Akari Inc.: An AI Startup from the University of Tokyo Surpasses 1,000 Corporate Implementations

Akari Inc.: A Transformative Force in Japan’s Core Industries

Milestone Achievement

Akari Inc., an AI startup rooted in the University of Tokyo, is making waves in Japan's industrial sectors. The company announced that its specialized AI SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions have been successfully implemented by over 1,000 companies as of July 2022. This remarkable achievement comes as Japanese foundational industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and logistics, face critical challenges including a shortage of skilled workers and the deterioration of labor conditions.

Addressing Industry Challenges

Amid these pressing issues, Akari takes its mission of "becoming the light that illuminates Japan" seriously. The startup harnesses cutting-edge technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, to tackle the persistent challenges of productivity enhancement and the transfer of technical expertise across various sectors.

The Unique Selling Proposition: Industry-Specific AI SaaS

Akari’s AI SaaS offerings are distinguished by their rigorously industry-specific nature. By considering the unique operations, terminology, and regulations specific to each sector, Akari integrates advanced technology to develop optimal user interfaces and experiences (UI/UX). This thoughtful design enables immediate usability upon adoption, enhancing on-site operational efficiency and, consequently, overall productivity for the companies.

Key Factors Driving Adoption

The number of companies adopting Akari's solutions has surged due to two key evaluation points:
1. Development of Industry-Focused Services: One of Akari’s flagship solutions, the "Digital Builder Series," caters specifically to the construction industry. This series provides a comprehensive DX (digital transformation) service that covers estimation, ordering, invoice processing, expense claims, and cost management—crucial tasks unique to the industry. Akari’s innovative AI agent, specialized for construction, has also earned accolades by learning industry-specific vocabulary and practices. External surveys, including one by Deloitte Tohmatsu and the Mic Economic Research Institute, confirmed that the "Digital Builder Invoice" service ranked first in three categories related to client satisfaction, including utilization rates among general contractors.

2. Supportive Implementation Framework: Akari provides dedicated customer success (CS) leads for each client, ensuring comprehensive support from the initial implementation phase to ongoing usage. Feedback from users fuels the development of required features, which a highly skilled engineering team promptly integrates into the product. This responsiveness to client needs has garnered recognition for the effectiveness of Akari's implementation, ensuring seamless operation in client environments.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Akari is committed to confronting the unique challenges of various industries while intensifying its development of existing products and introducing new services powered by the latest technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. Through these efforts, the company aims to contribute to the updating of Japan’s industries and the realization of a sustainable society.

Overview of Services

Here’s a breakdown of the services offered by Akari:

Service Name	Target Industry	Value Proposition & Features
-	-	---
Digital Builder Series	Construction	DX services for construction management tasks including estimation, ordering, invoice processing, expense claims, and cost management.
Hikari (AI Agent)	Construction	AI service specialized for the construction industry.
Takumi (AI Agent)	Manufacturing	AI service focused on the manufacturing sector.
Hakobi (AI Agent)	Logistics	AI service tailored for the logistics industry.

About Akari Inc.

Founded in February 2021, Akari Inc. operates out of Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The startup's mission is to illuminate Japan's industries through advanced AI technologies aimed at solving social challenges. Akari provides unique AI-driven solutions that address productivity enhancement and the transfer of skilled techniques, referred to as "Takumi no Waza," across essential industrial sectors like construction, energy, and manufacturing.

Company Details

- Company Name: Akari Inc.
- Location: 21st Floor, Ochanomizu Solacity, 4-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- CEO: Yuki Noro
- Founded: February 2021
- Website: https://akariinc.co.jp/