E-ThermoGentek

What E-ThermoGentek does

E-ThermoGentek is a Kyoto-based deep-tech semiconductor company founded in 2013 that develops and manufactures flexible thermoelectric power generation systems. The company's core technology, branded as Flexiina® (フレキーナ), consists of BiTe (bismuth telluride) thermoelectric elements assembled at high density on ultra-thin flexible resin film substrates using semiconductor manufacturing processes, described as the world's first flexible thermoelectric module capable of conforming to cylindrical and curved heat sources. The company holds a portfolio of 17 patents including a basic patent (No. 5228160) with corresponding US coverage, additional structure and cooling-container patents filed in Japan, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and the US, and an international Flexiina® trademark. It was founded as a venture spin-out from Asset Witz Co., Ltd., which remains its parent company and provides facilities, network, and advisory support.

The product portfolio is organized into two main categories. The S1 series targets IoT applications at mW power levels (5–180mW) using temperature differentials as low as 15°C, with three form factors (pipe-wrap, finless, flat) and the S1-P3 air-cooled system for outdoor hot-water/drain-water pipes below 150°C. The S2 series targets industrial energy recovery at kW scale: the S2-W double-tube generator produces 6kW per unit from steam waste heat (150W per tube × 40 tubes) and the S2-C heat-collection-core generator produces 1.6kW per unit from exhaust gas. The company cites quantifiable outcomes including battery-replacement cost reduction to one-tenth or less for IoT users and approximately 300 tons of CO₂ reduction per year for a 100kW installed base.

E-ThermoGentek operates a sales-led GTM motion combining direct enterprise sales, strategic co-development partnerships with majors (ENEOS Holdings, Tokyo Gas, Murata Manufacturing, JX Oil & Gas Exploration, AIST), and trade-show lead generation at events such as Decarbonization Expo, SMART ENERGY WEEK, and EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai. Pricing is primarily one-time hardware sales, with IoT units priced as low as ¥33,000 (volume ¥30,000 at 100+ units) and industrial systems sold via quote-based custom installations. The company runs on registered capital of ¥100M following 2024–2025 capital reductions from a peak of approximately ¥377M, has raised through multiple third-party allocations (including UntroD Capital / Real Tech Holdings), and is supported by NEDO grants and J-Startup KANSAI designation. Headcount is 11–50 employees, with R&D bases co-located at Osaka University and Kyoto University Katsura Venture Plaza.

Name

E-ThermoGentek

Legal name

株式会社Eサーモジェンテック

Website

https://e-thermo.securesite.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

E-ThermoGentek is a Kyoto-based deep-tech company that develops flexible thermoelectric power generation modules (Flexiina®) and turnkey S1/S2 systems for IoT sensor power and industrial waste heat recovery, selling to Japanese enterprises, energy majors, and government researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thermoelectric Power Generation Systems

NAICS

Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Monitoring, Controls & SCADA Hardware Manufacturing (Sensors, RTUs, Meters) (EUAMAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Demand Response, Load Flexibility & Smart Thermostat Aggregation (EUADAPAM)

Keywords

• Thermoelectric power generation
• Waste heat recovery
• Flexible semiconductor modules
• IoT self-sustaining power
• Industrial energy harvesting

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Thermoelectric Power Generation Hardware Sales: Sale of thermoelectric power generation modules and systems including S1 series (IoT power supplies) and S2 series (energy-saving power generation tubes). Products sold directly to industrial customers and through partnerships. Revenue from initial product sales, with potential for recurring service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

E-ThermoGentek designs, manufactures, and sells thermoelectric power generation systems built on its proprietary Flexiina flexible BiTe module technology. Its product portfolio includes low-output IoT self-sustaining power supplies (S1 series, mW-level) for wireless sensors that replace batteries, and higher-output industrial power generation tubes (S2 series, kW-level) that recover waste heat from steam and exhaust gas. Customers are industrial facilities, energy companies, and IoT sensor deployers, primarily in Japan, served through direct sales, sample evaluation, and co-development partnerships.

Product overview

E-ThermoGentek offers a portfolio of thermoelectric power generation products centered on its proprietary Flexiina® flexible thermoelectric module technology. The product line is organized into two main categories: (1) IoT self-sustaining power supplies (S1 series) providing mW-level power for wireless sensors from low-temperature waste heat with minimal temperature differential (15°C+), and (2) Energy-saving power generation systems (S2 series) providing kW-level power for industrial facilities from steam and exhaust gas waste heat. The S1α series targets the IoT market with three form factors (pipe-wrap, finless, flat), while the S1-P3 addresses outdoor/hot water applications. The S2-W series (double-tube) and S2-C series (heat collection core) target factory energy savings with 6kW and 1.6kW per unit respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• フレキーナ® (Flexiina): Flexible thermoelectric power generation module - world's first flexible thermoelectric module that can conform to curved heat sources for high heat recovery efficiency
• S1αシリーズ (S1-P&F series)
• S1-P3
• S2-Wシリーズ
• S2-Cシリーズ

Products and services

• S1α Series IoT Self-Sustaining Power Supply (S1-P001E, S1-P051B, S1-F102) Ultra-compact thermoelectric self-sustaining power supply for IoT wireless sensors. Replaces primary batteries in temperature sensors, vibration sensors, data loggers, and communication modules. For industrial IoT sensor users in factories and manufacturing plants.
• S1-P3 Air-Cooled Stand-alone Power Supply System Air-cooled self-sustaining power supply system for recovering electricity from hot water and hot drain water pipes below 150°C. Produces 24V output at 18-36W/m with 60-80°C temperature differential. For outdoor locations and remote facilities where cable installation is costly or hazardous.
• S2-W Series Double-Tube Thermoelectric Generator Double-tube structured thermoelectric power generation system for steam waste heat recovery. Each tube (1.6m length) produces 150W; one unit with 40 tubes produces 6kW, expandable to 40kW with 7 units. For industrial facilities (chemical plants, factories) with steam waste heat to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
• S2-C Series Thermoelectric Generator with Heat Collection Core Thermoelectric power generation tube with built-in heat collection core for exhaust gas heat recovery. Water-cooled specification produces 1.6kW per unit (100W per tube x 16 tubes). Air-cooled option also available. For industrial facilities recovering energy from exhaust gas waste heat.
• Flexiina® Flexible Thermoelectric Generation Module Proprietary flexible thermoelectric power generation module using BiTe elements on resin thin-film substrate with stretchable conductive resin wiring. World's first flexible thermoelectric module that conforms to cylindrical and flat heat sources. Core underlying technology used across the company's S1 and S2 product lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Battery replacement maintenance cost reduced to 1/10 or less
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• 立命館大学 (Ritsumeikan University)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Collaborative research partner in NEDO 'Seeds Exploration Phase C' project for development of air-cooled self-sustaining power supply system using thermoelectric generation from steam/hot wastewater waste heat.
• 村田製作所 (Murata Manufacturing)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Partnership to enable easy battery replacement of Murata vibration sensors (LBAC0ZZ1TF) with E-ThermoGentek S1α series products. Developed simple connection parts allowing Murata's IoT wireless sensors to use thermoelectric power as battery replacement. Joint product launch targeting predictive maintenance applications.
• 産業技術総合研究所 (AIST)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024AIST implemented E-ThermoGentek's IoT self-sustaining power supply S1-P for spring water thermoelectric power generation demonstration. Published research results on flexible module technology (January 2018).
• 東京ガス (Tokyo Gas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2021Co-development partner for world's first compact, high-output IoT self-sustaining power supply using thermoelectric generation from waste heat. Joint development resulted in S1 series products (S1-P1: 10mW, S1-P2: 180mW) for factory IoT applications.
• ENEOSホールディングス (ENEOS Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2021Joint development partnership for thermoelectric power generation systems using waste heat from industrial processes. ENEOS provided access to facilities for PoC demonstration of S1-P3 air-cooled power supply at Nakajo Oil Works. Collaboration enabled development of commercial products for energy-saving applications.
• 大阪大学 産業科学研究所 (Osaka University ISIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore technology development partner. Professor Katsuaki Suganuma's research group contributed stretchable conductive resin technology for flexible module wiring (Patent 5626830). Academic-industry collaboration from initial technology development (2012-2015) through commercialization.
• アセット・ウィッツ (Asset Witz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and new business development partner. Asset Witz created E-ThermoGentek as a venture company to commercialize thermoelectric technology developed through its open innovation activities. E-ThermoGentek is housed at Asset Witz's facility and benefits from their network of industry partners and experienced advisors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 E-ThermoGentek