RINN

What RINN does

RINN Inc. (株式会社RINN) is a Tokyo-based, privately-held design company founded in November 2013 by Masahiro Ryohara, specializing in cat-focused lifestyle products under a "Cat First" philosophy. The company develops, markets, and distributes a portfolio of premium cat furniture, flooring, accessories, and home goods aimed at cat owners who prioritize feline health, ergonomics, and home-aesthetic coherence. Its core sub-brand, KARIMOKU CAT, is a co-creation with Karimoku Furniture Co., Ltd., a 70+ year Japanese wooden-furniture manufacturer, and encompasses CAT TREE (iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 winner), CAT BED, CAT RESTROOM, and CAT TABLE. RINN also offers NEKOFLOOR cat-compatible flooring in partnership with Sanwacompany, IZUMI ceramic cat water bowls produced with a 130+ year-old Tokushima pottery workshop, and PETLY automatic feeders. Veterinary and behavioral expertise is embedded structurally through an advisory relationship with Dr. Soshin Yamamoto of Tokyo Cat Specialists, whose clinical input informs product specifications such as 15-degree feeding inclines, drinking-posture heights, and flooring hardness calibrated to feline joint health.

The underlying technology is rooted in domain-specialized product design — combining materials science (hinoki cypress with Livcos oil finish, oak wood frames, high-strength porcelain), ergonomics informed by feline anatomy and behavior, and collaborations with traditional Japanese manufacturers (pottery, woodworking, porcelain). The company does not disclose proprietary software or platform technology; its differentiation is design- and craft-driven rather than algorithmically driven.

The business model is dual: (1) hardware product sales via owned D2C e-commerce sites (rinn.co.jp, karimoku-cat.jp, izumicat.jp) and partner retail (Sanwacompany), and (2) design and consulting services spanning interior, product, and graphic design. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; products are positioned as premium design objects rather than commodity pet goods. The company is bootstrapped, with no external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operations confined to Japan. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, and registered capital is ¥65,894,432, consistent with a small, founder-led lifestyle brand rather than a venture-backed scale business.

Name

RINN

Legal name

株式会社RINN

Website

https://rinn.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RINN is a Tokyo-based, privately-held design company that develops premium cat-focused furniture, flooring, and lifestyle products under a "Cat First" philosophy, serving design-conscious Japanese cat owners through owned D2C sites and brand collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product sales: RINN generates revenue through the sale of cat-focused products including cat furniture (KARIMOKU CAT brand), cat accessories, and home goods designed for cat-human coexistence. Products include cat trees, cat beds, cat restrooms, cat tables, cat flooring (NEKOFLOOR), and cat water bowls (IZUMI).
2. Design and consulting services: RINN provides interior, product, and graphic design services as well as design-related production and consulting.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RINN designs, develops, and sells cat-focused lifestyle products and offers related design and consulting services. The product portfolio centers on the KARIMOKU CAT wooden furniture line (cat trees, tables, beds, restrooms) developed with Karimoku Furniture, complemented by NEKOFLOOR cat-compatible flooring produced with Sanwacompany, IZUMI ceramic cat water bowls made with Otani pottery craftsmen, and PETLY automatic cat feeders. All products are designed under a 'Cat First' philosophy with veterinary supervision to address feline health, ergonomics, and behavioral needs.

Product overview

RINN is a cat health-focused product company that offers a portfolio of cat lifestyle products including furniture, accessories, and home interior solutions. The core offerings center on the KARIMOKU CAT sub-brand (wooden furniture including CAT TREE, TABLE, BED, and RESTROOM) developed in collaboration with Karimoku Furniture, complemented by NEKOFLOOR cat flooring (with sanwacompany), and IZUMI ceramic water bowls (with Otani Yaki pottery). The company also offers PETLY automatic feeders. All products are designed with 'Cat First' philosophy, incorporating veterinary expertise and cat-friendly functional details while maintaining modern design aesthetics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KARIMOKU CAT: A cat wooden furniture brand created through collaboration between RINN and Karimoku Furniture Co., Ltd., focused on cat-centric design and functionality.

Products and services

• KARIMOKU CAT TREE Cat wooden furniture tree designed with a cat-first approach, featuring cat-friendly design details, oak wood construction, and multiple levels for climbing and resting. Won the iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 in the Product category. Targeted at cat owners seeking premium, design-oriented cat furniture for indoor environments.
• KARIMOKU CAT TABLE Veterinary-supervised cat dining table set with a 15-degree inclined surface designed to reduce neck and body strain during eating and drinking. Includes high-strength porcelain food and water bowls crafted by secca creative collective in Kanazawa, microwave and dishwasher safe. Targeted at cat owners concerned about feline eating posture and whisker fatigue.
• KARIMOKU CAT BED Stress-free sleep cat bed with a precision-crafted oak wood frame and soft cushion interior. The rounded, soft form factor is designed for cat comfort and safety during rest. Targeted at cat owners seeking premium cat rest furniture that complements modern home interiors.
• KARIMOKU CAT RESTROOM Cat toilet storage furniture providing an enclosed, private space for cats to use the litter box. Features double-door design for easy cleaning and additional storage space for cat litter, with a wood grain finish that blends with home interiors. Targeted at cat owners seeking aesthetic solutions to conceal litter boxes.
• NEKOFLOOR Cat co-housing flooring available in Hinoki (cypress) and Walnut varieties, developed in collaboration with Sanwacompany. Features humidity control, deodorizing properties, shock absorption for cat landing, non-slip brushing, and compatibility with floor heating systems. Hinoki variant uses German Livcos natural oil finish (food-grade linseed oil from organic cultivation, safe for cats). Targeted at cat owners renovating or building cat-friendly home environments, especially for aging cats.
• IZUMI Cat Water Bowl Ceramic cat water bowl developed in collaboration with traditional Otani Yaki pottery craftsmen in Tokushima Prefecture (over 130 years of pottery tradition). Designed with veterinary supervision at optimal height for comfortable cat drinking posture, featuring 350ml capacity, stable tip-resistant design, and matte finish preferred by cats according to International Cat Care research. Uses locally sourced Awa blue stone and local red clay materials. Targeted at cat owners seeking aesthetically designed, cat-preferred water bowls.
• PETLY Automatic Cat Feeder Automatic cat feeder product referenced in RINN's product communications. Targeted at cat owners seeking automated feeding solutions for cats.
• Design and Consulting Services RINN provides interior, product, and graphic design services as well as design-related production and consulting, with a focus on cat-related and cat-friendly design projects. Targeted at businesses and individuals seeking specialized cat-centric design expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• KARIMOKU CAT TREE won iF DESIGN AWARD 2020 in the Product category
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• KARIMOKU CAT (Karimoku Furniture Co., Ltd.)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKARIMOKU CAT is a cat wooden furniture brand created through collaboration between RINN and Karimoku Furniture. Karimoku has over 70 years of experience in wooden furniture manufacturing and maintains complete in-house control from material sourcing to manufacturing and sales. The collaboration combines RINN's cat-first design philosophy with Karimoku's manufacturing expertise. Products include CAT TREE (won iF DESIGN AWARD 2020), CAT BED, CAT RESTROOM, and CAT TABLE.
• Sanwacompany Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRINN collaborated with Sanwacompany, an online retailer of housing equipment and building materials, to create NEKOFLOOR - a cat-compatible flooring line. The flooring uses hinoki (cypress) with natural Livcos oil finish, designed for cat joint health, moisture control, and odor reduction. Available in both hinoki and walnut variants.
• seccaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA creative collective based in Kanazawa (famous for crafts and cuisine) designed the porcelain bowls for KARIMOKU CAT TABLE. The crescent-shaped bowls are crafted from high-strength porcelain clay, microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Tokyo Cat SpecialistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRINN collaborates with Tokyo Cat Specialists, a cat-specialist veterinary hospital, incorporating veterinary expertise and cat behavior science into product development. Dr. Soshin Yamamoto, the hospital director, serves as an advisor to RINN and provides expert input on cat health and behavior for product design.
• Tokyo Cat Specialists (Yamamoto Soshing)coreOthersDr. Soshin Yamamoto, Director of Tokyo Cat Specialists, serves as an advisor to RINN Inc. He provides expertise in feline health and behavior science that informs product development.
• Otani Pottery (大谷焼)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IZUMI cat water bowl is manufactured in collaboration with one of the oldest pottery workshops (over 130 years) in Tokushima's Otani region, known for Otaniyaki pottery tradition. The pottery uses locally sourced materials including Awa blue stone and local red clay.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tuft + Paw: Premium cat-first furniture and lifestyle brand (cat trees, scratchers, beds) sold DTC. Highly comparable to RINN's KARIMOKU CAT line in target customer, premium positioning, and design-led product strategy.
• Mau (Mau Lifestyle): Cat lifestyle and furniture brand offering modern cat trees, scratchers and home accessories. Direct comparable in cat-specific furniture aesthetics and target audience.
• Pidan: Premium cat and pet lifestyle brand offering litter, furniture, toys and accessories, with strong design identity. Direct competitor in the design-led, cat-centric product category that RINN targets.

Broad incumbents

• Pioneer Pet: Established US pet products manufacturer with cat-focused fountains, feeders, and litter products. Comparable to RINN's IZUMI and PETLY hardware categories, with broader distribution and incumbency.
• Catit (by Hagen): Long-established cat product brand from Hagen offering bowls, toys, litter, and furniture. Overlaps with RINN's IZUMI bowl, PETLY feeder, and cat accessory lines but with a broader, mass-market positioning.
• Petio: Major Japanese pet specialty brand offering cat and dog toys, beds, and care products. Overlaps with RINN's cat accessory and care category in the same Japanese retail market.
• Iris Ohyama: Large Japanese household and pet products maker with a broad pet category including cat furniture, litter, and accessories. Comparable in Japan-centric distribution but with mass-market rather than premium-design positioning.

Emerging players

• Cat Person: DTC cat food, treats, and lifestyle brand targeting millennial cat owners. Comparable in the premium, cat-only, design-aware consumer segment that RINN also addresses through KARIMOKU CAT.
• PetKit: Smart pet product company with cat-focused feeders, water fountains, and litter boxes. Comparable to RINN's PETLY automatic feeder and IZUMI water bowl category, with stronger tech and capital backing.
• Molly and Friends: Boutique cat furniture brand offering modern cat trees, perches, and loungers. Direct peer in the design-led cat furniture niche that RINN's KARIMOKU CAT sub-brand competes in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RINNINC
• Instagraminstagram.com/rinninc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 RINN