What VAAK does

VAAK is a Tokyo-based AI company founded in November 2017 by Ryo Tanaka, focused on applying proprietary computer vision to existing surveillance camera infrastructure. The company's core platform, VAAKEYE, performs real-time action recognition on live and recorded video feeds to detect more than 120 categories of anomalies, including suspicious behavior, violence, prohibited actions, workplace hazards, medical emergencies, equipment abnormalities, and irregular operational patterns. The technology stack combines in-house deep learning models with edge AI integration through partnerships such as the VAAKEYE with i-PRO launch, which couples Panasonic i-PRO edge inference with VAAK cloud processing to suppress false positives and negatives. The company holds two granted patents covering action estimation devices and methods (Patent Nos. 6854959 and 7649934).

VAAK operates a hybrid enterprise SaaS model: a subscription-based VAAKEYE platform billed annually on a quote basis (priced per camera count, location, and required detection modules) layered with implementation and consulting services delivered through channel partners. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales targeting large accounts in manufacturing, retail, and real estate with inside sales for mid-market, supported by partners including Eltes (reseller/implementation), MS&AD InterRisk (risk and insurance consulting), and Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Fire Insurance (insurance-bundled forklift safety). The product portfolio is verticalized into dedicated DX modules for factories, facilities, stores, offices, and public spaces, plus adjacent lines including VAAKEYE+ (thermal/infection screening), VAAKPAY (cashierless checkout), and services such as short-term loss-prevention packs and SOC support.

The customer base spans enterprise manufacturing (notably Kyocera with 500+ cameras deployed), retail (PAL GROUP), real estate and facility management (Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsubishi Estate), and the public sector (Wako City). All operations are based in Japan. Total disclosed venture funding to date is approximately $2.6 million across a 2018 seed from Deepcore and a 2019 Series A led by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and MSIVC, with a subsequent capital and business alliance with Zain Electronics in March 2024. Headcount is reported in the 51-100 range, and VAAK maintains ISO/IEC 27001 and JIS Q 27001 certifications as well as NVIDIA Inception membership, with the Tokyo headquarters relocated to Minami-Ikebukuro in July 2024.

Name

VAAK

Legal name

株式会社VAAK

Website

https://vaak.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

VAAK is a Tokyo-based AI company that provides the VAAKEYE proprietary computer vision platform, analyzing existing surveillance cameras in real time to detect 120+ anomaly types for enterprise and public-sector customers across manufacturing, retail, real estate, and government in Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Software Subscription (VAAKEYE): Subscription-based software-as-a-service model providing access to the VAAKEYE video analytics platform. Revenue is generated through recurring subscription fees, likely structured per-camera or per-location, with enterprise contracts for large deployments.
2. Professional Services: Implementation, system integration, and consulting services delivered through partners including MS&AD InterRisk and Eltes. Supports enterprise deployments and custom integrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VAAK develops and sells VAAKEYE, an AI-powered video analytics SaaS that analyzes footage from existing security cameras to detect over 120 types of anomalies — including suspicious behavior, safety hazards, forklift/person proximity, falls, equipment abnormalities, and prohibited actions — converting continuous manual monitoring into exception-based alerting for enterprises in manufacturing, logistics, retail, real estate, and the public sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VAAKEYE: Core AI video analytics platform that analyzes existing security camera footage to detect suspicious behaviors, anomalies, restricted area intrusions, and safety hazards across factory, retail, facility, office, and public sector environments.
• VAAKEYE+
• VAAKPAY
• 短期集中「ロス削減」パック
• AI監視センター支援
• 特定映像の抽出

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% reduction in losses for manufacturing customers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Fire Insurance (三井住友海上火災保険)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Strategic partnership for forklift monitoring safety solutions. Combines VAAK's AI action recognition technology with insurance company's risk management expertise to offer integrated safety monitoring and insurance products for warehouse and logistics operations.
• Zain Electronics (ザインエレクトロニクス)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2024Capital and business partnership providing both financial investment and business collaboration. Enhances VAAK's technology development and market expansion capabilities.
• Panasonic i-PRO Sensing SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationProduct integration partnership with Panasonic's i-PRO brand of security cameras and sensors. VAAKEYE integrates with i-PRO camera systems for enhanced AI-powered video analytics.
• Axis CommunicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership with Axis, a leading network camera manufacturer. VAAKEYE platform compatible with Axis camera ecosystem for seamless video analytics deployment.
• Cisco MerakicoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical integration with Cisco Meraki cloud-managed camera and networking solutions. VAAKEYE analyzes video feeds from Meraki cameras.
• Eagle Eye NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Eagle Eye Networks cloud video management platform. VAAKEYE AI analytics integrated into Eagle Eye's cloud video surveillance ecosystem.
• GeneteccoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Genetec's Video Manager (Security Center) VMS platform. VAAKEYE analytics seamlessly integrated into Genetec's enterprise security management system.
• Safie (セーフィー)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Safie, a leading cloud-based video surveillance service in Japan. VAAKEYE provides AI analytics layer on top of Safie's video platform.
• Milestone SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Milestone's XProtect VMS platform, enabling VAAKEYE analytics to work within Milestone's video management ecosystem.
• Avigilon ( Motorola Solutions)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Avigilon's video analytics and management platform, part of Motorola Solutions. VAAKEYE complements Avigilon's security offerings.
• Eltes (株式会社エルテス)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSales and implementation partnership. Eltes, a risk management solutions provider, resells and implements VAAKEYE solutions for their enterprise customers.
• MS&AD InterRisk Research Institute (MS&ADインターリスク総研)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partnership for risk management and insurance-related applications. Collaborates on developing safety monitoring solutions linked to risk assessment and insurance products.
• Takachiho Kogyo (高千穂交易)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExhibition and sales partner for trade show appearances. Takachiho Kogyo supports VAAK's presence at industry exhibitions and events in Japan.
• Hochiki (ホーチキ)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExhibition partnership for industry events. Supports VAAK's participation in security and safety industry trade shows.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInwantedly.com/companies/vaak
• Xx.com/vaak_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/vaakco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 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 VAAK