CarbGeM
CarbGeM is a Tokyo-based AI/biotech company developing SaMD-approved bacterial species estimation software, automated Gram staining devices, and a cloud AI image analysis platform (CarbConnect) serving hospitals, academic researchers, and life sciences institutions across global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What CarbGeM does
CarbGeM Inc. is a Tokyo-based AI and biotechnology company founded in March 2021 that develops AI-powered tools for clinical microbiology and life sciences research. The company's core products include BiTTE-Urine, a Class II Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) approved in Japan (December 2024) that estimates bacterial species from Gram-stained images with ~95% accuracy across 7 categories in approximately 10 seconds; BiTTE-iE, a research-use version distributed globally via app stores in 170+ countries; PoCGS automated Gram staining devices (Class I medical device and research-use variants); and the Bacterial Growth Monitor (BGM) using proprietary 2D TFT sensor technology for real-time quantitative microbial growth analysis at 5-minute intervals.
The company's technology foundation is the CarbConnect cloud-based AI platform, which combines proprietary deep learning models (CNN-based) for image analysis with a no-code AI Studio for model building, an enterprise tier for organizations with API integration capabilities, and a Community forum for expert knowledge sharing. The platform serves hospitals, clinical microbiology departments, academic researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and veterinary diagnostic laboratories across Japan, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the US, and Europe.
CarbGeM generates revenue through multiple streams: SaaS subscriptions for CarbConnect (¥30,000/month basic tier), mobile app sales for BiTTE-iE, medical device sales for PoCGS-Pro and BiTTE-Urine (via NexxGen as manufacturing/distribution partner), professional services for the AI for Science Accompaniment Support offering, BGM service revenue for research collaborations, and licensing for the BiTTE-Urine SaMD. The company is led by CEO Masakazu Nakajima and co-founder Mac Taketani, with strategic partnerships including DSS Imagetech for India market entry, MEJ/JETRO/JICA for government-backed international expansion, and academic collaborations with NCGM, Kobe University, University of Tokyo, Keio University, Nagasaki Medical Center, Kameda Medical Center, and international institutions.
CarbGeM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CarbGeM
- Legal name
- カーブジェン株式会社 (CarbGeM Inc.)
- Website
- https://carbgem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CarbGeM is a Tokyo-based AI/biotech company developing SaMD-approved bacterial species estimation software, automated Gram staining devices, and a cloud AI image analysis platform (CarbConnect) serving hospitals, academic researchers, and life sciences institutions across global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CarbGeM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI-powered clinical microbiology diagnostics
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SaMD – Imaging & Signal Analysis (AI/ML) (HLACANAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) – Clinical Decision & Diagnostic Software (HLACANAD), Medical Imaging AI (HDAAAEAH), Digital & AI-Enabled Diagnostics (algorithmic interpretation, decision support tied to assays) (HLAAALAO), AI Orchestration & Imaging Analytics Platforms (Model Management/Triage) (HLACALAG)
Keywords
Where CarbGeM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
CarbGeM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscriptions (CarbConnect): Cloud-based AI image analysis platform offered as monthly or annual subscription. Basic plan for small teams starting at ¥30,000/month. Organization plans for enterprise deployment.
- Mobile App Downloads/Subscriptions (BiTTE-iE): Research-use AI software available via App Store and Google Play in approximately 170 countries. Revenue from app sales or subscriptions.
- Medical Device Sales (PoCGS-Pro): Automated Gram staining device classified as Class I general medical device. Direct sales to healthcare facilities for point-of-care testing.
- BGM Service Revenue: Bacterial Growth Monitor service providing device lending plus analytical support from CarbGeM's team. Applied in research collaborations and contract studies.
- AI Implementation Services: AI for Science accompanying support services with compute resource vouchers starting at ¥100,000. Includes consulting for regulatory compliance and social implementation.
- Licensing (BiTTE-Urine): Class II SaMD approved software with manufacturing/sales through NexxGen Inc. Tokyo Data Lab. Licensed distribution model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | CarbConnect Basic Plan - ¥30,000/month for small teams and research groups |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | AI for Science Compute Voucher - Starting at ¥100,000 |
| Subscription | Annual | BiTTE-Urine - Inquiry-based pricing for medical facility procurement |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
CarbGeM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CarbGeM develops and sells AI-powered image analysis software and SaaS platforms for microbiology and infectious disease diagnostics. Its flagship BiTTE-Urine is a Japan-approved Class II SaMD that classifies bacteria from Gram-stained images in about 10 seconds with 95% accuracy across 7 categories. The CarbConnect cloud platform enables no-code AI model building, enterprise deployment, and a professional community for life sciences, complemented by automated Gram staining devices (PoCGS) and a proprietary Bacterial Growth Monitor.
Product overview
CarbGeM is a technology company offering a unified platform-plus-modules portfolio centered on CarbConnect®, a cloud-based AI image analysis platform for life sciences. The core product family includes BiTTE®-Urine (Class II SaMD for bacterial species estimation) and BiTTE®-iE (RUO version), paired with PoCGS® automated Gram staining devices (PoCGS®-Pro medical device and PoCGS®-iE for research). CarbConnect® serves as the central platform with modular add-ons: AI Studio for no-code model building, Community for expert collaboration, for Organizations enterprise tier, and Community Applications for global AI model integration. Supporting products include BGM for microbial growth monitoring, Pick Colony 1.0, ZOI Pro/VET, Nugent Score AI, and BM Smear AI 1.0. The portfolio addresses infectious disease diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, research efficiency, and quality control automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CarbConnect®: Cloud-based AI image analysis platform for life sciences, enabling secure image storage, real-time communication, and AI model development.
- BiTTE®
- PoCGS®
- BGM (Bacterial Growth Monitor)
- カーブジェン+ (CarbGeM+)
Products and services
- BiTTE-Urine Class II SaMD-approved AI software that analyzes Gram-stained microscopy images via smartphone camera to estimate bacterial species causing urinary tract infections and suggest appropriate antimicrobial candidates based on antibiogram data, achieving 95% accuracy across 7 bacterial morphology categories in approximately 10 seconds.
- BiTTE-iE Research-use-only AI software for microbial estimation from Gram-stained images with three-level classification (morphology, species, intermediate). Available globally via mobile app in approximately 170 countries.
- PoCGS-Pro Class I medical device automated Gram staining system that completes fixation to staining in approximately 5 minutes with customizable protocols for reagent application, decolorizing, and rinsing settings.
- PoCGS-iE
Quantifiable outcome
- BiTTE-Urine achieves 95% accuracy in 7-category bacterial classification compared to 83% accuracy for specialist medical professionals
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CarbGeM
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CarbGeM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
CarbGeM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DSS Imagetech Pvt. Ltd.coreStrategic MOU signed to expand AI life science solutions in India. Leverages DSS's development, sales, and service infrastructure in microscopy and digital imaging. Aims to deploy CarbGeM's AI technologies across hospitals, laboratories, and research institutions throughout India to address antimicrobial resistance and healthcare disparities.
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)minorGovernment organization providing support for CarbGeM's international expansion initiatives. Part of network supporting Japanese companies' global market entry.
- Medical Excellence JAPAN (MEJ)coreMETI program administrator supporting CarbGeM's international expansion. Facilitating participation in overseas exhibitions, trade missions, and market entry programs for healthcare DX solutions.
- Kobe Biomedical Innovation ClusterminorOne of Japan's largest biomedical research clusters. CarbGeM exhibits through Kobe cluster booth at international medical fairs (MEDICAL FAIR THAILAND) to showcase Japanese healthcare innovations.
- Sōi Ika Gakkai Holdings / Sōi Ika Kenkyū (Soi Medical Research)minorJoint development project on image AI technology for depression diagnosis drug development. Collaborative research combining CarbGeM's AI image analysis capabilities with medical research expertise.
- The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences (Ohnishi Laboratory)coreJoint research collaboration on Bacterial Growth Monitor technology. Research成果 published in mBio journal demonstrating AI monitoring of Actinoplanes missouriensis growth dynamics. Co-authored publication on sortase SrtE and cell wall proteins in bacterial morphogenesis.
- NexxGen Inc. Tokyo Data LabcoreManufacturing and sales partner for BiTTE-Urine SaMD. NexxGen serves as authorized manufacturing/distribution entity for the Class II approved medical device (approval number 30600BZX00247000).
- Sentinel Environmental (USA)minorJoint research collaboration in phage therapy field. Utilizing Bacterial Growth Monitor for phage efficacy evaluation and antimicrobial applications development.
- Swiss University of ZurichminorResearch collaboration on bacterial persistence mechanisms. Joint studies using Bacterial Growth Monitor technology for persister cell analysis and mechanism research.
- Keio University School of MedicineminorJoint research collaboration on AI-powered diagnostic support solutions. Part of CarbGeM's portfolio of 20+ AI implementation projects in life sciences and healthcare domain.
- Nagasaki Medical CenterminorClinical research collaboration on AI-powered diagnostic solutions for infectious disease testing. Part of CarbGeM's academic partnership network for validation studies.
- Kobe University (Research Center for Urban Safety and Security)coreJoint R&D on compact automated Gram staining device PoCGS. Clinical study published in Diagnostics journal demonstrating 100% concordance with skilled technician manual staining. Continued collaboration on PoCGS development and enhancement.
- Northwell Health (USA)minorCollaboration in bacterial infection disease using image recognition AI. Dr. Koichiro Shinozaki, assistant professor at Northwell Health (New York state's largest healthcare provider), appointed as clinical advisor.
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine / National Health Crisis Management Research Institute (JIHS)coreLong-standing joint research partnership for development of BiTTE-Urine SaMD. Co-developed patent for bacterial species estimation and antibiotic selection system. Clinical validation studies and non-inferiority trials conducted at NCGM and collaborating institutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CarbGeM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sysmex Corporation: Japan-headquartered clinical lab equipment leader with hematology, urinalysis, and emerging microbiology/AI workflows. Comparable as a fellow Japanese clinical diagnostics player with hospital relationships that could complement or compete with CarbGeM's BiTTE-Urine deployment.
- Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD): Large medical device incumbent offering BD MAX, BD Phoenix, and microbiology lab automation. Comparable because BD owns the customer relationships and workflow that CarbGeM's SaaS and AI seek to augment, representing both a potential partner and competitor.
- Beckman Coulter (Danaher): Major clinical lab equipment provider (DxH hematology analyzers, microbiology automation). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose installed base in hospital labs is the channel CarbGeM targets with CarbConnect and BiTTE-Urine integrations.
- PathAI: AI-powered digital pathology company offering diagnostic and research pathology AI. Comparable as a pathology/microscopy AI vendor demonstrating the commercial trajectory AI-image-analysis companies can achieve in adjacent clinical imaging domains.
- Aidoc: Leading clinical AI imaging company with FDA-cleared algorithms deployed across hospital radiology workflows. Comparable as a benchmark for the SaMD go-to-market motion CarbGeM must execute to convert BiTTE-Urine approval into hospital-wide adoption.
Direct peers
- bioMérieux: Global leader in clinical microbiology with automated ID/AST systems (VITEK) and extensive Gram stain workflow. Directly comparable because both compete in bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility, the core market CarbGeM targets with BiTTE-Urine and ZOI Pro.
- Accelerate Diagnostics: Develops rapid AST/ID systems (e.g., Pheno) using automated microscopy and AI to shorten time-to-result for bloodstream infections. Directly comparable as a focused AI/microbiology player targeting antimicrobial resistance, a key end-market for CarbGeM's BiTTE suite.
Regional players
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese leader in photonic sensors and imaging components. Comparable because Hamamatsu supplies imaging/sensor technology for medical and life science applications — adjacent to CarbGeM's 2D TFT sensor-based BGM and microscopy-image AI workflow.
Emerging players
- T2 Biosystems: Small-cap company developing rapid molecular diagnostics for sepsis and bacterial infections. Comparable as a focused emerging microbiology diagnostics player addressing similar clinical use cases (rapid bacterial ID) with a smaller commercial footprint than incumbents.
Others
- Benchling: SaaS platform for life sciences R&D (electronic lab notebooks, molecular biology workflows). Comparable because CarbConnect and CarbConnect AI Studio target the same life-sciences R&D buyer persona with cloud-based AI tooling, though Benchling focuses on data infrastructure rather than imaging AI.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CarbGeM social profiles
Digital presenceCarbGeM compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CarbGeM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CarbGeM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CarbGeM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CarbGeM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CarbGeM 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 CarbGeM
What does CarbGeM do?
CarbGeM develops and sells AI-powered image analysis software and SaaS platforms for microbiology and infectious disease diagnostics. Its flagship BiTTE-Urine is a Japan-approved Class II SaMD that classifies bacteria from Gram-stained images in about 10 seconds with 95% accuracy across 7 categories. The CarbConnect cloud platform enables no-code AI model building, enterprise deployment, and a professional community for life sciences, complemented by automated Gram staining devices (PoCGS) and a proprietary Bacterial Growth Monitor.
Is CarbGeM a public or private company?
CarbGeM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CarbGeM founded?
CarbGeM was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CarbGeM based?
CarbGeM is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does CarbGeM make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscriptions (CarbConnect) is the primary driver. The others are mobile App Downloads/Subscriptions (BiTTE-iE), medical Device Sales (PoCGS-Pro), BGM Service Revenue, AI Implementation Services and licensing (BiTTE-Urine).
Who are CarbGeM's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sysmex Corporation, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Beckman Coulter (Danaher), PathAI and Aidoc. Direct peers are bioMérieux and Accelerate Diagnostics. Hamamatsu Photonics is listed as a regional player. T2 Biosystems is listed as an emerging player. Benchling is listed as an others.
Does CarbGeM have an API?
Yes. CarbConnect® for Organizations supports API integration capabilities, enabling connections to proprietary AI systems. Organizations can integrate external AI tools and connect them through the platform's API infrastructure.
What industry is CarbGeM in?
CarbGeM's product category is AI-powered clinical microbiology diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACANAG, SaMD – Imaging & Signal Analysis (AI/ML), with a secondary code of HLACANAD, Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) – Clinical Decision & Diagnostic Software. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.