Causal Foundry: A Promising AI Startup Expands into Japan's Market

Causal Foundry: A New Era of AI in Japan

On July 9, 2025, the Barcelona-based AI startup, Causal Foundry, made a significant announcement regarding its entry into the Japanese market. With the establishment of its Japanese branch, Causal Foundry LLC, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, the company is poised to implement its advanced AI solutions in this vibrant economy.

Causal Foundry specializes in creating adaptive AI that analyzes and predicts user behavior in real-time. This innovative technology facilitates personalized experiences and optimizes resource allocation, resulting in improved outcomes across sectors. The company boasts backing from notable global corporations such as the Gates Foundation, Google, Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson, and has already achieved notable successes in resolving social challenges while enhancing profitability within healthcare, logistics, and e-commerce sectors.

This ambitious initiative was recognized internationally when Causal Foundry was selected as a 'Pacesetter' in the Gavi Vaccine Alliance's global program INFUSE 2024. Moreover, Africa Pelianes, the company's CEO, was a keynote speaker at the prestigious 40th Takemi Symposium, hosted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, marking a significant acknowledgment of his expertise in healthcare policy and global health issues.

What makes Causal Foundry's AI truly unique is its ability to self-evolve. Instead of merely learning from user behavior, this 'self-evolving' AI continually refines itself from its implementation outcomes, thus enhancing accuracy and adaptability with each use. This technology has already proven effective in areas like demand forecasting, preventing stockouts, optimizing last-mile delivery, nudging behavior change, and resource allocation.

For instance, Causal Foundry has provided AI solutions to the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and healthcare NGOs like mothers2mothers operating in ten African countries. These initiatives aim to enhance fiscal efficiency and improve access to medical services. Additionally, through a leading B2B platform supporting one of Southeast Asia's largest pharmacy networks, Causal Foundry has delivered personalized recommendations and optimized loyalty rewards to over 280,000 pharmacists, driving both digital transformation and profit increases across the board.

Personalization, particularly through accurate behavioral predictions, remains one of Causal Foundry's core competencies. Companies like Amazon and Netflix have popularized the notion of personalization, turning it into an expectation among consumers. Yet, genuinely delivering a unique experience tailored to the right individual at the right moment requires intricate behavioral predictions and intervention design—an often daunting challenge for many companies due to budgetary and technical constraints. Causal Foundry addresses these challenges head-on, delivering practical levels of adaptive personalization AI that have already impacted the healthcare, logistics, and e-commerce sectors positively.

With this entry into the Japanese market, Causal Foundry is also expanding its reach into the gaming and entertainment industries. The company aims to enhance player experiences, foster continuous engagement, and drive profitability through advanced personalization tailored specifically for the Japanese audience.

The leadership team of the Japanese branch brings a wealth of experience. Africa Pelianes, the founder and CEO, is recognized for developing impactful AI products across various industries, while Yuko Johnson, a seasoned professional from the gaming sector, serves as the Chief Business Officer and Head of Japan | APAC. Johnson has extensive experience in business development within the gaming and tech sectors and has worked with both domestic and international companies to create new value in experiences and revenue opportunities.

Notably, gamification has garnered attention beyond gaming, permeating fields like healthcare as a means of enhancing user engagement, influencing behavior change, and driving business growth and profitability. By leveraging Pelianes' proficiency in addressing real-world challenges and Johnson's rich background in gaming, Causal Foundry is set to undertake cross-sectoral initiatives in the Japanese market.

Causal Foundry remains committed to balancing social issue resolution with substantial business impact as it continues its pursuit of next-generation personalization through behavioral prediction and optimal timing.

For enterprises and organizations interested in the potential of personalization to resolve societal challenges and create business impact, Causal Foundry invites you to reach out for collaboration opportunities.

About Causal Foundry

Causal Foundry is an AI startup focused on developing adaptive AI solutions that predict individual user behaviors, enabling personalized experiences, optimized resource allocation, and timely interventions. With a proven track record of enhancing engagement, reducing costs, and boosting revenues across healthcare, logistics, and e-commerce, Causal Foundry is now venturing into new sectors such as gaming, entertainment, and e-learning. Supported by leading global institutions like the Gates Foundation and Google, the company aims for sustainable growth while addressing societal challenges.