Adacotech
Adacotech is a Tokyo-based AI software company commercializing AIST-originated HLAC feature extraction for manufacturing visual inspection, serving Japanese and German manufacturers via AdaInspector Cloud, hardware inspection machines, and OEM-embedded inspection solutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Adacotech does
Adacotech (株式会社アダコテック), founded in March 2012 in Tokyo, is a Japanese AI software company that commercializes HLAC (Higher-order Local Auto-Correlation) feature extraction technology invented at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The company builds AI-powered visual inspection and anomaly detection software for manufacturing production lines, including AdaInspector Cloud (a SaaS model-creation tool released July 2021), Shiwaketter (defect image classification AI launched January 2025), POKAMIRU (poka-yoke mistake-prevention visual assistance AI launched October 2025), TRAYMIRU (a tray-type AI inspection machine combining the AI with rule-based vision), and AdaWatcher (CHLAC-based video anomaly detection). HLAC differs from deep learning in that it computes local pixel correlation features via simple sum-of-products operations, enabling unsupervised anomaly detection from roughly 100 normal images, inference on standard PCs without GPUs, and explainable heatmap outputs.
The company monetizes through a multi-stream model: SaaS subscriptions for AdaInspector Cloud, bundled hardware-plus-software sales for TRAYMIRU, software licensing for Shiwaketter, technology licensing to inspection equipment OEMs, and custom professional services. Go-to-market operates across four motions in parallel: direct enterprise field sales to large automotive and electronics manufacturers, OEM/embedded partnerships with inspection equipment makers (Hu-Brain, Visco Technologies, Daitron, Mitsutech), a product-led self-serve cloud offering, and an event-driven demand generation function anchored at Japanese manufacturing trade shows (CEATEC, NEPCON, Smart Factory Japan, FILMTECH, Japan Pack). The customer base spans 145+ cumulative accounts across automotive (Honda Motor for cylinder sleeve inspection), electronics manufacturing (Shirai Electronics, Higuchi Electronics), precision parts (Cybeck Corporation), steel and surface processing (Toyo Kohan), plating (Yamamoto Seisakusho), security (Central Security Patrol), and environmental infrastructure (Mitsui E&S Engineering for municipal waste incineration monitoring), with geographic coverage in Japan and Germany.
The company is venture-backed by Realtech Fund, Spiral Capital, UTEC, DNX Ventures, and Tokyo University IPC, with a ¥2 billion cumulative funding total anchored by a ¥1.1 billion Series B in April 2022 and a ¥420 million Series B extension in July 2022 from government institutions and megabanks. The company is led by CEO Ryota Kawamura (河邑亮太) and CTO Keiichi Ito (伊藤桂一, AIST alumni and HLAC co-developer), with a CPO (武政成彦) joining in September 2021 ahead of the SaaS launch; outside director and auditor appointments were added in March 2026 in preparation for further governance scale.
Adacotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adacotech
- Legal name
- 株式会社アダコテック
- Website
- https://adacotech.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Adacotech is a Tokyo-based AI software company commercializing AIST-originated HLAC feature extraction for manufacturing visual inspection, serving Japanese and German manufacturers via AdaInspector Cloud, hardware inspection machines, and OEM-embedded inspection solutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Adacotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Visual Inspection AI Software
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection (HDAAAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Adacotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Adacotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- SaaS Software Subscription (AdaInspector Cloud): Cloud-based visual inspection AI model creation and deployment service. Customers pay subscription fees to use the platform for model training and validation, with models downloadable for on-premise deployment. Revenue recognized as recurring subscription.
- AI Inspection Package Hardware and Software (TRAYMIRU): Bundled offering combining camera, lighting, image processing hardware with AI inspection software. Includes setup, imaging environment optimization, and AI model creation support. One-time hardware sale plus software licensing.
- Defect Classification Software License (Shiwaketter): Standalone software for defect image classification deployed on standard PCs. Sold as software license with subscription or one-time fee model.
- Professional Services (、受託開発): Custom development services leveraging domain knowledge for non-neural-network phenomena modeling, multidimensional sensor data prediction, equipment failure prediction. Tailored ML algorithm construction.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of HLAC-based AI technology to other inspection equipment manufacturers for integration into their own products. Creates new revenue stream through B2B technology licensing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | AdaInspector Cloud - Standard Subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | TRAYMIRU AI Inspection Package - One-time Hardware + Software |
| Subscription | Annual | Shiwaketter - Defect Classification Software |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Adacotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Adacotech develops and sells AI-based visual inspection and anomaly detection software for manufacturing, built on proprietary HLAC feature extraction technology licensed from Japan's AIST. Its core product AdaInspector Cloud is a SaaS platform where users upload normal product images to train inspection AI models that run on standard PCs without GPUs, with additional products POKAMIRU, Shiwaketter, TRAYMIRU, and AdaWatcher addressing poka-yoke prevention, defect classification, tray-based inspection, and video anomaly detection respectively.
Product overview
Adacotech offers a portfolio of AI-powered visual inspection and anomaly detection products built on proprietary HLAC/CHLAC feature extraction technology from AIST. The core platform is AdaInspector Cloud for creating visual inspection AI models, which can be deployed as software or combined with hardware in the TRAYMIRU tray-type inspection machine. Additional products include POKAMIRU for poka-yoke mistake prevention, Shiwaketter for defect image classification, and AdaWatcher for video anomaly detection. All products operate on standard PCs without GPU requirements, enabling cost-effective deployment in manufacturing environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AdaInspector Cloud: 外観検査AIモデル作成ツール - AI visual inspection model creation tool based on HLAC feature extraction.
- AdaInspector Cloud (AdaInspector® Cloud)
- Shiwaketter (シワケッター)
- POKAMIRU (ポカミル)
- TRAYMIRU (トレミル)
- AdaWatcher
Products and services
- AdaInspector Cloud (外観検査AIモデル作成ツール) Cloud-based SaaS platform for creating visual inspection AI models using proprietary HLAC feature extraction; users upload good-product images to train models, validate performance, and download models for offline use on standard PCs (no GPU required). Targets manufacturing quality control teams.
- POKAMIRU (ポカミル) - Poka-yoke Visual Inspection Assistance AI AI assistant for visual inspection that prevents poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) errors on assembly lines, such as mis-assembly, missing parts, and incorrect component usage; detects and alerts operators in real time during assembly.
- Shiwaketter (シワケッター) - Defect Image Classification AI Software that classifies defect images by type (scratches, dents, pinholes, insects, etc.) using HLAC features; supports visualization of classification rationale and confidence; runs on standard PCs. Targets web/continuous product manufacturers.
- TRAYMIRU (トレミル) - Tray-type AI Visual Inspection Machine Bundled AI inspection machine combining Adacotech's HLAC-based AI with rule-based inspection in a tray-format system for high-speed continuous inspection of small parts; includes camera, lighting, and image processing hardware. Targets SMB precision parts manufacturers.
- AdaWatcher - Video Anomaly Detection Software Video anomaly detection software using CHLAC (Color HLAC) technology for process monitoring, predictive maintenance, and security intrusion detection in production environments and large facilities.
- AI Inspection Package (簡易AI検査パッケージ) Complete AI visual inspection package combining camera, lighting, and image processing equipment with Adacotech software; includes imaging environment optimization and AI model creation support for customers seeking turnkey deployment.
- Custom ML Development Services (受託開発) Custom commissioned development services that leverage Adacotech's HLAC-based machine learning expertise to model non-neural-network phenomena, predict from multidimensional sensor data, and predict equipment failure for manufacturing customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% defect detection rate for cylinder sleeve inspection with only dozens of training samples (vs thousands needed for deep learning)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Adacotech
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Adacotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
Adacotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supportive and notable.
- ミツテック株式会社 (Mitsutech)coreJoint exhibition at Monodukuri World Nagoya 2025. Combined Mitsutech's high-speed visual inspection system 'RevolveE' with Adacotech's AdaInspector Cloud AI models for live demonstrations.
- 功能性フィルム研究会 (Functional Film Research Association)supportiveIndustry association for functional film manufacturers. Adacotech joined as member to strengthen ties with film and sheet industry customers.
- ダイトロン株式会社 (Daitron)notableJoint exhibition at Japan IT Week IoT Solutions Expo. Daitron showcased Adacotech products at their booth (booth 21-64) alongside their own products.
- 株式会社ヒューブレイン (Hu-Brain)coreInspection equipment manufacturer. Joint exhibition at FILMTECH Japan and ElectoTest Japan. Demonstrated AdaInspector Cloud-created AI models running on Hu-Brain inspection equipment.
- ヴィスコ・テクノロジーズ (Visco Technologies)coreVisco Technologies integrated Adacotech's HLAC-based AI into their image processing equipment. Featured in Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.
- Plug and Play JapannotableAdacotech was selected for Plug and Play Japan's accelerator program, providing access to their innovation ecosystem and corporate partnership network.
- 本田技研工業 (Honda Motor)coreJoint proof of concept for cylinder sleeve surface inspection using HLAC-based AI. Achieved 100% defect detection rate and 88% classification accuracy. Results presented at JSPE (Precision Engineering Society).
- セントラル警備保障 (Central Security Patrol)notableProvided video anomaly detection software (AdaWatcher/CHLAC) for automated unauthorized intrusion detection at large commercial facilities and railway infrastructure.
- 株式会社三井E&Sエンジニアリング (Mitsui E&S Engineering)coreJoint development and practical application of molten slag flow monitoring system using HLAC-based image recognition for municipal waste incineration plants. Adacotech provided ML image analysis software.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Adacotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Neurala: AI vision platform for manufacturing inspection, with focus on edge-deployable deep learning models. Competes in the AI-for-manufacturing-inspection space with similar focus on making AI usable by non-experts on factory floors.
- SparkCognition: Enterprise AI company applying machine learning to industrial use cases including visual inspection, predictive maintenance, and asset optimization. Comparable AI-for-manufacturing positioning targeting large enterprise customers.
Broad incumbents
- Keyence Corporation: Major Japanese industrial automation and inspection equipment manufacturer with broad sensor, measurement, and vision product lines. Comparable customer base in Japanese manufacturing but offers a much wider portfolio of hardware-based inspection solutions.
- SICK AG: German-based global manufacturer of sensors and sensor-based inspection systems for factory, logistics, and process automation. Overlaps with Adacotech's German market entry and serves the same manufacturing quality inspection use cases at larger scale.
- Cognex Corporation: Global leader in industrial machine vision systems and barcode readers. Much larger incumbent serving the same manufacturing inspection market with both traditional rule-based vision (In-Sight) and deep-learning-based AI (Cognex ViDi) offerings.
- Yokogawa Electric: Major Japanese industrial automation company providing measurement, control, and information systems for process industries. Overlaps with Adacotech's industrial automation positioning with much broader portfolio and global footprint.
Direct peers
- Instrumental: AI-powered manufacturing inspection and analytics platform serving electronics manufacturers. Direct competitor in AI-driven defect detection for high-volume production lines, comparable target customer profile and product category.
- Eigen Innovations: Industrial AI vision platform for manufacturing quality inspection. Comparable AI inspection offering for automotive and industrial customers with similar focus on real-time defect detection on production lines.
- Landing AI: AI visual inspection platform (LandingLens) for manufacturing defect detection. Directly competes with Adacotech's AdaInspector Cloud in the manufacturing AI vision SaaS category, targeting similar enterprise customers with no-code/low-code model creation.
Regional players
- Preferred Networks: Japanese deep tech AI company applying machine learning to transportation, manufacturing, and life sciences. Comparable Japanese deep-tech AI pedigree and overlap in manufacturing AI applications, though broader scope than Adacotech's inspection focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Adacotech social profiles
Digital presenceAdacotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adacotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Adacotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adacotech 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 Adacotech
What does Adacotech do?
Adacotech develops and sells AI-based visual inspection and anomaly detection software for manufacturing, built on proprietary HLAC feature extraction technology licensed from Japan's AIST. Its core product AdaInspector Cloud is a SaaS platform where users upload normal product images to train inspection AI models that run on standard PCs without GPUs, with additional products POKAMIRU, Shiwaketter, TRAYMIRU, and AdaWatcher addressing poka-yoke prevention, defect classification, tray-based inspection, and video anomaly detection respectively.
Is Adacotech a public or private company?
Adacotech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Adacotech founded?
Adacotech was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Adacotech based?
Adacotech is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Adacotech make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. SaaS Software Subscription (AdaInspector Cloud) is the primary driver. The others are AI Inspection Package Hardware and Software (TRAYMIRU), defect Classification Software License (Shiwaketter), professional Services (、受託開発) and technology Licensing.
Who are Adacotech's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Neurala and SparkCognition. Broad incumbents are Keyence Corporation, SICK AG, Cognex Corporation and Yokogawa Electric. Direct peers are Instrumental, Eigen Innovations and Landing AI. Preferred Networks is listed as a regional player.
Does Adacotech have an API?
Yes. AdaInspector Cloud provides a good-product judgment algorithm as an API, enabling cloud-to-edge end-to-end system construction. Models can be downloaded for offline use on inspection equipment.
What industry is Adacotech in?
Adacotech's product category is Industrial Visual Inspection AI Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAG, Industrial Vision & Quality Inspection, with a secondary code of IMAHAHAJ, Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.