Switch Science

What Switch Science does

Switch Science (株式会社スイッチサイエンス) is a Japanese private corporation headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, operating an e-commerce distribution platform for electronic components, development boards, sensors, and robotics hardware. Founded in 2010, the company combines authorized resale of more than 30 international brands — including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, M5Stack, Adafruit, SparkFun, Seeed, Luxonis, Benewake, DFRobot, Pololu, and Pimoroni — with proprietary first-party products under the Switch Science brand, notably the Picossci RP2040/RP2350 development boards, Conta audio modules, Nordic nRF54L15 dev board, and a growing portfolio of sensor and power management modules. The technology stack is distribution-led rather than vertically integrated silicon, though in-house hardware design and chip-level procurement (RP2040/RP2350) provide modest backward integration.

The business model blends four revenue streams: per-unit hardware resale with same-day shipping for orders placed before 2 PM on weekdays, proprietary branded product sales, marketplace commissions from third-party consignment sellers, and IoT commissioned development services (IoT受託開発). Pricing is per-unit with free shipping above 8,000 yen and quantity discounts for 10+ unit orders. Distribution channels are direct-to-consumer via Shopify storefront, dedicated corporate B2B sales with invoicing, and university cooperative purchasing; the platform also operates two education-focused subsidiaries, Labo Kids (ラボキッズ) and Switch Education (スイッチエデュケーション). The company's market is confined to Japan, and customer segments center on individual makers and hobbyists, STEM educators and students, and a secondary layer of B2B prototyping and small-scale production customers. TEKIGI and PSE compliance, Japanese-language technical documentation, and curated brand pages (M5Stack, Jetson, Luxonis, Benewake, etc.) constitute the core differentiation versus direct overseas sourcing.

Name

Switch Science

Legal name

株式会社スイッチサイエンス

Website

https://switch-science.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Switch Science is a Japanese e-commerce distributor and original hardware designer that resells 30+ electronics brands (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, M5Stack) and develops proprietary boards and sensor modules, serving makers, educators, and B2B prototyping customers across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Components Distribution

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (334419)

SIC

Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded, Maker Platforms & Development Kits Retail (CRACAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronic Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Retail (CRACAKAA), Semiconductors, ICs & Microcontrollers Retail (CRACAKAB), DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN), Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC)

Keywords

• Electronic components distribution
• IoT development boards
• Maker electronics retail
• STEM education supplies
• Electronics marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinjuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Hardware Resale): Core revenue from reselling electronic components, development boards, sensors, robotics parts, and accessories from global manufacturers including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, M5Stack, Adafruit, SparkFun, and many others. Sales are per-unit with quantity discounts available for bulk orders (10+ units).
2. Proprietary Brand Products: Revenue from Switch Science branded products including Picossci development boards, sensor modules, and power management modules developed in-house.
3. Marketplace Commission: Commission-based revenue from the Switch Science Marketplace where third-party sellers list and sell products.
4. IoT Contract Development: Custom IoT development services helping business customers bring IoT projects to fruition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Switch Science designs, procures, and sells electronic components — microcontrollers, single-board computers, sensors, robotics parts, and accessories — through a Japanese e-commerce platform. The company combines authorized resale of global brands (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, M5Stack, Adafruit, SparkFun, Seeed, DFRobot, Benewake, Luxonis, Pololu, Pimoroni, Arducam) with proprietary Switch Science branded hardware (Picossci development boards using RP2040/RP2350 silicon, sensor modules, and DC-DC converters), and operates a third-party seller marketplace plus contracted IoT development services.

Product overview

Switch Science is a Japanese electronics e-commerce company operating a multi-brand distribution platform and developing proprietary hardware products. The core business model combines resale of international brands (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, M5Stack, Adafruit, DFRobot, Benewake, Jetson, Luxonis, and others) with original product development under the Switch Science brand. Their proprietary products include microcontroller boards (ESP32-P4 PoE unit, Nordic nRF54L15 development board), sensor modules (CO2 sensor, lithium battery indicator, linear Hall sensor), power modules (DC-DC converters), audio modules (I2S audio output), and original development boards (Picossci series with Raspberry Pi Silicon RP2040/2350). They also provide IoT commissioned development services, operate a marketplace for consigned products, and run educational subsidiaries (Labo Kids, Switch Education). The platform serves makers, educators, engineers, and hobbyists with products spanning microcontrollers, single-board computers, sensors, robotics, AI cameras, displays, and educational materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• スイッチエデュケーション (Switch Education): Educational products and STEM learning materials for children
• ラボキッズ (Labo Kids)

Products and services

• Lithium Battery Level Indicator Unit (リチウム電池残量インジケーターユニット) Small indicator module that displays lithium-ion battery level in 4 LED stages for intuitive status monitoring. Includes protective case, suitable for beginners and makers.
• High Precision CO2 Sensor Unit (高精度CO2センサーユニット) High-precision CO2 sensor using Sensirion SCD40 with NDIR (optical) method. Measures CO2 concentration, temperature, and humidity. Includes dedicated case.
• DRV5055 Linear Hall Sensor Module Stick-type linear Hall sensor module with analog output and JST SH connector, featuring DRV5055 sensor chip.
• RAA211805 Buck DC-DC Converter Step-down DC-DC converter with RAA211805 chip, 5V 300mA output, supporting 7-50V input range.
• M5Stack ESP32-P4 PoE-P4 Unit High-performance PoE-enabled Ethernet controller with ESP32-P4 SoC, 16MB flash, 32MB PSRAM, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY, supports up to 6W PoE power delivery.
• Conta I2S Audio Output Module (MAX9850) I2S audio output module featuring MAX9850 chip, part of the Conta series audio products.
• ESPr Developer C5 ESP32-C5 based development board with 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM.
• Picossci 2 Audio (RP2350A) Original Switch Science development board featuring Raspberry Pi Silicon RP2350A chip.
• Picossci 2B Branch (RP2350B) Original Switch Science development board featuring RP2350B chip.
• Arduino Uno R4 WiFi Arduino board featuring 32-bit microcontroller with WiFi capability and LED matrix.
• Arduino Uno R4 Minima Entry-level Arduino Uno R4 board without WiFi functionality.
• Arduino Uno R3 Classic Arduino board, third revision, widely used for electronics prototyping.
• Raspberry Pi 5 Latest generation single-board computer from Raspberry Pi Foundation, available in 4GB and 8GB variants.
• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Compact single-board computer with wireless connectivity, entry point to Raspberry Pi ecosystem.
• Raspberry Pi Pico W Raspberry Pi microcontroller board with WiFi capability, based on RP2040 chip.
• M5Stack Basic V2.7 Latest version of M5Stack's core development module with glass screen (upgraded from acrylic), enhanced display clarity.
• M5Stack CoreS3 Third-generation M5Stack Core device with ESP32-S3, IoT development kit with enhanced processing and connectivity.
• ATOM Lite Most compact M5Stack development module at 24x24mm, offering more GPIO pins than M5StickC.
• ATOM S3 Lite Compact ESP32-S3 development module at 24x24mm for embedded smart device applications.
• Arducam IMX500 AI Camera Module Sony IMX500-powered AI camera that executes image capture and AI inference on-device. Enables edge image recognition without requiring additional AI accelerators on host MCU/SoC.
• Arducam Outdoor AI Security Camera Kit (IP66, PoE) Outdoor AI security camera combining Raspberry Pi CM5 with Arducam's edge AI vision technology. Integrates Sony IMX500 AI sensor with Arducam's AI Model Zoo for various detection capabilities.
• Arducam IMX519 Autofocus Camera Module 16MP autofocus high-resolution camera with PDAF and CDAF support, inheriting Raspberry Pi V1/V2/HQ camera ease of use.
• Arducam IMX415 MIPI Camera Module 8.3MP (3840x2160) camera module with Sony STARVIS sensor for Raspberry Pi and embedded Linux. Excellent low-light performance.
• TF Luna LiDAR ToF single-point LiDAR ranging sensor with high precision and sensitivity. Supports various settings and parameter adjustments.
• TF Mini-s LiDAR Compact, low-power, low-cost LiDAR sensor with 0.1-12m range, multiple interfaces (UART, I2C, IO), 1-1000Hz frame rate.
• TF02-PRO LiDAR Cost-effective mid-range LiDAR with ToF technology, up to 40m range. Suitable for UAV altitude control, smart traffic, agriculture.
• IoT Commissioned Development (IoT受託開発) Contracted IoT development service helping business customers quickly advance their IoT projects, providing custom development expertise.
• Switch Science Marketplace Marketplace platform for consignment sales of third-party products (委託商品) alongside Switch Science's own branded offerings.
• Labo Kids (ラボキッズ) Subsidiary focused on STEM education, supporting families learning programming with hands-on science activities for children.
• Switch Education (スイッチエデュケーション) Educational subsidiary offering specialized educational products and materials, helping customers advance their IoT projects through educational offerings.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi Ltd)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Raspberry Pi reseller in Japan. The company is certified by Raspberry Pi and offers chip-level purchasing of RP2040/RP2350 after evaluation. This is a flagship distribution partnership providing access to Raspberry Pi's complete product line.
• M5StackcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor distribution partner for M5Stack products. Switch Science operates dedicated M5Stack landing pages and has collaborated on product development including CardputerZero and M5StackChan projects.
• Seeed TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Seeed products including reComputer and reServer AI edge computing series powered by NVIDIA Jetson modules.
• Elephant RoboticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Elephant Robotics myCobot series of 6-axis collaborative robot arms. Switch Science operates a dedicated Elephant Robotics landing page.
• ArduinocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Arduino products including Arduino Uno R4 series. Switch Science offers the 'Arduino Uno Permanent Warranty' program for products purchased through them.
• AdafruitmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Adafruit open-source hardware products including Feather boards, sensors, and display modules.
• SparkFun ElectronicsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for SparkFun electronics components and development tools.
• LuxonismajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Luxonis AI cameras featuring Intel Movidius Myriad X processors. Switch Science operates a dedicated Luxonis brand page.
• BenewakemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Benewake LiDAR sensors including the TF series. Switch Science operates a dedicated Benewake brand page with case studies.
• DFRobotmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for DFRobot electronics and robotics products including Gravity sensor series.
• PololumajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Pololu robotics components including motor controllers and gearmotors.
• PimoronimajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Pimoroni electronics products including accessories for Raspberry Pi and micro:bit.
• YDLIDARmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for YDLIDAR 360-degree laser distance sensors. Switch Science operates a dedicated YDLIDAR brand page.
• ArduCAMmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for ArduCAM camera modules including Sony IMX-series sensors and AI camera solutions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SparkFun Electronics: US-based open-source hardware retailer and developer of modules and sensors. Switch Science distributes SparkFun products; comparable component and educational modules.
• Adafruit: US-based open-source hardware company and product designer; Switch Science distributes Adafruit products in Japan. Direct product overlap across Feathers, sensors, and learning modules.
• Mouser Electronics: Global broad-line electronics distributor with growing presence in Japan. Competes with Switch Science on authorized brand breadth, though focused on industrial/professional buyers rather than maker/education.
• Digi-Key Electronics: Global broad-line electronic components distributor with Japanese operations. Overlaps with Switch Science on authorized franchise distribution but at considerably larger scale and broader industrial reach.

Direct peers

• DFRobot: Shanghai-based open-source hardware and robotics platform vendor. Switch Science is a DFRobot distributor; comparable maker/education product lines including Gravity sensors and STEM kits.
• Strawberry Linux: Tokyo-based distributor of electronic components, ICs, and development tools for Japanese engineers and hobbyists. Overlaps with Switch Science on component resale and technical product support.
• Marutsu Elec: Japanese electronics parts retailer offering semiconductors, modules, and development boards to hobbyists and professionals. Direct competitor in the same online distribution niche.
• Kyohritsu Ereshop (Kyorits): Japanese electronics retailer selling Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and DIY kits. Comparable target segments (makers, educators, students) and same domestic online-storefront model.
• Seeed Technology: China-based designer and distributor of open-source hardware, modules, and SBC-based products. Switch Science is both a Seeed distributor and a peer offering comparable modules and AI edge computing hardware.
• Akizuki Denshi Tsusho: Long-standing Japanese electronics retailer selling components, development boards, and kits to makers and hobbyists. Directly competing in Switch Science's core Japanese maker market with similar catalog breadth and same-day shipping culture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SwitchScience
• Facebookfacebook.com/SwitchScience
• Instagraminstagram.com/switchscience
• Xx.com/ssci

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Switch Science