AGRI SMILE

What AGRI SMILE does

AGRI SMILE Inc. is a Japan-based agricultural technology company founded on August 31, 2018, that develops and sells food-waste-derived biostimulants and a Digital Transformation (DX) platform for the agricultural sector. Its core technology converts local food waste into agricultural production materials ('food from food') that promote resource recycling, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, and improve crop resilience to climate change, with technical validation conducted in collaboration with Kyoto University and Tokyo University of Agriculture. The company also operates the Eco-LAB council (launched September 2023) and the proprietary AGRI SMILE Evaluation INDEX framework to guide biostimulant selection and safe use across regional agricultural contexts.

The company monetizes through two revenue streams: biostimulant product sales and DX platform subscription/recurring services, distributed primarily through a collaboration network of more than 150 Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JAs) spanning 150+ regions and production areas. International expansion is being pursued via an enterprise partnership model, exemplified by a demonstration project with Mitsubishi Research Institute and Vietnam's Pan Group that achieved a 43% rice yield increase using biostimulants made from agricultural residues, paving the way for a planned Vietnam commercial launch. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the sales motion is quote-based via the company's contact form.

As of April 2025 the company reported 81 employees and JPY 1.32 billion in stated capital, with cumulative funding of approximately JPY 920 million in the Series A (including a ~750 million yen extension in September 2023) plus earlier rounds from investors including HERO Impact Capital, JAFCO, Sideways, SMBC Venture Capital, Monex Ventures, and The Seed Capital. AGRI SMILE's biostimulant technology is highlighted under Japan's GX Strategy (Green Transformation) as a measure against global warming, providing supportive policy tailwinds in the domestic market.

Name

AGRI SMILE

Legal name

AGRI SMILE Inc.

Website

https://agri-smile.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AGRI SMILE Inc. is a Japanese agricultural technology company that develops food-waste-derived biostimulants and a digital transformation platform for agriculture, distributing through 150+ Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and expanding into Vietnam via enterprise partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biotechnology

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK)

Keywords

• Agricultural biotechnology
• Biostimulant products
• Digital agriculture
• Crop yield solutions
• Sustainable farming inputs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biostimulant Product Sales: Revenue from the research, development, and sales of biostimulant materials derived from food waste, deployed primarily through Japan's agricultural cooperatives (JAs) and through international partnerships such as the Vietnam Pan Group collaboration.
2. Agricultural DX Platform Services: Revenue from digital transformation platform solutions for agriculture offered to cooperatives and producers, supporting productivity and sustainability improvements.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AGRI SMILE researches, develops, and sells biostimulant materials derived from food waste that promote resource recycling, reduce chemical fertilizer dependence, and improve climate-change resilience for crops. The company also operates a Digital Transformation (DX) platform for agriculture that provides digital tools and data to agricultural cooperatives and producers, supported by collaborations with 150+ Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and research partnerships with Kyoto University and Tokyo University of Agriculture.

Product overview

AGRI SMILE Inc. operates four distinct business units centered around its biostimulant division, combining an agricultural biotechnology product (AGRI SMILE Biostimulants) with a Digital Transformation (DX) Platform for Agriculture that supports over 150 Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JAs). Layered on top of these offerings are two ecosystem components: Eco-LAB, an Expert COuncil for Low carbon Agriculture in Biostimulant technology launched in September 2023 as a research and decarbonization council, and the AGRI SMILE Evaluation INDEX, the underlying biostimulant-mechanism evaluation framework that powers Eco-LAB. Together, the biostimulant R&D-and-sales product, the DX platform, the Eco-LAB council, and the Evaluation INDEX form AGRI SMILE's integrated portfolio aimed at sustainable, technology-driven agriculture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eco-LAB: Expert COuncil for Low carbon Agriculture in Biostimulant technology — a council/platform launched by AGRI SMILE in September 2023 to address agricultural challenges and promote low-carbon, biostimulant-based sustainable agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% increase in rice yield during Vietnam demonstration trials using AGRI SMILE's biostimulant derived from agricultural residues.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — 150+ region collaboration network is the company's core distribution and insight channel., core — research collaboration underpinning scientific credibility., flagship — strategic enterprise partner enabling international expansion. and flagship — anchor enterprise partner for vietnam market entry..

• Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)flagship — 150+ region collaboration network is the company's core distribution and insight channel.Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAGRI SMILE maintains strengthened collaborations with JAs spanning over 150 regions and production areas. The network addresses on-the-ground agricultural challenges and drives improvements in productivity and sustainability. It is referenced by the company as its 'Largest-scale Collaboration with JA' and is the primary route through which biostimulants and DX solutions reach Japanese producers.
• Kyoto Universitycore — research collaboration underpinning scientific credibility.Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with AGRI SMILE on specialized agricultural research as part of the company's advanced research system, which spans elemental and genetic analysis through material development to ensure scientific validity of biostimulant products.
• Tokyo University of Agriculturecore — research collaboration underpinning scientific credibility.Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with AGRI SMILE on specialized agricultural research as part of the company's advanced research system, contributing to scientific validity across the research-to-material-development pipeline.
• Mitsubishi Research Instituteflagship — strategic enterprise partner enabling international expansion.Strategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed a Vietnam demonstration project with AGRI SMILE and Pan Group, applying AGRI SMILE's biostimulant (derived from agricultural residues) to rice farming and achieving a 43% yield increase. The partnership supports AGRI SMILE's preparation for a Vietnam commercial launch and broader international expansion.
• THE PAN GROUP JOINT STOCK COMPANY (Pan Group)flagship — anchor enterprise partner for vietnam market entry.Strategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese partner participating in a demonstration project with Mitsubishi Research Institute and AGRI SMILE that increased rice yields by 43% using biostimulant materials made from agricultural residues. The collaboration supports plans for commercial distribution in Vietnam and application to other crops.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agri_smile_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/agri.smile.jp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 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 AGRI SMILE