Rhizomatiks

What Rhizomatiks does

Rhizomatiks is a Tokyo-based creative collective founded in 2006 by Daito Manabe, operating under parent company Abstract Engine Co., Ltd. It builds at the intersection of art, engineering, and computer science, producing commissioned performances, exhibitions, and software-driven experiences for cultural institutions and commercial brands. Long-running anchor clients include Japanese pop group Perfume (partnered since 2010), dance troupe ELEVENPLAY (since 2009), Dentsu Lab Tokyo (since 2012), the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Design Society in Shenzhen, Mori Building, and Nikkei/FT; international sports federations have recently been added, with the World Fencing League as a flagship client.

The studio's core technology offerings combine generative software, real-time graphics, and applied AI/ML. Its flagship commercial product is Fencing Visualized, a deep-learning-based markerless tracking system that detects swords and fencers from broadcast video in real time. The stack uses a custom YOLO v3-based cascade detector trained on more than 200,000 manually annotated images and over one million CG-generated images, and is protected by Japanese Patent No. 7281767. Other notable technical work includes Discrete Figures (real-time motion-driven abstraction co-developed with Kyle McDonald), the experimental Brain Processing Unit biocomputing project, and consumer hardware such as Home Sync Light.

Rhizomatiks makes money through a mix of commissioned project fees, exhibitions, institutional partnerships, and product sales, distributed through subsidiaries that include Flowplateaux, Panoramatiks, and Rhizomatiks Research. Distribution is supplemented by direct-to-consumer channels including the NFT Experiment platform (launched June 2021) and the Flying Tokyo creator program. The business is private and discloses no revenue, headcount, or capital structure; growth is driven by geographic expansion (Shenzhen 2023, Los Angeles 2026), productization of internal software, and ongoing collaborations with high-profile cultural and entertainment IP.

Name

Rhizomatiks

Legal name

Rhizomatiks

Website

https://rhizomatiks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhizomatiks is a Tokyo-based creative collective founded in 2006 that designs art-tech performances, exhibitions, and software products — including a patented AI markerless fencing tracking system — for cultural institutions, entertainment brands, and international sports clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Technology Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Real-Time Rendering & Game Engine Tooling (MPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM), Simulation & FX Animation (Cloth, Hair, Particles) (MPAHACAH)

Keywords

• Creative technology studio
• Real-time motion tracking
• Augmented reality visualization
• Media art installations
• Interactive performance technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Creative Projects: Primary revenue from commissioned installations, performances, and creative projects for brands, cultural institutions, museums, and entertainment companies. Projects include live show visual production, art installations, and technology-enhanced performances.
2. NFT Art Sales: Sale of NFT digital artworks through their proprietary NFT Experiment platform built on Polygon blockchain. Includes works from Perfume collaborations and original Rhizomatiks pieces.
3. Product Sales: Sale of proprietary hardware products including Home Sync Light lighting devices and Rhizomatiks branded merchandise through their online goods shop.
4. Exhibition and Event Partnerships: Revenue from participating in exhibitions at museums and cultural institutions, often with sponsorship from corporate partners.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rhizomatiks is a Tokyo-based creative collective that produces technology-driven art installations, live performance visuals, and commissioned creative projects for brands, cultural institutions, museums, entertainment companies, and sports broadcasters. The studio develops proprietary hardware and software systems, including the Fencing Visualized markerless motion tracking platform, the Home Sync Light acoustic-synchronization device, and the NFT Experiment digital art marketplace, taking projects from R&D through full execution and live operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rhizomatiks Research: R&D division focused on experimental projects with strong research and development approach
• NFT Experiment
• Flowplateaux
• Home Sync Light
• Fencing Visualized
• Fencing Visualized Data Archive

Products and services

• Commissioned Creative Projects End-to-end creative technology services including concept development, R&D, custom hardware/software engineering, and live deployment for art installations, museum exhibitions, music videos, concerts, and brand activations. Sold to cultural institutions, entertainment companies, and corporate brands.
• Fencing Visualized System Proprietary real-time computer-vision and deep-learning system that performs markerless detection of fencing sword tips and trajectories from 24 4K cameras, synthesizing AR visualizations for live sports broadcasts. Deployed for sports federations, broadcasters, and professional fencing leagues.
• Home Sync Light Consumer lighting device that synchronizes LED illumination with live-streamed audio using Evixar's Another Track acoustic communication, enabling home viewers to experience synchronized lighting during live performances without requiring a smartphone app.
• NFT Experiment Platform Proprietary NFT marketplace built on Polygon blockchain that hosts Rhizomatiks original digital artworks and collaborations with artists such as Perfume. Targets digital art collectors and enthusiasts.
• Fencing Visualized Data Archive Interactive 3D data archive of fencing competition tracking data, allowing users to view and manipulate captured sword-tip trajectories with free-viewpoint selection.
• Rhizomatiks Goods Shop Online merchandise shop (operated via A!Smart) selling branded Rhizomatiks apparel, goods, and the Home Sync Light device to consumers and fans.

Quantifiable outcome

• Technology demo videos generated hundreds of millions of views for World Fencing League event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Dentsu Lab TokyocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-term joint development partner for the Fencing Visualized Project since 2012. Dentsu Lab Tokyo initiated the project brief with Olympic medalist Yuki Ota, and Rhizomatiks developed the sword tracking visualization technology. Collaborative relationship spans over a decade of R&D and deployment.
• ELEVENPLAYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration since 2009 with MIKIKO's dance company on numerous performance works including border (2015, 2021), discrete figures (2018-2022), multiplex (2021), and Syn (2023). Deep creative partnership integrating dance with technology.
• Kyle McDonaldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican media artist and researcher who collaborated on discrete figures (2018-2022), bringing computer vision and machine learning expertise to the dance performance projects.
• PerfumecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuous collaboration since 2010 with the Japanese electro-pop trio on music videos, live performances, global site projects, and NFT art releases. Created landmark visual productions including Perfume 8th Tour, P.O.P Festival, and Imaginary Museum TIMEWARP NFT collection.
• FlowplateauxmajorTechnology or IntegrationResponsible for frontend implementation of the CryptoArt-Experiment NFT platform. Flowplateaux brings design and implementation capabilities spanning on-screen to physical space.
• KyuzanmajorTechnology or IntegrationTokyo-based blockchain startup handling backend and blockchain infrastructure for the NFT Experiment platform. Specializes in NFT solutions for large IP content holders and luxury brands.
• EvixarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for Home Sync Light device. Evixar contributed acoustic communication technology (Another Track) for audio-based synchronization, enabling home lighting sync with live streaming.
• Sony Semiconductor SolutionssupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvided SPRESENSE microcontroller boards for the balloon devices used in Coded Field public art installation, enabling GNSS-based positioning for the outdoor installation.
• Nikkei / Financial TimesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Rhizomatiks to create Watt is Money? digital art installation exploring cryptocurrency energy consumption. Collaboration combining FT/Nikkei storytelling with Rhizomatiks data visualization approach.
• Design Society (Shenzhen)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced Rhizomatiks' first solo exhibition in China (rhizomatiks_multiplex 2023) at Sea World Culture and Arts Center. Cultural initiative co-founded by China Merchants Shekou and Victoria & Albert Museum.
• Museum of Contemporary Art TokyomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of rhizomatiks_multiplex exhibition (2021), the major 15th anniversary solo exhibition organized by the museum with support from Agency for Cultural Affairs.
• Mori Building CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized Syn: Unfolded Horizon of Bodily Senses project for TOKYO NODE opening at Toranomon Hills Station Tower. Ongoing collaboration on major cultural installations.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Arts Council TokyomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizers of Tokyo Tokyo FESTIVAL Special 13, which commissioned Coded Field light and sound installation. Government cultural initiative supporting arts ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia studio producing immersive installations, projection mapping, and live show visuals for cultural institutions and global brands. Directly comparable as a creative-tech studio serving museums, music artists, and major events.
• Sosolimited: Boston-based creative studio producing large-scale interactive installations using real-time graphics, projection, and data visualization for museums and brand activations. Comparable in real-time rendering and data-driven art for cultural clients.
• Obscura Digital: San Francisco-based studio (rebranded from Obscura Digital, now part of QDepartment) specializing in large-scale projection mapping and immersive visual experiences for brands and cultural institutions. Highly comparable to Rhizomatiks' projection and installation work.
• teamLab: Tokyo-based digital art collective creating large-scale immersive installations using real-time rendering, projection, and interactive technology. Closest comparable to Rhizomatiks in business model, geographic base, and use of real-time pipelines for art and live experiences.
• United Visual Artists: London-based art practice working at the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and real-time visual systems for installations, live shows, and brand activations. Comparable in combining proprietary hardware/software with art commissions.
• Refik Anadol Studio: Los Angeles-based media artist studio producing large-scale data-driven installations and AI art for museums and global exhibitions. Comparable in combining proprietary AI/data pipelines with premium gallery installations and NFT releases.
• Dentsu Lab Tokyo: R&D unit of Dentsu and the long-term joint development partner of Rhizomatiks on the Fencing Visualized project since 2012. Closely comparable in working on technology-driven creative projects bridging art, brand, and sport.

Broad incumbents

• Hawk-Eye Innovations (Sony): Sports broadcast visualization incumbent owned by Sony, providing real-time ball/sword tracking across tennis, cricket, soccer, and other sports. Comparable to Rhizomatiks' Fencing Visualized system but operates across many sports with deeper league contracts.

Emerging players

• Ars Electronica Futurelab: Linz-based R&D unit producing experimental media art installations using AI, robotics, and real-time graphics. Comparable to Rhizomatiks Research's experimental R&D orientation; multiple award overlap.
• Onformative: Berlin-based studio creating generative, data-driven art, installations, and brand experiences. Comparable in combining custom code/AI with commissioned creative work for cultural and commercial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rhizomatiks
• GitHubgithub.com/rhizomatiks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/rhizomatiks
• Facebookfacebook.com/rhizomatiks
• Instagraminstagram.com/rhizomatiks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhizomatiks.co.ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Rhizomatiks