Nakatomi

What Nakatomi does

Nakatomi is an Australian venture studio and creative partner that builds and backs early-stage companies through three pathways: co-creating ventures with external Founders (investing up to AUD $250K of cash and human capital in exchange for equity), partnering with Corporates on innovation ventures (co-investing alongside corporate capital to build new businesses at startup speed), and creating Originals (Nakatomi-initiated ventures later matched with operators). The studio operates a fee-free, equity-based revenue model supplemented by professional services revenue from its in-house brand studio Field of Play (acquired October 2025), and does not charge for venture partnership. Its technology stack spans product strategy, full-stack and mobile software development, AI engineering, cloud infrastructure, XR/VR, robotics, mechatronics, industrial design, and brand production — enabling end-to-end 0-to-1 venture construction under one roof.

The portfolio demonstrates the studio's breadth across verticals: Ovum (AI health journal for women, AUD $1.7M raised externally), Ruminati (agricultural emissions platform), Peeple (character-centred casual job board), Prologue by NIDA (multi-platform soft-skills learning system), Smart Bowl (IoT pet health bowl for Nestlé Purina), Project Revoice (AI voice cloning for ALS patients with the ALS Association and Lyrebird), Project Skate (Google TensorFlow-based computer-vision installation for Google), Bowmore Tasting Cask (autonomous whisky dispenser at Heathrow for Beam Suntory), Transit Tales (Mastercard), Rocket Stove (UNICEF Australia), and Bayi Gardiya (Indigenous-language VR work archived at ACMI). Field of Play operates as the wholly-owned in-house brand studio, led by Head of Design Elliot Stansfield.

Headquartered in Darlinghurst (Sydney) with a registered office in Paddington and operating presence in New Zealand through Field of Play, Nakatomi was founded in 2017 by Andy Timms and Benjamin Bray and raised its first external capital (AUD $3.5M seed) in October 2025 from a syndicate including Booking.com co-founder Adrian Critchlow, five Leonardo.ai co-founders, Scalare Partners founders, Gannet Capital, and PE veteran Les Fallick. The team of 16+ includes senior functional leads across venture development, technology, design, operations, growth, and GTM/brand strategy. Distribution runs through direct Typeform-based founder intake, executive-sponsorship corporate partnerships, an investor network, the Founders Union platform (with Scalare Partners, Westpac, MYOB, Atlassian, Zoho), and earned media in Forbes Australia, The Australian, Startup Daily, and trade publications.

Name

Nakatomi

Legal name

Nakatomi Pty Ltd

Website

https://nakatomi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nakatomi is an Australian venture studio that co-creates and co-owns startups with founders and corporates, providing up to AUD $250K in capital and human capital per venture. It serves early-stage founders, global corporates, and its own "Originals" portfolio spanning health, agriculture, education, HR, and consumer IoT, backed by a $3.5M seed round and the in-house Field of Play brand studio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Studio Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

Keywords

• Venture studio services
• Corporate innovation partnerships
• Venture building model
• Product design development
• Creative strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Paddington

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venture Equity: Nakatomi invests cash and human capital into co-founded ventures in exchange for equity. They do not charge fees for their services. Revenue is generated through equity appreciation and exits when ventures scale and raise external capital or are reintegrated into corporate partners.
2. Corporate Innovation Partnerships: Co-investing model where Nakatomi invests alongside corporate capital to build new ventures. Revenue comes from shared equity in successful ventures that are either reintegrated into the corporate business or spun out independently.
3. Field of Play Brand Studio: In-house brand studio (acquired October 2025) providing visual identity, art direction, graphic design, motion design, and packaging design services for ventures and external clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nakatomi is a venture studio and creative partner that co-creates, co-invests in, and co-owns startups from concept through to scale. Its core offering combines product strategy, design, software engineering, brand development, and go-to-market execution, deployed as in-house human capital and cash equity (up to AUD $250K per venture) in exchange for equity stakes. The studio serves three audiences: external Founders seeking capital and team support, Corporates seeking startup-speed innovation, and Nakatomi's own Originals ventures built around identified market gaps.

Product overview

Nakatomi is a venture studio and creative partner that backs and builds bold ventures from concept through to scale. Its core model encompasses three pathways: co-creating with external Founders (investing up to $250K in equity and human capital), partnering with Corporates on innovation ventures (co-investing to build new ventures at startup speed), and creating Originals (Nakatomi-initiated ventures matched with exceptional operators). The portfolio spans multiple ventures including Ovum (AI health journal for women), Ruminati (climate emissions tool for agriculture), Prologue by NIDA (multi-platform learning system), Peeple (character-centred casual job platform), Smart Bowl (IoT pet health bowl for Purina), Project Revoice (AI voice cloning for ALS patients), and various art/experiential projects with clients including Google, Mastercard, Beam Suntory, UNICEF, and NIDA. Field of Play, an acquired brand design studio, provides in-house visual identity and brand design capabilities for all ventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Field of Play: In-house brand design studio providing visual identity, art direction, graphic design, motion design, and packaging design services for ventures built by Nakatomi.

Products and services

• Ovum AI-powered intelligent health journal for women that creates a comprehensive health profile by tracking symptoms, biometric data, medical records, reproductive health, lifestyle, nutrition, medication, and appointments. Provides personalised insights and supports women's health research.
• Ruminati Climate emissions calculation platform for the agricultural supply chain that reduces emissions reporting time from months to approximately thirty minutes. Includes Reduction Planner for abatement modelling and Ruminati VISION dashboard for organisations monitoring suppliers.
• Prologue by NIDA Multi-platform learning system combining a book, card games, mobile app, audio guides, and short films to teach soft skills based on NIDA acting training IP. First course 'Act Natural' targets professional development learners.
• Peeple Character-centred casual job board platform that matches individuals and businesses based on personality assessments and brand alignment rather than just skills and availability.
• Smart Bowl IoT-connected intelligent pet bowl developed for Nestlé Purina that uses sensor data to track eating behaviour and delivers health insights via a companion mobile app, including activity tracking, puppy growth journals, and health alerts.
• Project Revoice Speech technology initiative that uses deep learning voice cloning (via Lyrebird) to recreate a person's authentic voice from existing recordings, allowing ALS patients to continue communicating naturally after losing the ability to speak.
• Field of Play In-house brand design studio providing visual identity design, art direction, graphic design, motion design, packaging design, and style guides for ventures built by Nakatomi and external clients.
• The Founders Union AI-powered startup services platform providing founders with curated access to resources, education, community, and investment options, powered by Nakatomi's venture-building infrastructure and connected with partners including Westpac, MYOB, Atlassian, and Zoho.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple startups co-created in two years, all raising external capital
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core/aquired, core, project and key client.

• Field of Playcore/aquiredStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025New Zealand-based design agency acquired by Nakatomi in October 2025 to embed brand design capabilities in venture building. Now operates as in-house brand studio led by Head of Design Elliot Stansfield.
• CreatablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2016 delivering creativity-led STEM education projects. Collaborated on Rocket Stove project for Burundi and ongoing curriculum development.
• Create FutureprojectStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy partners for Bowmore Tasting Cask project, working with Nakatomi on experiential whisky tasting machine design and tasting journey questionnaire.
• BWM DentsuprojectStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner for Project Revoice, collaborating on speech technology for ALS patients alongside The ALS Association and Lyrebird.
• LyrebirdprojectTechnology or IntegrationVoice cloning technology provider for Project Revoice, providing the deep learning algorithm that creates digital voice clones for ALS patients.
• The ALS AssociationprojectStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for Project Revoice, providing mission alignment and patient access for voice banking initiative for ALS/MND patients worldwide.
• UNICEF AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development partner for Rocket Stove project in Burundi, tasking Nakatomi and Creatable with developing STEM curriculum for Burundi's national education system.
• Googlekey clientStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise client for Project Skate using Google TensorFlow AI platform. Google's Brand Studio APAC collaborated on technical installation for half-pipe skateboarding.
• Mastercardkey clientStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise client for Transit Tales project, reimagining daily commute as canvas for immersive storytelling using AI to transform classic literature into personalized audio journeys.
• Beam Suntorykey clientStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal spirits leader and client for Bowmore Tasting Cask project. Chose Bowmore whisky brand for the centerpiece of the autonomous tasting experience deployed at Heathrow Terminal 5.
• Purina (Nestlé Purina)key clientStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Smart Bowl project — innovative consumer product enhancing core pet care business. Nakatomi handled full product development from discovery through mass manufacturing.
• National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)key clientStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation client for Prologue by NIDA — multi-platform learning system expanding NIDA's corporate training to new digital audiences. NIDA retains strategic involvement as the venture scales.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prehype: NYC-based venture studio that co-creates startups with entrepreneurs. Comparable in the equity-for-execution model and small, cross-disciplinary team approach to venture creation.
• Atomic: US venture studio that co-creates companies with founders from idea stage. Comparable to Nakatomi in its full-stack venture building approach, providing product, design, engineering, and GTM support in-house.
• Science Inc. LA-based venture studio building consumer brands and tech companies alongside founders. Comparable to Nakatomi's mix of consumer products, software, and brand-led venture creation.
• Founders Factory: Global venture studio and accelerator with strong corporate partnership focus. Directly comparable to Nakatomi's corporate innovation partnership model and the founder + corporate co-investment structure.
• High Alpha: US-based venture studio that builds B2B SaaS companies alongside founders and corporate partners. Highly comparable to Nakatomi in the studio + corporate innovation partnership model and co-investment structure.
• Antler: Global venture studio operating in 25+ cities that co-creates startups with founders from day one. Closely comparable to Nakatomi in the founder-led co-creation model, equity-for-execution approach, and global geographic ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• R/GA: Global creative and innovation agency that operates venture studios and corporate venture partnerships. Comparable to Nakatomi in its brand, technology, and venture building capabilities for enterprise clients, though at significantly larger scale.
• Idealab: Pioneer of the venture studio model with a longer history and broader portfolio. Operates similar Originals-style venture creation but at greater scale and longer operating history than Nakatomi.
• IDEO: Global design and innovation firm with corporate innovation programs and venture creation work. Comparable to Nakatomi's prior innovation studio model and corporate client base, though IDEO operates at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Aera Ventures: Australian venture studio operating in the same domestic market as Nakatomi. Closest regional peer with comparable founder-first venture building approach in the same geographic ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nakatomico
• Instagraminstagram.com/nakatomi.venture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nakatomi