Mesh Project

What Mesh Project does

MESH Project is an IoT prototyping platform operated by Sony Marketing Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The product was incubated by Sony and launched in 2014 as a creative DIY toolkit that lets non-technical users build Internet-of-Things devices by snapping together wireless hardware blocks. The platform consists of seven Bluetooth Low Energy blocks — Button, LED, Motion (PIR), Move (accelerometer), Brightness, Temperature & Humidity, and GPIO — paired with a free visual drag-and-drop coding application available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS. The platform extends to a Raspberry Pi-based MESH Hub for 24/7 always-on operation, a MESH Bridge for browser-based access, and a beta JavaScript SDK for custom Software Blocks. Built-in IFTTT integration exposes MESH to over 350 smart gadgets and web services including Philips Hue, Nest, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Gmail, LINE, Slack, and Google Sheets.

The business model is hardware-led: the MESH app is provided free of charge to drive adoption, while revenue is generated through one-time sales of individual blocks and bundled sets (the MESH Advance Set containing all seven blocks, and the MESH Hirameki Lab Set) distributed through the Sony Store, Amazon Japan, and major Japanese electronics retailers including Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, Tsukumo, MoMA Store Japan, and electronics distributors like Switch Science, Marutsu, and Kyoritsu. MESH pursues a hybrid go-to-market: a product-led growth motion targets consumers, makers, and educators via retail and self-serve purchase, while a sales-led motion routes enterprise and education inquiries through Sony Professional Solutions Japan for DX/IoT prototyping, proof-of-concept validation, and corporate training use cases.

MESH's three customer segments are K–12 and higher education (where it is featured in Japanese textbooks and listed on the Ministry of Education's "Mirai Manabi Portal" Future Learning Portal as a recommended programming tool), individual consumers and hobbyists building DIY IoT gadgets, and Japanese enterprises using the platform for digital-transformation training and rapid IoT prototyping. Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the English-language site, and products are sold only within Japan. The company has accumulated third-party validation through coverage in Wired, TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, SXSW, and CES, and an iF Design Award, and holds the MESH trademark through Sony Marketing Inc.

Name

Mesh Project

Legal name

Sony Marketing Inc.

Website

https://meshprj.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MESH Project is a Sony-incubated IoT prototyping platform that sells seven Bluetooth-enabled hardware blocks and a free visual coding app, serving Japanese K–12 education, makers, and enterprise DX/IoT prototyping customers through Sony Marketing Inc.'s retail and direct-sales channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IoT Prototyping Hardware

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Networking & Connected Home Infrastructure (Wi‑Fi Mesh, Routers, Matter/Thread/Zigbee Bridges) (HSAPAQAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Networking & Connectivity (Mesh Wi‑Fi, Routers, Bridges) Retail (CRACAGAH), Network Adapters (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth) (HDACAHAG)

Keywords

• IoT prototyping toolkit
• Wireless sensor blocks
• Visual programming platform
• STEAM education tools
• Smart device development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Block Sales: Mesh generates revenue primarily through the sale of its seven wireless IoT blocks. Individual blocks (Button, LED, Move, Motion, Brightness, Temperature & Humidity, GPIO) and bundled sets (MESH Advance Set with all 7 blocks, MESH Hirameki Lab Set) are sold through Sony Store, Amazon Japan, electronics distributors, and retail stores. The MESH app is provided free of charge to lower the barrier to adoption and drive hardware sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MESH sells seven types of wireless Bluetooth Low Energy hardware blocks (Button, LED, Motion, Move, Brightness, Temperature & Humidity, and GPIO) bundled with a free visual drag-and-drop coding app that enables users without programming or electronics expertise to build IoT prototypes and smart devices. The platform also offers a Raspberry Pi-based MESH Hub for always-on operation, a JavaScript MESH SDK for custom block development, and bundled sets targeted at education, maker, and enterprise DX/IoT prototyping customers primarily in Japan.

Product overview

MESH is an IoT prototyping platform consisting of 7 wireless sensor/actuator blocks (Button, LED, Motion, Move/Accelerometer, Brightness, Temperature & Humidity, and GPIO) that connect via Bluetooth Low Energy to a free visual coding mobile app (iOS, Android, Windows, Chrome OS). The platform enables drag-and-drop programming without coding knowledge, with built-in integration to 350+ smart devices and web services via IFTTT. An optional MESH Hub app for Raspberry Pi enables 24/7 project operation, while the MESH SDK (Beta) allows developers to create custom JavaScript-based Software Blocks. The product is incubated by Sony and made in Japan, with strong applications in education (STEAM learning) and enterprise IoT prototyping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MESH App Free drag-and-drop visual coding application for iOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS that lets users program MESH wireless IoT blocks and connect to web services without coding knowledge. Targeted at consumers, makers, students, and educators.
• MESH-100LE LED Block Multi-color LED notification block with 13 colors, 5 brightness levels, and patterns (light up, firefly, blink, off), Bluetooth 4.0 LE with 30ft range, built-in rechargeable battery, and Micro USB charging. Used by makers, educators, and enterprise IoT prototypers.
• MESH-100BU Button Block Wireless input switch block detecting single press, double press, and hold actions, with built-in rechargeable battery and Bluetooth 4.0 LE connectivity. Targeted at makers, educators, and prototyping users.
• MESH-100MD Motion Block PIR motion sensor block detecting people and animals within 2-3 meters with detected/undetected states, motion check functionality, and adjustable waiting time. Used by makers, security prototypers, and educators.
• MESH-100AC Move Block Accelerometer block detecting shake, flip, tap, and orientation in 6 directions, with adjustable sensitivity (1-100) and detection interval. For makers, robotics projects, and educators.
• MESH-100PA Brightness Block Light sensor block with 10 brightness levels and infrared-based proximity detection for sensing ambient light changes and nearby object coverage. For makers, educators, and smart environment prototypers.
• MESH-100TH Temperature & Humidity Block Environmental sensor block measuring temperature (14-122°F, -10-50°C) and humidity (0-100%) with Celsius/Fahrenheit toggle and threshold-based alerts. For makers, science classrooms, and IoT prototyping.
• MESH-100GP GPIO Block General Purpose Input/Output interface block with 3 digital inputs, 3 digital outputs, 1 analog input, 1 PWM output, and VOut (3.3V) for connecting external sensors, motors, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and littleBits modules. Targeted at advanced makers and enterprise prototyping.
• MESH Hub Free Raspberry Pi 3 Model B application that lets MESH projects operate continuously (24/7) without requiring a phone or tablet nearby, enabling always-on IoT deployments such as automated pet feeders, smart lighting, temperature data logging, and visitor tracking. For makers and enterprise prototypers.
• MESH SDK (Beta) Browser-based JavaScript Software Development Kit (Beta) for creating custom Software Blocks that extend MESH projects with flow control logic, web service access via Web APIs, and device control. Custom blocks are downloaded into the MESH app. Targeted at developers and advanced prototypers.
• MESH Advance Set (MESH-100B7A) Complete kit bundling all seven MESH wireless IoT blocks (Button, LED, Motion, Move, Brightness, Temperature & Humidity, and GPIO) along with the free MESH app. Targeted at education institutions, makers, and enterprise prototyping teams needing the full block lineup.
• MESH Bridge Dedicated bridge device connecting MESH blocks to Chromebook and Windows terminals, enabling browser-based MESH app usage on those platforms with up to 10 blocks. Manufactured by Switch Science / 144Lab and distributed exclusively through Switch Science.
• MESH GPIO Kit Electronics parts set for MESH GPIO block experiments covering motor control, LED lighting, and basic circuits, manufactured by Switch Education for use with the GPIO block.
• MESH Charger Dedicated 7-unit charging station for MESH blocks manufactured by Switch Education, enabling simultaneous charging of multiple MESH hardware blocks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ smart devices and web services can be integrated via IFTTT
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sony (Sony Marketing Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMESH was incubated by Sony as part of Sony's new business creation program. Sony Marketing Inc. is the primary company managing MESH's marketing, sales, and distribution. The product is 'Made in Japan' under Sony's incubation.
• IFTTTcoreTechnology or IntegrationMESH has built-in IFTTT integration, connecting its blocks to 350+ smart gadgets, home automation devices, and web services. IFTTT applets allow MESH to trigger and receive signals from external services like Google Sheets, Gmail, Nest, Philips Hue, LINE, Twitter, and Slack.
• Philips HuecoreTechnology or IntegrationPhilips Hue smart light bulbs are natively supported by the MESH app. Users can control Hue lights (on/off, color, brightness, blink) through MESH recipes without additional configuration.
• Raspberry PicoreTechnology or IntegrationMESH Hub is a dedicated application for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B that enables MESH projects to run 24/7 without a phone or tablet. MESH Bridge also enables browser-based MESH app access on Windows/Chromebook via Raspberry Pi-compatible bridge hardware.
• Google Assistant / Google Services (Sheets, Drive, Calendar)coreTechnology or IntegrationMESH integrates with Google services through IFTTT — including Google Sheets for data logging, Google Drive for spreadsheet records, Google Calendar for event notifications, and Google Assistant for voice commands.
• Amazon AlexacoreTechnology or IntegrationMESH GPIO can be used with Amazon Alexa for Echo to create voice-activated projects such as voice-activated plant watering pumps triggered by phrases like 'Trigger watering.'
• Switch Science / 144LabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwitch Science and its brand 144Lab manufacture and distribute MESH accessories including the MESH Bridge (browser connectivity hub), GPIO expansion boards, and the MESH Charger. Switch Science is the exclusive distributor of the MESH Bridge.
• MoMA Store JapanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Museum of Modern Art Store in Japan retails MESH blocks as a design-forward maker/product, positioning MESH in the creative/design consumer segment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LEGO Education: LEGO Education's WeDo, SPIKE, and Mindstorms lines combine physical building kits with visual coding for K-12 STEM. MESH competes with LEGO Education in Japanese elementary and middle school STEAM curriculum adoption.
• littleBits (Sphero): littleBits makes modular electronic building blocks that snap together magnetically to teach electronics and prototyping. It is the closest direct competitor to MESH in terms of block-based IoT/sensor kits targeting education and makers.
• SAM Labs: SAM Labs produces wireless sensor/actuator blocks paired with a visual coding app for STEAM education and rapid prototyping. It directly overlaps MESH's BLE-block-plus-visual-coding model and target school segments.
• BBC micro:bit: BBC micro:bit is a low-cost microcontroller with built-in sensors and a visual block-coding environment, widely adopted in K-12 programming curricula globally. It competes head-on with MESH for school budgets and STEAM education deployments.

Emerging players

• Ozobot: Ozobot makes small educational robots with visual programming tools used in K-12 STEAM curricula. It competes with MESH for school programming-education budgets but focuses on robotics rather than general IoT prototyping.
• Kano Computing: Kano builds build-it-yourself computing kits for children, combining hardware assembly with visual programming. It targets a similar beginner-friendly K-12 demographic as MESH but focuses on full computer builds rather than sensor blocks.

Broad incumbents

• Arduino: Arduino offers open-source microcontroller boards and a visual coding environment used by hobbyists and educators for prototyping. MESH GPIO specifically bridges to Arduino, and the platform competes for the same maker and education mindshare.
• Adafruit: Adafruit is a major open-source hardware retailer and educator offering sensors, microcontrollers, and learning kits. It targets a more technical maker audience than MESH but competes for the same DIY IoT prototyping wallet.
• SparkFun Electronics: SparkFun sells electronic components, sensors, and educational kits (including micro:bit accessories) to makers and classrooms. It overlaps with MESH's maker/education positioning at the components and learning-kit level.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation: Raspberry Pi provides low-cost single-board computers with extensive educational curricula and accessories. MESH Hub runs on Raspberry Pi, but the Pi itself is a broader maker/education platform that overlaps MESH's DIY and classroom use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MESHprj
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCK8WmiayKVIQpq9pdgmalIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/meshprj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Mesh Project