OryLab

What OryLab does

OryLab Inc. (株式会社オリィ研究所) is a Tokyo-based technology company founded in 2012 by Kentaro Yoshifuji that builds remotely teleoperated avatar robots designed to enable social and workplace participation for people who cannot leave home due to illness, disability, or caregiving responsibilities. Its core product family centers on the OriHime line: OriHime (a ~23cm desktop telepresence robot with camera, microphone, and speaker), OriHime-D (a ~120cm self-propelled robot capable of physical labor such as serving, guiding, and delivery), OriHime eye+Switch (an eye-gaze communication device designated as a Japanese prosthetic device under national health insurance, sold at ¥45,000), OriHime Porter (a mobile transport variant), and OriHime ver.2023 (the first commercially sold model, released October 2023). The robots are teleoperated by human pilots via PC or tablet over the internet rather than autonomously controlled, enabling remote workers to participate in real-space interactions.

The company monetizes through a hybrid model combining hardware sales, monthly rentals (including via partner Rentio), physical cafe operations (the permanent DAWN ver.β cafe in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, plus the first overseas Bunshin Robot Cafe in Aarhus, Denmark, April–September 2025), event and exhibition services, education programs for schools, and recurring services including FLEMEE (a telework-focused job placement platform for people with disabilities) and Ory Bridge (employment support combining recruitment and training). Customer segments span enterprise (e.g., Royal Holdings, Mos Food Services, Transcosmos Assist, Adventure World, LIFULL), government and public sector (e.g., Tottori Prefecture Board of Education, Koto City, Tsukuba City), healthcare (Musashino Hospital), and educational institutions, with a network of approximately 100 certified OriHime pilots who operate the robots remotely from across Japan. Strategic partners NTT and Kawada Technologies entered into capital and business alliances with OryLab in October 2020, and the company has been recognized internationally through the Prix Ars Electronica Golden Nica (2022) and Japan's Good Design Award (2021).

The company's core differentiator is its certified pilot ecosystem rather than autonomous capability: OryLab has spent over a decade building a workforce of disabled pilots, a regulatory designation for its assistive device, and a permanent physical showroom (DAWN ver.β) that doubles as a proof-of-concept and lead-generation venue. Capital procurement totaled approximately ¥100M in registered capital at founding, with disclosed funding rounds of roughly $2.1M in 2016 (led by Beyond Next Ventures) and $4.7M in 2020 (Kawada Technologies and NTT), and the company began its first international expansion in 2025.

Name

OryLab

Legal name

株式会社オリィ研究所

Website

https://orylab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OryLab builds remotely teleoperated avatar robots (OriHime, OriHime-D) and related services that enable people with disabilities, illness, or caregiving constraints to work, attend school, and socialize from home, serving enterprise, government, healthcare, and education customers in Japan and Denmark.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Robotics

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Human-Robot Interaction & Teleoperation Systems (HDAAAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Assistive Robotics (HDAAAIAC), Service & Hospitality Robots (HDAAAIAB), Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Telepresence robots
• Assistive robotics
• Avatar robots
• Remote social participation
• Disability employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Robot Sales: Sale of OriHime robots (OriHime ver.2023, OriHime-D). One-time purchase model for businesses, governments, and individuals. The company sells directly and through its own platform.
2. Robot Rental / Leasing: Rental programs for OriHime, including individual rental campaigns (e.g., OriHime Lite). Rentio serves as a rental partner for individual customers.
3. DAWN Cafe Operations: The DAWN ver.β robot cafe in Nihonbashi, Tokyo operates as both a social experiment and a revenue-generating hospitality business. The first overseas cafe opened in Aarhus, Denmark in April 2025.
4. Event & Exhibition Services: OriHime-D rental for corporate events, trade shows, and exhibitions. Includes pilot dispatch, on-site engineering support, and event planning services.
5. Education Program Services: School programs featuring OriHime pilots delivering lectures and training sessions. Offered as field trips at DAWN cafe or online/visiting classroom sessions.
6. FLEMEE Employment Placement Service: Telework-focused recruitment and placement service for people with disabilities, matching job seekers with employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OryLab designs, manufactures, and sells the OriHime family of remotely controlled avatar robots that enable people with disabilities, illnesses, or other mobility constraints to participate in social and professional activities from home. The company also operates the DAWN ver.β robot cafe staffed by remote pilots, runs the FLEMEE telework job-placement service for people with disabilities, and offers Ory Bridge employment-support services. Products are sold directly to individuals, businesses, and government bodies, with international expansion beginning through a Denmark cafe partnership in 2025.

Product overview

OryLab (株式会社オリィ研究所) offers a portfolio of remote-controlled avatar robots and related services designed to enable social participation for people who have difficulty going out due to illness, disability, or other constraints. The core product line includes OriHime (a 23cm desktop avatar robot), OriHime-D (a 120cm mobile robot for physical tasks), OriHime eye+Switch (communication device for severe disabilities), and OriHime Porter (mobile variant for carrying items). These robots are teleoperated by human pilots from home rather than AI-controlled, allowing users to work, attend school, or participate in social activities remotely. Supporting services include the Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN ver.β (a physical cafe staffed by remote pilots), FLEMEE (telework-focused job placement), Ory Bridge (employment support), educational programs, and event services. The company also operates the Bunshin Robot Cafe concept internationally, with a first overseas location opening in Denmark in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OriHime: Remote operation-type bunshin (avatar) robot, approximately 23cm in height, equipped with camera, microphone, and speaker, enabling people with mobility difficulties to participate in social activities remotely.
• OriHime-D
• OriHime eye + Switch
• FLEMEE
• Ory Bridge
• 分身ロボットカフェ DAWN ver.β
• Bunshin Robot Cafe

Products and services

• OriHime (分身ロボットOriHime) Remote-controlled avatar robot approximately 23cm tall, equipped with a built-in camera, microphone, and speaker. Enables people who have difficulty going out due to illness, disability, or other reasons to participate in social and professional activities remotely from home via PC or tablet.
• OriHime-D (オリヒメディー) Larger remote-controlled avatar robot approximately 120cm tall that enables physical labor and customer service work remotely, allowing pilots to walk around, serve food and beverages, guide visitors, and perform physical tasks from home.
• OriHime eye + Switch (意思伝達装置) Communication device for people with severe physical disabilities who can only move their eyes or fingertips. Digital version of a transparent communication board that enables smooth PC operation through minimal physical movement using eye-gaze input.
• OriHime Porter Mobile variant of the OriHime avatar robot capable of transporting items, enabling remote delivery and carrying tasks in physical spaces such as events and hospitality settings.
• OriHime Cart Motorized cart with OriHime mounted on top that enables easy lateral movement in all directions, allowing participants including those using eye-gaze input to participate in sports activities such as OriHime Soccer.
• Bunshin Robot Cafe DAWN ver.β (分身ロボットカフェ DAWN ver.β) Permanent cafe in Nihonbashi, Tokyo where employees with difficulty going out remotely operate OriHime and OriHime-D robots to provide customer service. Serves as both a revenue-generating hospitality business and a live demonstration space.
• Bunshin Robot Cafe Øens Madhus (Aarhus, Denmark) First overseas location of the Avatar Robot Cafe, operated at Øens Madhus on Aarhus Ø island in Denmark. Local Danish pilots trained alongside Japanese pilots to remotely operate OriHime robots to serve customers.
• FLEMEE (フレミー) Telework-focused job placement service for people with disabilities, connecting individuals who have difficulty commuting due to illness, disability, or caregiving responsibilities with companies offering remote work opportunities.
• Ory Bridge (オリィ・ブリッジ)
• OriHime Educational Programs School programs in which certified OriHime pilots (people with mobility difficulties) give lectures via remotely operated OriHime robots, helping students understand diversity, inclusion, and social issues through direct interaction.
• OriHime Event Planning Services Event planning service deploying certified OriHime pilots to operate OriHime, OriHime-D, and OriHime Porter avatar robots at corporate events, trade shows, and exhibitions for reception, guidance, tour guide, performance, and product demonstration purposes.
• OriHime Sports Events (OriHime Soccer, Online Boccia) Remote sports competitions co-organized with Biogen Japan, including OriHime Soccer (using OriHime Cart) and Online Boccia, enabling hundreds of participants with disabilities to compete from their homes regardless of physical limitations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of respondents reported more positive views of workers with physical impairments after interacting with Panasonic's pilot using OriHime avatar robots
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 株式会社CAC HoldingsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026CAC Holdings co-organizes the Biogen Cup Online Boccia championship, providing its CAC Boccia Court facility at company headquarters for the October 2026 finals.
• 一般社团法人オンラインボッチャ協会 (Online Boccia Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Nonprofit organization promoting online boccia as an accessible sport. Co-organizes the Biogen Cup Remote Sports Events with OryLab, providing sports expertise and regulatory framework.
• 中外製薬株式会社 (Chugai Pharmaceutical)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Chugai Pharmaceutical's DX department experienced the DAWN ver.β cafe and CVO Yoshifuji's lecture. The company explored OriHime for potential internal diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Aarhus Municipality (オーフス市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025OryLab partnered with Aarhus Municipality's health, welfare, and social employment departments to launch the first overseas Bunshin Robot Cafe in Denmark. The municipality provided institutional support and venue access for the April-September 2025 cafe.
• Teknologi i PraksiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Danish social enterprise that co-developed the Bunshin Robot Cafe in Aarhus with OryLab. Led by Kirsten Rud Bentholm, Teknologi i Praksis supports technology-based social inclusion for people with disabilities in Denmark.
• FO-AarhusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Danish social organization partnering with OryLab for the Aarhus Bunshin Robot Cafe deployment, supporting local community integration and accessibility initiatives.
• VIA University College / Aarhus UniversityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 April 2025Danish academic institutions partnering with OryLab on the Aarhus Bunshin Robot Cafe. Universities provide research collaboration, student engagement, and potential pilot training infrastructure.
• 内阁府／科学技術振興機構ムーンショット型研究開発事業 (Cabinet Office / JST Moonshot Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025DAWN ver.β participates in the Cabinet Office / JST Moonshot R&D Program Goal 1 'Cybernetic Avatar Technology and Social System Design for Harmonious Co-experience and Collective Ability (Project Cybernetic Being).' This provides research collaboration and technological development support.
• バイオジェン・ラパン株式会社 (Biogen Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Biogen Japan co-organizes the annual Biogen Cup Remote Sports Events (OriHime Soccer and Online Boccia) with OryLab. The 2026 event features OriHime Soccer finals on July 18, 2026 and Online Boccia finals on October 10-11, 2026. Biogen is a leading biotechnology company focused on neurological diseases.
• 株式会社アワーズ (Awors / Adventure World)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Adventure World theme park in Wakayama deployed OriHime for guest greeting, restaurant queue management, and menu recommendations. Pilots from DAWN ver.β work remotely at the park, providing hospitality services to visitors.
• 日本電信電話株式会社 (NTT / Nippon Telegraph and Telephone)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020NTT and OryLab entered into a capital and business alliance in October 2020. NTT began trial implementation of OriHime-D for reception desk operations in February 2020, followed by full-scale deployment from July 2020. NTT provides technological infrastructure and business development support.
• 川田テクノロジーズ株式会社 (Kawada Technologies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Kawada Technologies entered into a capital and business alliance with OryLab in October 2020. Jointly developed the 'Telebarista Robot' enabling people with mobility difficulties to remotely make coffee. Major sponsor of DAWN ver.β robot cafe experiments.
• 株式会社モスフードサービス (Mos Food Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Mos Food Services partnered with OryLab starting July 2020 for OriHime pilot deployments at Mos Burger stores. The 'yukurireji' (slow register) service was first tested at Mos Burger Osaki. From July 2022, OriHime was deployed at the Harajuku Omotesando flagship store with pilots from across Japan.
• 株式会社モスシャイン (Mos Shine)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2020Mos Shine, a special subsidiary company of Mos Food Services for disability employment, employs disabled workers who operate OriHime at Mos Burger locations. Pilots from Mos Shine work alongside OryLab's own certified pilots.
• ロイヤルホールディングス株式会社 (Royal Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Royal Holdings partnered with OryLab for multiple deployments: limited-time Bunshin Robot Cafes in Fukuoka, Sapporo, Kyoto, and Nagoya; OriHime at Royal Host Haneda Airport; at Kumamoto Airport; and at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 venue lounge. The partnership focuses on creating employment for people with disabilities in hospitality.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Telexistence: Tokyo-based teleoperated robotics company deploying remotely-operated robots (e.g., TX SCARA) in convenience stores — directly comparable Japanese avatar/telepresence-robot model with similar enterprise and retail customer base.
• Double Robotics: Pioneer of mobile telepresence robots for office and remote-work participation; competes head-to-head with OriHime in the avatar-robot-for-work category with a global customer base.
• OhmniLabs: US-based telepresence robot maker (Ohmni Robot) targeting healthcare, education, and enterprise remote participation — directly overlaps OriHime's core use cases.
• Ava Robotics: Spin-out from iRobot building enterprise telepresence robots for healthcare, education, and corporate settings; closest US competitor to OriHime's enterprise/customer-segment focus.
• Blue Ocean Robotics (Suitable Technologies/Beam): Acquired Suitable Technologies (Beam) and now markets telepresence robots alongside UV-disinfection and service robots — overlaps OriHime's telepresence-for-work thesis with a broader service-robotics portfolio.
• PadBot: Chinese telepresence robot maker focused on consumer and education use cases; competes in the same avatar-robot category as OriHime, particularly in Asian markets.

Broad incumbents

• SoftBank Robotics (Pepper): Established humanoid service robot deployed across retail, hospitality, and enterprise globally; broader portfolio than OryLab but overlaps in service/hospitality avatar-robot applications.

Regional players

• Cyberdyne: Japanese assistive-robotics leader (HAL exoskeleton) addressing mobility and disability challenges — comparable Japanese assistive-tech peer with healthcare reimbursement model similar to OriHime eye+Switch.

Emerging players

• temi: Personal telepresence and service robot targeting enterprise, healthcare, and retail — emerging competitor in the mobile avatar-robot segment where OriHime-D and OriHime Porter also play.

Others

• WheeLog! / Mapxus: Founded by OryLab's same founder (Kentaro Yoshifuji); barrier-free mapping platform addressing mobility constraints — adjacent rather than competitive, demonstrating the founder's broader social-isolation mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/orylaboratory
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFM7KsJZC8uGJ1BRMT-4dFg
• Facebookfacebook.com/orylab
• Instagraminstagram.com/ory_laboratory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orylab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OryLab