IDDK
IDDK Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based deep-tech startup founded in 2017 that develops patented lens-free semiconductor microscopy (MID) technology and provides end-to-end space bio-experiment services for research institutions, biotech companies, and traditional industries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersKoto, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What IDDK does
IDDK Co., Ltd. (株式会社IDDK) is a Tokyo-based deep-tech startup founded in June 2017 that develops lens-free semiconductor microscopy technology and operates a commercial space bio-experiment service. The company's core technology, MID (Micro Imaging Device), uses a semiconductor mesh of light-sensing elements to capture microscopic images by overlapping light patterns, eliminating the need for traditional optical lenses and enabling an order-of-magnitude reduction in device size and weight. MID is patented in Japan and the US and underpins the entire product line, which now spans the consumer AminoME USB microscope (launched 2021), the MID-CORE Series of professional microscopy devices (MID-CORE One, MID-CORE Flex, and MID-CORE Incubator Edition, launched December 2025), and the Micro Bio Space LAB (MBS-LAB) automated bio-experiment system designed for unattended orbital operation.
The company's revenue model is hybrid. Hardware is sold through the IDDK online store on Base and was originally launched via Makuake crowdfunding, while B2B space bio-experiment services are delivered as one-stop engagements covering mission design, ground demonstration, flight model fabrication, orbital experiment execution via partner satellite operators, and sample return. Customers span research institutions and biotech/pharma companies, traditional Japanese food and beverage manufacturers (notably Yuasa Shoyu and Kikumasamune for sake and soy sauce fermentation R&D), and educational and consumer segments.
IDDK is developing AI/LLM-driven autonomous experiment control technology, with two patents jointly filed in June 2026 (with Space Seed Holdings, RegenerSome, and Spacenome Laboratory) to integrate MID imaging with LLMs for autonomous reagent delivery, environmental adjustment, and anomaly detection in space. The company maintains operations in Tokyo (headquarters), Hokkaido (space-machining development center), and Kobe (Kobe Bio Lab, established January 2024 within Kobe Medical Industry City) and has raised approximately USD 3.5M in cumulative equity financing to date.
IDDK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IDDK
- Legal name
- 株式会社IDDK
- Website
- https://iddk.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- IDDK Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based deep-tech startup founded in 2017 that develops patented lens-free semiconductor microscopy (MID) technology and provides end-to-end space bio-experiment services for research institutions, biotech companies, and traditional industries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IDDK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Microscopy Devices
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Custom/ASIC & Foundry-Adjacent IDM Services (HDAHAAAL), Scientific Data Management & Data Platforms (SDMS/Data Lakehouse for R&D) (HLAGAJAC)
Keywords
Where IDDK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Koto
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
IDDK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Space Bio Experiment Services: One-stop service for conducting bio experiments in space, including mission design, ground-based demonstration devices, flight model production, orbital experiment execution, and sample return. Targets research institutions, biotech companies, and traditional industries.
- MID Device Sales: Sale of hardware products including MID-CORE series (industrial/scientific use) and AminoME (consumer use) through direct e-commerce and potentially distributors.
- Cloud-based Data/Analysis Services: Potential future revenue from analysis services derived from space and ground-based experiments conducted using MID technology.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AminoME consumer microscope |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
IDDK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IDDK develops and sells proprietary lens-free semiconductor microscopy devices (MID technology) and provides end-to-end space bio-experiment services. Its product portfolio spans consumer USB microscopes (AminoME), professional research devices (MID-CORE series), and automated space bio-experiment platforms (MBS-LAB), complemented by full-stack mission services covering experiment design, satellite deployment, and sample return for research institutions and traditional industries.
Product overview
IDDK offers a portfolio of lens-free microscopic observation products built on its proprietary MID (Micro Imaging Device) semiconductor technology. The product line spans from consumer devices (AminoME) to professional research and industrial products (MID-CORE SERIES including MID-CORE One, MID-CORE Flex, and MID-CORE Incubator Edition). The MID technology serves as the core platform across all products — a lens-free semiconductor mesh-based approach that captures microscopic images by superimposing light, contrasting with traditional lens-based microscopes. For space applications, IDDK provides the Micro Bio Space LAB (MBS-LAB) automated bio-experiment system and a one-stop space experiment service covering mission design through sample return. The company is developing AI/LLM-powered autonomous experiment control systems that use MID as the 'eyes' for real-time biological monitoring and adaptive experiment management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MID-CORE: Professional-grade semiconductor-based microscopy product line including MID-CORE One (USB stick type), MID-CORE Flex (separated observation unit), and MID-CORE Incubator Edition (for incubator installation).
- AminoME
- Micro Bio Space LAB (MBS-LAB)
Products and services
- MID-CORE SERIES Semiconductor-based lens-free microscopic observation technology platform under the MID-CORE brand, offering multiple form factors (USB stick, modular, incubator-embedded) for diverse observation use cases from consumer to research applications.
- AminoME IDDK's first consumer-facing B2C product using MID technology. A USB stick-sized one-chip microscope (approx 25mm × 82mm × 9mm) with a wooden housing, providing plug-and-play microscopic observation via PC USB connection. Targets 'anyone, anywhere, anytime' microscopic observation for science enthusiasts and consumers.
- Micro Bio Space LAB (MBS-LAB) Automated bio-experiment device utilizing MID technology for space biology experiments. Designed for fully unmanned autonomous operation in orbit, enabling cell culture and observation in microgravity environments without astronaut intervention.
- One-stop space experiment service Comprehensive space experiment service covering mission technical requirements definition, experimental protocol proposal, ground test unit fabrication, data acquisition, flight model production, orbital experiment implementation via partner satellites, and sample return. IDDK coordinates international adjustments and provides the complete end-to-end service.
- MID-CORE One USB stick type microscopic observation device optimized for portability and space efficiency. Part of the MID-CORE SERIES product line.
- MID-CORE Flex Microscopic observation device with a control unit separated from the observation unit, enabling flexible placement and remote observation capabilities.
- MID-CORE Incubator Edition Incubator installation type microscopic observation device that continuously visualizes cell culture processes without disturbing the culture environment.
Quantifiable outcome
- First private Japanese company to offer satellite-based space bio experiment platform
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use IDDK
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IDDK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
IDDK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Space Seed Holdings (スペースシードホールディングス)coreJoint patent applications for LLM-based autonomous experiment technology. Collaboration on space bio-experiment automation combining Space Seed Holdings' expertise with IDDK's MID technology.
- RegenerSome (リジェネソーム)coreJoint patent applications for autonomous experiment technology targeting longevity biotechnology applications in space.
- Spacenome Laboratory (株式会社スペースノーム研究所)coreJoint patent applications for autonomous experiment technology with focus on space biology and materials science.
- Integriculture (インテグリカルチャー)coreMOU for cell agriculture infrastructure development. Combining IDDK's MID technology and automated culture devices with Integriculture's CulNet system and 'Katteba' marketplace to create starter kits for cell agriculture.
- Yuasa Shoyu (湯浅醤油)coreWorld's first 'Space Soy Sauce' brewing experiment. IDDK provides space experiment platform; Yuasa Shoyu provides koji mold expertise and will conduct brewing after sample return.
- Space Cargo Unlimited (Luxembourg)coreProvides pressurized environment device 'BentoBox' integration for space soy sauce experiment.
- SpaceXcoreProvides Falcon 9 rocket launch services for space experiment missions.
- ATMOS Space France SAScoreMOU for commercial space life science mission commercialization. ATMOS provides return capsule (Phoenix) for sample recovery from space; IDDK provides bio experiment devices.
- Inbound AerospacestrategicMoU for collaborative opportunities in microgravity experiments and in-space manufacturing.
- JETRO / AlchemistX (GSAP Program)minorSelected for Global Startup Acceleration Program 'BtoB Commercial Traction Course' to support US market entry strategy and network building.
- National Central University Taiwan (台湾の国立中央大学)strategicMOU to provide microgravity bio experiment opportunities in Taiwan, signed at TAITRONICS & AIoT Taiwan 2024.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IDDK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese semiconductor-based imaging and photonics company producing sensors and detectors for life science and industrial microscopy. Closely comparable to IDDK on the semiconductor imaging core, though at far larger scale and broader scope.
- Space Tango: US-based company providing microgravity research platforms and payload services aboard the ISS. Direct competitor to IDDK's space bio-experiment service offering, with similar end-to-end mission support model.
- Yuri Gravity: German microgravity biotech company commercializing space-based biomanufacturing and research. Closely comparable business model to IDDK's space bio-experiment services for life science customers.
- SpacePharma: Israel-based company operating miniature satellites for microgravity experiments in life sciences. Directly comparable to IDDK's satellite-based unmanned bio-experiment platform (MBS-LAB).
Broad incumbents
- Olympus Corporation: Global leader in optical microscopes and life science imaging. Competes with IDDK's MID-CORE line for research and clinical microscopy budgets, but uses traditional lens-based optics rather than IDDK's semiconductor mesh approach.
- Leica Microsystems (Danaher): Premium microscope and imaging systems provider serving life science and clinical markets. Relevant incumbent competitor for IDDK's research-grade microscopy use cases.
- Carl Zeiss AG (ZEISS Microscopy): Established microscopy and optical instruments manufacturer with deep presence in life science, materials, and medical imaging. Represents the dominant lens-based incumbent against which IDDK's lens-free MID must compete.
- Nikon Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of optical microscopes and imaging instruments alongside its camera business. Relevant broad incumbent comparable to IDDK in microscopy product category.
- Bruker Corporation: Scientific instruments company with significant microscopy and life science analytical product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing alternative microscopy solutions to research and biotech customers.
Emerging players
- Keyence Corporation: Japanese sensor and imaging equipment maker with microscope-adjacent product lines. Comparable as a Japanese peer pushing semiconductor/electronic-based observation into industrial and research settings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IDDK social profiles
Digital presenceIDDK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IDDK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
IDDK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IDDK 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 IDDK
What does IDDK do?
IDDK develops and sells proprietary lens-free semiconductor microscopy devices (MID technology) and provides end-to-end space bio-experiment services. Its product portfolio spans consumer USB microscopes (AminoME), professional research devices (MID-CORE series), and automated space bio-experiment platforms (MBS-LAB), complemented by full-stack mission services covering experiment design, satellite deployment, and sample return for research institutions and traditional industries.
Is IDDK a public or private company?
IDDK is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was IDDK founded?
IDDK was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is IDDK based?
IDDK is headquartered in Koto, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does IDDK make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Space Bio Experiment Services are the primary driver. The others are MID Device Sales and cloud-based Data/Analysis Services.
Who are IDDK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hamamatsu Photonics, Space Tango, Yuri Gravity and SpacePharma. Broad incumbents are Olympus Corporation, Leica Microsystems (Danaher), Carl Zeiss AG (ZEISS Microscopy), Nikon Corporation and Bruker Corporation. Keyence Corporation is listed as an emerging player.
Does IDDK have an API?
No public API is recorded for IDDK.
What industry is IDDK in?
IDDK's product category is Semiconductor Microscopy Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments, with a secondary code of HDAHAAAL, Custom/ASIC & Foundry-Adjacent IDM Services. Its NAICS code is 3345 and its SIC code is 3826.