Nature
Nature Inc. is a Yokohama-based Japanese IoT company that designs, manufactures, and sells smart home automation and residential energy management hardware, including Nature Remo smart remotes, Nature Lock smart locks, Nature EV Switch EV-charging controllers, and Nature Remo E HEMS devices, sold primarily via DTC e-commerce to Japanese consumers and energy-conscious households.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersYokohama, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nature does
Nature Inc. is a Yokohama-based Japanese IoT company that designs, manufactures, and sells smart home automation and residential energy management devices. Its flagship product line, the Nature Remo series (Lapis, Remo 3, mini 2, nano), consolidates multiple infrared-based home appliance remote controls into a single smartphone application, with higher-tier models adding temperature, humidity, motion, and ambient light sensors to enable rule-based automation. The Nature Remo E series (E2 and E2 lite) extends the platform into Home Energy Management System (HEMS) functionality via ECHONET Lite communication with smart meters, solar inverters, storage batteries, and eco-cute water heaters. Nature Lock is a smart deadbolt offering hands-free proximity unlocking and Apple Find My network integration, and Nature EV Switch is a recently launched IoT controller for EV charging outlets with timer-based and solar-aligned automation. Cross-cutting these hardware lines is Nature Green, a proprietary software feature layer that automatically coordinates air conditioners, storage batteries, and V2H equipment to optimize energy consumption while preserving comfort.
The company's business model is anchored on direct-to-consumer e-commerce hardware sales through its owned Shopify storefront (shop.nature.global), with consumer hardware priced between ¥4,980 (Remo nano) and ¥49,940 (Remo E2) inclusive of tax. A separate enterprise sales channel (法人のお客様) handles business customers under individual agreements, and the EV Switch installation service qualifies for Tokyo Metropolitan Government fiscal 2025 charging-facility subsidies, which functions as a distribution lever. Recurring revenue is generated through subscription services for premium features billed via Apple App Store and Google Play. The platform integrates with Apple Home/HomeKit, Matter, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, LINE Clova/Smart Home, and Apple Find My, providing ecosystem compatibility that broadens addressable use cases.
Nature is a privately held Japanese corporation founded circa 2014, headquartered in Yokohama, with 51–100 employees. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Harumi Shiode and co-founder and CTO Masayuki Matsuki. It has raised cumulative disclosed funding exceeding ¥2 billion (~$14M+) across multiple equity rounds between 2016 and 2024, with strategic corporate investors including Daikin Industries, ENEOS Innovation Partners, Tokyo Gas, KDDI Green Partners Fund, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Hakuhodo DY Ventures, Yokohama Capital, Energy & Environment Investment, and Decarbonization Support Organization. The company is operating actively, with ongoing product launches into 2026 (Nature EV Switch), ongoing subscription services, and recognized design awards (Good Design Award 2024; iF Design Award 2021).
Nature firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nature
- Legal name
- Nature株式会社
- Website
- https://nature.global
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Nature Inc. is a Yokohama-based Japanese IoT company that designs, manufactures, and sells smart home automation and residential energy management hardware, including Nature Remo smart remotes, Nature Lock smart locks, Nature EV Switch EV-charging controllers, and Nature Remo E HEMS devices, sold primarily via DTC e-commerce to Japanese consumers and energy-conscious households.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nature industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Home IoT Devices
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (335210)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers) (HSAPAQAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Home Security & Access Control (Cameras, Alarms, Smart Locks) (HSAPAQAB), Smart Appliance & Energy Management Integration (HSAHADAG), Smart Energy Management (Meters, EV Chargers, Solar/Battery Monitors) Retail (CRACAGAI)
Keywords
Where Nature is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yokohama
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nature business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: One-time sales of smart home devices including smart remotes, smart locks, energy monitoring units, and EV charging controllers. Revenue is generated through direct e-commerce sales to consumers.
- Subscription Services: Recurring subscription services for premium features, billed monthly or annually through Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or other billing platforms. Service contracts automatically renew unless cancelled.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo nano - Entry-level smart home starter |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo mini 2 - Compact with temperature sensor |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo Lapis - Comfortable energy saving |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo 3 - Full featured automation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo E2 lite - Power monitoring basic |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Lock - Smart door lock |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature Remo E2 - Full energy management |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nature EV Switch - Smart EV charging controller |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Nature product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nature Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells IoT-based smart home hardware including smart IR remote controllers (Nature Remo series), smart locks (Nature Lock), and home energy management systems (Nature Remo E series). The devices consolidate control of home appliances and energy systems into a single smartphone app, enabling remote control, automation, and energy optimization for residential consumers.
Product overview
Nature Inc. is a Yokohama-based IoT company offering a modular smart home product portfolio centered on two product families. The Nature Remo series are smart IR remote controllers that consolidate multiple home appliance controls into a single smartphone app, available in four models (Nature Remo Lapis, Nature Remo 3, Nature Remo mini 2, Nature Remo nano) differentiated by sensor configuration, Matter/HomeKit compatibility, and price tier. The Nature Remo E series (E2, E2 lite) are smartphone-based HEMS devices that monitor household energy consumption from solar panels, storage batteries, and smart meters, and also manage EV charging. Nature Lock is a smart deadbolt with hands-free proximity unlocking and Apple Find My integration. Nature EV Switch IoT-enables EV charging outlets for remote and automated control. Nature Green is a cross-cutting software feature layer that auto-controls air conditioners, batteries, and V2H systems across the product range. All products are managed via a unified smartphone app and support integrations with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and Line Smart Home.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nature Remo: Smart remote controllers for home automation that consolidate multiple appliance remotes into a smartphone app, enabling remote control of air conditioners, curtains, and other devices.
- Nature Remo E
- Nature Lock
- Nature EV Switch
- Nature Green
Products and services
- Nature Remo Lapis Smart IR remote controller that consolidates multiple home appliance remotes into a single smartphone app, with temperature/humidity sensors and Apple Home compatibility. Designed for residential consumers seeking comfort-focused energy savings.
- Nature Remo 3 Smart remote controller with temperature, humidity, motion, and ambient light sensors enabling flexible automation of air conditioners, curtains, and other IR-controlled devices. Compatible with Apple Home.
- Nature Remo mini 2 Compact smart remote controller with built-in temperature sensor, suitable for managing air-conditioned rooms, pet/child temperature monitoring, and basic home automation.
- Nature Remo nano Entry-level sensor-free smart remote, Matter-enabled and Apple Home compatible, designed as an introduction to smart home control for residential consumers.
- Nature Lock Smart door lock offering hands-free proximity unlocking, auto-lock functionality, no outdoor components, and Apple Find My network integration for key loss prevention. Targeted at residential consumers.
- Nature Remo E2 Smartphone-based Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that connects to smart meters, solar battery systems, and eco-cute water heaters to monitor electricity usage, maximize solar self-consumption, and support EV charge/discharge scheduling.
- Nature Remo E2 lite Entry-level smartphone HEMS providing visibility into monthly power consumption and costs, targeted at residential users concerned about electricity expenses. No installation required.
- Nature EV Switch Smart IoT controller for EV charging outlets that enables remote on/off control, monthly charging volume and electricity cost graphs, timer-based charging automation, and automatic charging aligned with sunny weather to maximize solar self-consumption. Targeted at residential EV owners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces electricity costs through optimization of energy usage and solar self-consumption
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nature
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nature technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature6 records
Nature partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentminorNature EV Switch qualifies for subsidies under Tokyo Metropolitan Government's fiscal year 2025 charging facilities promotion project for single-family homes. Installation services available through the company.
- Apple (Find My Network)coreNature Lock and Nature Key integrate with Apple Find My network for key loss prevention. The Find My network ensures anonymity through encryption - Nature does not access or store customer location data.
- Google (Google Analytics, Android App)coreNature uses Google Analytics for website usage analysis and offers Android mobile application for device control. Google Play Store used for app distribution and billing.
- Apple (iOS App, App Store)coreNature offers iOS mobile application for device control. Apple App Store used for app distribution and subscription billing services.
- Samsung (SmartThings)coreNature products integrate with Samsung SmartThings ecosystem for expanded smart home compatibility.
- Amazon (Alexa)coreNature Remo products support voice control through Amazon Alexa for hands-free smart home operation.
- LINE Corporation (Clova, Line Smart Home)coreNature products integrate with LINE Clova and Line Smart Home ecosystem for Japanese market smart home compatibility.
- ECHONET Lite ConsortiumcoreNature Remo E series supports ECHONET Lite protocol for communication with smart meters and home appliances in Japanese market.
- Fun Communications (A8.net)minorNature uses A8.net affiliate marketing network for performance-based marketing and advertising partner tracking.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Nature competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SwitchBot: SwitchBot offers a directly overlapping smart home product lineup — smart remotes (Hub Mini), smart locks, curtain controllers, and sensors — sold globally with strong consumer brand recognition. It is the closest head-to-head competitor to Nature's Remo and Lock families.
- Aqara: Aqara provides a broad smart home ecosystem including hubs, sensors, smart locks, and energy/lighting controls with deep Apple HomeKit and Matter support. The portfolio overlap with Nature — particularly on remotes, locks, and energy management — is direct, though Aqara is more globally distributed.
Regional players
- LIXIL: LIXIL is a major Japanese housing and building products company with its own smart lock and home automation offerings distributed through the domestic housing construction channel. It is a comparable Japanese-market competitor, particularly for Nature Lock in new-build homes.
Broad incumbents
- Google Nest: Google Nest bundles thermostats, cameras, hubs, and Assistant-powered automation into a single ecosystem with broad Matter support. It is a broad incumbent shaping the standards Nature's products integrate with and competes with on whole-home automation.
- Amazon Ring: Amazon Ring offers smart locks, cameras, and home automation integrated with Alexa — directly competing on smart lock and home security surfaces and influencing the Alexa ecosystem Nature relies on for voice control.
- TP-Link (Tapo / Kasa): TP-Link's Tapo and Kasa lines cover smart plugs, sensors, cameras, and hubs at aggressive price points. They represent the lower-cost broad incumbent pressure on Nature's entry-level Remo nano and E2 lite SKUs.
- Xiaomi Smart Home: Xiaomi's Mi Home / Aqara ecosystem offers hundreds of low-cost smart home devices including remotes, sensors, locks, and energy products. It is a scale-driven broad incumbent pressuring Nature on price and breadth across multiple product categories.
Emerging players
- mui Lab: mui Lab is a Japanese calm-technology smart home startup focused on natural-material interfaces and Matter-native hubs. It targets overlapping Japanese consumers with a design-forward approach, making it a relevant emerging peer in the premium home automation segment.
Others
- Soracom: Soracom provides cellular IoT connectivity and platform services widely used by Japanese IoT hardware companies. It is an enabling infrastructure peer rather than a direct competitor, but the IoT backbone supports Nature's connected device economics.
- enebular: enebular is a Japanese IoT integration and workflow platform from UEI that supports device orchestration and automation logic. It is an adjacent ecosystem enabler with overlapping developer mindshare in Japan's IoT community.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nature social profiles
Digital presenceNature compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Nature financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nature leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nature funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nature M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nature
What does Nature do?
Nature Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells IoT-based smart home hardware including smart IR remote controllers (Nature Remo series), smart locks (Nature Lock), and home energy management systems (Nature Remo E series). The devices consolidate control of home appliances and energy systems into a single smartphone app, enabling remote control, automation, and energy optimization for residential consumers.
Is Nature a public or private company?
Nature is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nature founded?
Nature was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Nature based?
Nature is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Nature make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription Services.
Who are Nature's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SwitchBot and Aqara. LIXIL is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Google Nest, Amazon Ring, TP-Link (Tapo / Kasa) and Xiaomi Smart Home. mui Lab is listed as an emerging player. Others are Soracom and enebular.
Does Nature have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nature.
What industry is Nature in?
Nature's product category is Smart Home IoT Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPAQAF, Home Energy & EV Charging (HEMS, Smart Meters, Batteries, Chargers), with a secondary code of HSAPAQAB, Home Security & Access Control (Cameras, Alarms, Smart Locks). Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3822.