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IVRy Recognized in Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026

IVRy Co., Ltd., headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has been distinguished as one of the startups expected to see significant growth in the Asia-Pacific region, making it onto the prestigious "Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2026" list. Founded by CEO Ryo Yoshinaka, IVRy operates the conversational AI platform 'IVRy', which has become essential in today's communication-driven environment. This recognition by Forbes Asia underscores not only the company's innovative business model but also its critical contributions to solving labor shortages in Japan's various industries.

Addressing Industry Challenges

As Japan grapples with a shrinking workforce, companies across sectors are increasingly turning to AI to enhance customer interaction efficiencies. However, a persistent challenge remains: a vast amount of communication data generated during these interactions often goes unstructured and underutilized. Frequently, vital insights crucial for business decision-making get lost in individual memory rather than being transformed into organizational assets.

IVRy's platform tackles these challenges directly. The 'IVRy' conversational AI operates continuously, streamlining communication practices through channels such as phone calls and chats. By doing so, it not only enhances the customer experience but also centralizes and analyzes the dialogue data across various interactions, converting it into valuable business intelligence. This allows organizations to unearth customer needs and preferences, thereby facilitating better product development and operational design—transforming how decisions are made.

Forbes Asia evaluated IVRy on several criteria including "business model innovation and market fit" and its impact on addressing labor shortages in local communities. Furthermore, its rapid growth in revenue and the ability to secure funding have been recognized as strong indicators of its potential in the Asian and global market.

About Forbes Asia 100 To Watch

Forbes Asia's 100 To Watch is an annual selection of promising startups in the Asia-Pacific region that significantly influence their industries and communities. Criteria for selection include innovative business models, consistent growth performance, and fundraising capacity. This year's list features only nine companies from Japan, highlighting the exclusivity of this recognition.

CEO’s Insights

CEO Ryo Yoshinaka expressed his gratitude for the nomination, stating, "We are thrilled to be included in the 'Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2026' list. IVRy's mission is to deliver the best technology to all individuals and businesses. Since our inception, we have strived to support corporate management through the social implementation of advanced technology to address labor shortages."

He added that while AI can take over dialog functions, the aim is to transform how companies make decisions fundamentally. "As we enter a true AI era, leveraging technology for societal issues requires creating user-friendly products and fostering strong organizational capabilities. As a Japan-based AI company, we are committed to our mission and will continue driving excellence in delivering the best technology."

The Future of AI and IVRy

IVRy's conversational AI platform is designed to automate and optimize communication between businesses and customers, ensuring that essential data is collected and analyzed efficiently. The company claims operational engagement across all 47 prefectures in Japan and 98 industries, managing over 60,000 accounts to date as of July 2026.

For more information about IVRy and its offerings, you can visit their corporate website here. Further details about the Forbes Asia listing can be found here.

Through its unique position as a pioneer in AI technology, IVRy continues to pave the way for a data-driven future for companies aiming to enhance their operational functions and customer relations effectively.