What NEXT NEW WORLD does

NEXT NEW WORLD is a Japanese biotech venture founded in June 2021 and headquartered in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, with a secondary office in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The company develops and commercializes a proprietary patented silk protein technology branded Karada Silk® (カラダシルク®), which is described as the world's first method to dissolve silk fibroin into a water solution while preserving its native nano-level porous mesh structure — a structural integrity that conventional liquid silk processing destroys. NEXT NEW WORLD applies this platform across healthcare, food, cosmetics, and materials verticals.

The company operates a dual-track business model. On the direct-to-consumer side, it runs three sub-brands sold through their own websites: ZINZO, a preservative-free human healthcare silk protein drink; SILKFULL, a pet healthcare brand for dogs and cats targeting kidney and intestinal health; and SILKCATS, a cat-specific wellness brand. On the B2B side, the company pursues technology licensing and co-development partnerships with major Japanese corporations — including equity-invested partners Ajinomoto, Pola Orbis Holdings, and Estee Corporation — leveraging their distribution channels to embed Karada Silk® into adjacent product categories, particularly pet nutrition.

NEXT NEW WORLD is a venture-backed private company with 1–10 employees. It completed a 240 million yen (~$1.5M) Series A funding round in June 2026 at a 1.28 billion yen post-money valuation, led by 15th Rock with broad participation from strategic corporate investors and financial investors including Shinkin Capital and Mizuho Capital. The company maintains joint research relationships with Temasek Polytechnic (Singapore), Kindai University, Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science, and Yokohama City University School of Medicine, and sources its raw silk exclusively from GOTS-certified organic producers. Leadership comprises CEO Kotaro Takashima (former Amazon Japan executive) and Director Kyhei Asahi (former Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting).

Name

NEXT NEW WORLD

Legal name

株式会社 NEXT NEW WORLD

Website

https://corp.nextnewworld.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NEXT NEW WORLD is a Japanese biotech startup that developed Karada Silk®, a patented water-soluble silk protein technology preserving nano-level mesh structure, and commercializes it via DTC health brands (ZINZO, SILKFULL, SILKCATS) and B2B licensing deals with major Japanese corporates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotech Consumer Health Products

NAICS

Textile Mills (313)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Biobased, Compostable & Low-Impact Material Innovation (Bio-polymers/Dope Dyeing) (IMAOAMAM)

Keywords

• Silk protein technology
• Pet healthcare supplements
• Human wellness supplements
• Biotech research development
• Natural ingredient cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiryu

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Healthcare Products: Direct-to-consumer sales of silk protein-based health supplements for humans (ZINZO) and pets (SILKFULL, SILKCATS). Products are sold through brand websites.
2. B2B Licensing & Co-development: Technology licensing and co-development partnerships with major corporations in healthcare, food, cosmetics, and materials industries. Includes strategic investments from partners like Ajinomoto, Pola Orbis Holdings, and Estee.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NEXT NEW WORLD researches and commercializes proprietary silk protein technology (Karada Silk®) that maintains nano-level mesh structure in water-soluble form. The company sells consumer healthcare products under the ZINZO brand (human silk protein drinks) and the SILKFULL/SILKCATS brands (pet healthcare for cats and dogs), while pursuing B2B co-development and licensing partnerships with major Japanese corporations in food, cosmetics, healthcare, and materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZINZO: Human healthcare silk drink using Karada Silk as main ingredient, preservative-free.
• SILKFULL
• SILKCATS

Products and services

• ZINZO Human healthcare silk protein drink using Karada Silk® as the main ingredient, with no preservatives, targeting the human health and wellness market.
• SILKFULL Pet healthcare brand for cats and dogs utilizing Karada Silk® to support kidney and intestinal health, positioned in the pet wellness market.
• SILKCATS Pet wellness brand for cats developed by NEXT NEW WORLD, leveraging silk protein technology to address feline health and nutrition needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8% CAGR growth rate in silk market
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Temasek PolytechnicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner in Singapore conducting joint research on silk applications and versatility.
• Kindai University (近畿大学)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Osaka, Japan conducting joint research on silk applications and versatility.
• Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science (信州大学 繊維学部)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Nagano, Japan specializing in textile science conducting joint research on silk applications.
• Yokohama City University School of Medicine (横浜市立大学 医学部)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Kanagawa, Japan in medical field conducting joint research on silk health applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AMSilk: AMSilk is a German company producing silk protein-based materials for medical and cosmetic applications. It is directly comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD's Karada Silk®; both develop silk proteins for healthcare and consumer applications using proprietary biotechnological processes.
• Bolt Threads: Bolt Threads is a US biotech producing bioengineered silk proteins via fermentation, directly comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD's Karada Silk® technology. Both companies focus on producing silk proteins through proprietary processes for cosmetics, personal care, and materials applications.
• Spiber: Spiber is a Japanese biotech company producing protein-based materials through fermentation (Brewed Protein™). It is the most direct comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD: both are Japanese biotech firms developing novel protein materials with sustainability positioning for textile, cosmetic, and industrial applications.
• Modern Meadow: Modern Meadow is a US biotech developing bioengineered protein materials (collagen and others) for fashion and consumer applications. It shares NEXT NEW WORLD's biotech-driven protein-materials approach and target verticals, though focused on different protein types.

Broad incumbents

• Shiseido: Shiseido is a major Japanese cosmetics incumbent. NEXT NEW WORLD's technology has stated cosmetics applications (per Pola Orbis partnership), placing Shiseido in the comparable set as a potential competitor, acquirer, or partner in Japanese beauty/health.
• Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a major animal health company providing pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements for pets. It is comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD's pet healthcare business as both target the pet wellness category with health-focused offerings across multiple species.
• Nestlé Purina: Nestlé Purina is a global leader in pet nutrition and wellness. It is comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD's SILKFULL and SILKCATS brands as both serve the pet nutrition/health market with science-backed offerings, though at vastly different scales.
• Virbac: Virbac is a global animal health company developing pharmaceutical and nutritional products for pets. It is comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD's SILKFULL and SILKCATS pet healthcare brands as both serve the pet wellness market, though Virbac operates at much larger scale and global reach.
• Pola Orbis Holdings: Pola Orbis Holdings is a major Japanese cosmetics holding company and a strategic investor in NEXT NEW WORLD. Both companies operate in the Japanese health/beauty space and have a direct commercial relationship through the Series A partnership.

Emerging players

• Euglena: Euglena is a Japanese biotech company developing microalgae-based health and food products. It is comparable to NEXT NEW WORLD as both are Japanese biotech firms commercializing novel bio-based materials with sustainability positioning into consumer health and food verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors9 records

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 NEXT NEW WORLD