Bonx
Bonx (株式会社BONX) is a Tokyo-based hardware and software company founded in 2015 that builds wearable Bluetooth push-to-talk devices and group-voice apps for outdoor sports enthusiasts and distributed enterprise teams in Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bonx does
Bonx (株式会社BONX / BONX Inc.) is a privately held Tokyo-based company founded on December 1, 2015 that builds wearable Bluetooth push-to-talk hardware and software for hands-free group voice communication. The company's core technology combines voice activity detection and domain-tuned noise cancellation to enable automatic, button-free group conversations in high-wind outdoor conditions and noisy professional environments. It operates two brands: BONX, a free consumer app for sports and lifestyle group communication, and BONX WORK, an enterprise collaboration platform built around the same audio technology with added account management, security controls, and LINE WORKS integration.
The product portfolio spans proprietary Bluetooth hardware — BONX BOOST (premium earphones for workplace use), BONX Stick (clip-on microphone with smart, earphone, and push-to-talk modes), BONX Grip (earbud-style device), and BONX mini (compact earphones) — alongside the BONX Connect App for device lifecycle management and the BONX intro knot accessory featuring PSZ (Personalized Sound Zone) technology co-developed with NTT. The customer base splits between individual outdoor sports users (skiing, snowboarding, cycling, fishing) and enterprise teams in elderly care, restaurants, security, construction, exhibitions, creative agencies, and healthcare.
Revenue is generated through one-time hardware purchases (¥18,000–¥28,000 / approximately $120–$185), monthly app subscriptions (¥1,500–¥2,500), and enterprise platform access via BONX WORK. Consumer hardware is sold direct through Bonx's official store and via Amazon and Rakuten marketplaces in Japan; enterprise sales are handled through direct field sales and channel partners. To date, Bonx has raised approximately $9.9M across six disclosed funding rounds between 2015 and 2020, with the most recent capital event in July 2020.
Bonx firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bonx
- Legal name
- 株式会社BONX (BONX Inc.)
- Website
- https://bonx.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bonx (株式会社BONX) is a Tokyo-based hardware and software company founded in 2015 that builds wearable Bluetooth push-to-talk devices and group-voice apps for outdoor sports enthusiasts and distributed enterprise teams in Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bonx industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wearable Communication Devices
- NAICS
- Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing (33421)
- SIC
- Telephone & Telegraph Apparatus (3661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cloud PBX & Hosted Telephony (HDAIAHAB)
Keywords
Where Bonx is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bonx business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Device Sales: One-time sales of physical devices including BONX Stick (¥24,000), BONX BOOST Full Pack (¥28,000), BONX intro knot for Stick (¥3,000), and BONX BOOST (from ¥18,000). Hardware can be purchased outright without subscription.
- Subscription Services (App): Monthly subscription services for BONX app users. BONX Stick subscription at ¥2,500/month and BONX BOOST Light Pack subscription at ¥1,500/month. Subscriptions provide ongoing access to communication features and service improvements.
- Bundled Hardware + Subscription: Optional subscriptions that bundle hardware devices with ongoing service access, offering customers both the physical product and recurring service benefits in a combined package.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BONX Stick device purchase (one-time) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BONX BOOST Full Pack device purchase (one-time) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BONX BOOST device only (one-time) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BONX intro knot for Stick accessory (one-time) |
| Subscription | Monthly | BONX Stick monthly subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | BONX BOOST Light Pack monthly subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Bonx product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BONX designs, manufactures, and sells wearable Bluetooth hardware devices (BONX BOOST premium earphones, BONX Stick clip-on Bluetooth microphone, BONX Grip earbuds, BONX mini compact earphones) and companion accessories (BONX intro knot PSZ cable, BONX Stick Charging Station) paired with the BONX consumer mobile app for hands-free real-time voice group communication. The company also operates BONX WORK, an enterprise collaboration platform with account management, security controls, and LINE WORKS integration for workplace team communication, plus BONX Connect App for device firmware updates and configuration.
Product overview
Bonx offers a unified product portfolio centered on hands-free group communication technology, consisting of a free consumer app (BONX), an enterprise platform (BONX WORK), and a range of Bluetooth hardware devices. The core technology uses voice activity detection to enable automatic, hands-free group conversations. Hardware products include BONX BOOST (premium earphones), BONX Stick (clip-on Bluetooth microphone with multiple modes), BONX mini (compact earphones), and BONX Grip (earbud-style device). Supporting accessories include the BONX intro knot cable and BONX Stick Charging Station, while the BONX Connect App provides device management and firmware updates. BONX WORK extends the platform with enterprise features including LINE WORKS integration, account management, and security controls.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BONX: General consumer service for sports and lifestyle group communication
- BONX WORK
Products and services
- BONX (consumer group-talk app) Free mobile group-talk app for individual consumers that uses voice activity detection to enable automatic, hands-free real-time voice communication for groups during activities like cycling, skiing, and outdoor recreation.
- BONX WORK Enterprise collaboration and communication platform for business teams, adding account management, team administration, security controls, and LINE WORKS integration on top of the BONX group-talk technology stack.
- BONX BOOST Premium Bluetooth earphones with extended battery life and enhanced audio quality, featuring a dual microphone system for clear voice capture and noise cancellation in noisy professional environments.
- BONX Stick Bluetooth microphone device that clips onto clothing or gear, offering three selectable microphone modes (smart, earphone, push-to-talk) and Google Fast Pair for Android pairing.
- BONX mini Compact, lightweight earphone in the BONX hardware lineup that maintains group-talk functionality in a smaller form factor for users prioritizing portability.
- BONX Grip Earbud-style Bluetooth device with firmware-update support, designed for comfortable extended wear during long work sessions with voice activity detection enabling hands-free operation.
- BONX intro knot for Stick 3.5mm audio cable accessory for the BONX Stick that uses NTT-co-developed PSZ (Personalized Sound Zone) technology to enable wired earphone connectivity and personalized audio zones.
- BONX Stick Charging Station Dedicated charging station for BONX Stick devices that simultaneously charges multiple BONX Stick units.
- BONX Connect App Device management application for BONX hardware that enables firmware updates and configuration of connected BONX devices.
Companies that use Bonx
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bonx technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Bonx partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NTTcoreStrategic technology partnership with NTT to develop PSZ (Personalized Sound Zone) technology specifically for the BONX intro knot for Stick product. This partnership focuses on creating personalized audio zone capabilities to enhance the user experience in group communication scenarios.
- AmazoncoreOfficial Amazon marketplace seller for BONX products including BONX Stick, BONX BOOST, and accessories. Amazon serves as a primary e-commerce distribution channel reaching broad consumer base globally.
- RakutencoreOfficial Rakuten marketplace seller for BONX products targeting Japanese consumers. Rakuten is a major e-commerce platform in Japan serving as a key domestic sales channel.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bonx competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cardo Systems: Cardo makes Bluetooth group communication headsets for motorcyclists, skiers, and outdoor sports — directly competing with Bonx's hands-free group-talk hardware in the same sports/outdoor use case and customer segment.
- Sena Technologies: Sena is a leading Bluetooth intercom/communication device maker for motorcycle, cycling, skiing, and industrial users, overlapping with Bonx on push-to-talk audio hardware for noisy group environments.
- Zello: Zello is a smartphone push-to-talk walkie-talkie app used by enterprises, construction, hospitality, and outdoor groups — directly competing with BONX WORK and the BONX consumer app by replicating group voice communication on existing phones.
- Voxer: Voxer offers push-to-talk live voice messaging for teams and consumers, a direct functional substitute for the Bonx app and BONX WORK group voice experience, especially for enterprise field teams.
Broad incumbents
- Jabra (GN Audio): Jabra manufactures professional Bluetooth headsets and earbuds widely deployed in contact centers, enterprise, and field environments — a broader incumbent with overlapping hands-free enterprise communication use cases to BONX WORK.
- Hytera: Hytera is a global professional mobile radio (PMR) and Push-to-Talk over Cellular provider, directly addressing the construction, security, and hospitality use cases that Bonx targets with BONX WORK.
- Motorola Solutions: Motorola Solutions is the dominant provider of two-way radios, body-worn cameras, and unified team communications for public safety and enterprise — a broad incumbent that competes for the same enterprise team communication wallet as BONX WORK.
- Apple (AirPods business): Apple's AirPods line, especially AirPods Pro with adaptive audio and noise cancellation, increasingly serves as a general-purpose Bluetooth earbud substitute for hands-free group communication use cases Bonx addresses.
Regional players
- Icom Incorporated: Icom is a Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of professional two-way radio and wireless communication equipment with a strong domestic and APAC presence, directly comparable to Bonx's enterprise voice communication offering in the same Japanese market.
Emerging players
- Shokz (AfterShokz): Shokz makes bone-conduction Bluetooth headsets popular with runners, cyclists, and outdoor sports enthusiasts — competing with Bonx for the same sports/outdoor audio customer segment with an alternative open-ear form factor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bonx social profiles
Digital presenceBonx financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bonx leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bonx funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bonx 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 Bonx
What does Bonx do?
BONX designs, manufactures, and sells wearable Bluetooth hardware devices (BONX BOOST premium earphones, BONX Stick clip-on Bluetooth microphone, BONX Grip earbuds, BONX mini compact earphones) and companion accessories (BONX intro knot PSZ cable, BONX Stick Charging Station) paired with the BONX consumer mobile app for hands-free real-time voice group communication. The company also operates BONX WORK, an enterprise collaboration platform with account management, security controls, and LINE WORKS integration for workplace team communication, plus BONX Connect App for device firmware updates and configuration.
Is Bonx a public or private company?
Bonx is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bonx founded?
Bonx was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bonx based?
Bonx is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Bonx make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Device Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription Services (App) and bundled Hardware + Subscription.
Who are Bonx's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cardo Systems, Sena Technologies, Zello and Voxer. Broad incumbents are Jabra (GN Audio), Hytera, Motorola Solutions and Apple (AirPods business). Icom Incorporated is listed as a regional player. Shokz (AfterShokz) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bonx have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bonx.
What industry is Bonx in?
Bonx's product category is Wearable Communication Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAHAB, Cloud PBX & Hosted Telephony. Its NAICS code is 33421 and its SIC code is 3661.