

The below video is an interview with last year’s Tokyo chapter winner Locarise. It will be exciting to see who will win the regional top award this year. The Bridge is proudly serving the event as a media partner, and we’ll let you know the competition results soon.

news

Japan’s social network for teachers ‘Sensei Note’ launches iOS app

Sensei Note

Masaru Ikeda 2014.07.21

See the original story in Japanese. Today’s a national holiday in Japan, with nary a story to provide. But, here’s an Extra. Sensei Note, a social network service for teachers in Japan, launched an iOS app today. While their website is developed on a responsive design platform for mobile devices which can be adapted to tablets and PCs, Loupe – the startup behind the service – expects to accelerate user acquisition with the app, especially from mobile users. Its Android version is now being developed, targeting market entry in late July or early August. To grasp attention from teachers who are usually busy working during the week and even on weekends, the company announced the launch of its iOS app on a holiday; most Japanese schools are on summer breaks from this week as well. Since its web app’s official launch back in March, the company surpassed 60% in MAU (monthly active user) ratio which is extremely higher than that in the gaming and e-commerce spaces. According to the company, their eventual PC/mobile usage ratio is almost 50/50, so they expect to increase mobile users by giving them better accessibility with the new mobile app. For teachers who are busy…

See the original story in Japanese.

Today’s a national holiday in Japan, with nary a story to provide. But, here’s an Extra.

Sensei Note, a social network service for teachers in Japan, launched an iOS app today. While their website is developed on a responsive design platform for mobile devices which can be adapted to tablets and PCs, Loupe – the startup behind the service – expects to accelerate user acquisition with the app, especially from mobile users. Its Android version is now being developed, targeting market entry in late July or early August. To grasp attention from teachers who are usually busy working during the week and even on weekends, the company announced the launch of its iOS app on a holiday; most Japanese schools are on summer breaks from this week as well.

Since its web app’s official launch back in March, the company surpassed 60% in MAU (monthly active user) ratio which is extremely higher than that in the gaming and e-commerce spaces. According to the company, their eventual PC/mobile usage ratio is almost 50/50, so they expect to increase mobile users by giving them better accessibility with the new mobile app.

For teachers who are busy at school but cherish their personal time at home, they must make use of their commuting hours. Many teachers who live in rural areas use cars to commute and are unable to make use of the app while driving. However, the improvement in mobile accessibility is seen helping the company acquire more users.

Loupe won top at the Startup Weekend Tokyo event back in November 2012, as well as winning the 8th place at the former event’s global competition Global Startup Battle. The team fundraised over $30,000 through their campaign on Japanese crowdfunding site ReadyFor in 2013, and subsequently obtained government grants from Jump Start Nippon, the entrepreneurship encouragement program by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. If memory serves, they rented a house in Tokyo’s residential district which they share along with the commitment to develop the service under the same roof. They are still a bootstrapping startup, but I assume they will soon start exploring funding opportunities from investment companies using their high MAU ratio as a powerful persuasion tool.

Japan’s Fove unveils eye-tracking HMD, to avail prototype in 2015

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Japan’s Gree teams up with house builders, starts providing flat-rate renovation packages