PLAZMA
PLAZMA Inc. is a privately held Okinawa-based technology company that builds LPWA-based IoT environmental monitoring systems for Okinawa farms and delivers Google Chromebook deployment, teacher training, and STEM/AI workshops to K-12 schools across the prefecture.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersOkinawa, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PLAZMA does
PLAZMA Inc. is a privately held Japanese technology company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Naha, Okinawa, that operates two distinct but linked business lines: agricultural and environmental IoT, and K-12 STEM education services. The IoT offering centers on LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) sensor nodes that measure temperature, humidity, CO2, and odor compounds such as ammonia, with configurable measurement cycles from one minute to one week and remote monitoring via mobile or PC. These nodes feed an MQTTs-based private network and a cloud monitoring platform that enables time-series analysis; the company also provides image analysis for measuring size, quantity, and movement (including motion detection) used in pig farm and greenhouse monitoring. Documented deployments include parking-lot utilization systems, poultry-house environmental monitoring, pig-farm image monitoring, and greenhouse cultivation monitoring, all within Okinawa prefecture.
The education business supports digital transformation in Okinawa schools by selling Google Chromebooks, implementing G Suite for Education, and providing teacher training and curriculum support to municipal Boards of Education and Ryukyu University Faculty of Education-affiliated schools across at least nine municipalities (Itoman, Uruma, Naha, Nago, Higashi Village, Zamami Village, Urasoe, Nanjo, and Haebaru Town). PLAZMA also runs three community programs — DigiLab Okinawa (overnight creative workshops and TED-style youth presentations), Maker Lab (online micro:bit programming courses), and AI Maker Lab (children's machine-learning experience workshops) — that double as marketing channels and feeder pipelines to the education services. Revenue is generated from one-time IoT system sales, Chromebook hardware resale, and professional services for teacher training and workshops; no pricing, subscription, or recurring SaaS model is publicly disclosed. The company operates as an independent private entity with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no institutional investors identified in the source material.
PLAZMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PLAZMA
- Legal name
- PLAZMA Inc.
- Website
- https://plazma.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- PLAZMA Inc. is a privately held Okinawa-based technology company that builds LPWA-based IoT environmental monitoring systems for Okinawa farms and delivers Google Chromebook deployment, teacher training, and STEM/AI workshops to K-12 schools across the prefecture.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PLAZMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Monitoring IoT Systems
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Irrigation Monitoring & Sensors (Flow/Pressure Meters, Soil Moisture, Water Quality Sensors) (AFABAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Learning Device Ecosystems & 1:1 Program Solutions (Devices, MDM, Charging) (EDAJAMAL), Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH)
Keywords
Where PLAZMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Okinawa
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
PLAZMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- IoT System Development: Custom IoT system development for specific use cases including parking lot utilization, poultry house environmental monitoring, pig farm image monitoring, and greenhouse cultivation environmental monitoring. Revenue generated from system sales and implementation.
- Education Support and Technology Sales: Sales of Google Chromebook devices to educational institutions, combined with teacher training and curriculum support services. Includes G Suite for Education implementation.
- Training and Workshop Services: Provides programming workshops, teacher training sessions, and educational programs for children and educators in Okinawa region.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
PLAZMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PLAZMA provides custom IoT system development for environmental monitoring and STEM education services. The IoT solutions combine LPWA sensor nodes (measuring temperature, humidity, CO2, and odor compounds), MQTTs-based wide-area communication networks, image analysis with motion detection, and a cloud monitoring platform — deployed for parking lot utilization, poultry houses, pig barns, and greenhouse cultivation. The education line sells Google Chromebooks and implements G Suite for Education in Okinawa schools, paired with teacher training and the DigiLab Okinawa, Maker Lab, and AI Maker Lab workshop programs.
Product overview
PLAZMA offers a dual-focus portfolio combining IoT technology solutions and STEM education services. The IoT Solutions line includes LPWA-based sensor nodes for environmental monitoring (measuring temperature, humidity, CO2, and odor compounds), image analysis for agricultural facilities, and MQTTs-based wide-area monitoring networks — these are sold as integrated systems for parking, chicken coop, pig farm, and greenhouse applications. The education segment comprises DigiLab Okinawa (camp-style creative workshops and youth presentations), Maker Lab (online micro:bit programming courses), and AI Maker Lab (children's machine learning workshops).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IoT Solutions (IoTシステム) Integrated IoT systems combining LPWA sensor nodes for environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, CO2, odor compounds including ammonia), MQTTs-based wide-area communication networks, image analysis with motion detection, and a cloud monitoring platform. Deployed for agricultural operations (poultry houses, pig barns, greenhouses) and parking lot utilization monitoring in Okinawa.
- School Education Support (学校教育支援・Google Chromebook販売) Deployment of Google Chromebook devices and G Suite for Education to schools and boards of education across Okinawa municipalities, combined with teacher training, IT evangelist training, in-school training sessions, and curriculum support services for digital transformation in classrooms.
- DigiLab Okinawa (デジラボおきなわ) Children's creative workshop program featuring overnight camps, TED-style youth presentations, and children's artwork exhibitions designed to foster creativity and STEM engagement among youth in Okinawa.
- Maker Lab Online programming course for children and educators using micro:bit for hands-on electronics and programming education, supporting STEM learning in Okinawa schools.
- AI Maker Lab Machine learning experience workshop for children introducing AI concepts through interactive activities and hands-on projects, building early familiarity with AI among Okinawa youth.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces manual inspection workload in farms through remote monitoring capabilities
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PLAZMA
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PLAZMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
PLAZMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Okinawa Innovation Strategy Center (ISCO)coreSelected for multiple ISCO programs including Asia IT Business Creation Promotion and Open Innovation Creation Promotion projects.
- Okinawa PrefecturecorePLAZMA was selected for the Okinawa Future IT Human Resources Development Project, indicating a strategic partnership with the prefecture for IT education initiatives.
- Switch ScienceminorPartner company that supports Japanese Makers and STEM education community. Provides electronic components and educational materials that complement PLAZMA's education initiatives.
- Switch EducationminorRelated company to Switch Science focused on educational applications. Supports PLAZMA's STEM education mission.
- GooglecoreGoogle collaborates with PLAZMA on Chromebook and G Suite for Education implementation, providing teacher training and educational technology support in Okinawa schools.
- Synnex JapanCollaborates on Chromebook and G Suite for Education training programs for teachers in Okinawa.
- DellminorSpecial sponsor for DigiLab Presentation #STARTDAY event. Provides technology support for educational programs.
- Okinawa Bank (沖縄銀行)minorCollaborates on children's programming experience classes at multiple branches (Naha, Yaeyama) and sponsors community education initiatives.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PLAZMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Progate: Japan-origin online programming education platform with strong consumer brand. Adjacent competitor to PLAZMA's Maker Lab offering — overlaps on teaching children coding but delivers as a self-serve SaaS rather than instructor-led workshops.
- Terra Smile: Japanese agriculture data analytics startup applying satellite and farm data to support producer decision-making. Comparable to PLAZMA's data-driven farm management pitch (moving from experience-based to database-based decisions) but with a heavier emphasis on satellite/AI analytics over on-site sensors.
Broad incumbents
- OPTiM: Established Japanese IoT/AI platform provider with a sizable agriculture vertical (precision farming, drone imaging, remote management). Competes with PLAZMA on the IoT-for-agriculture thesis but serves a broader enterprise and government portfolio well beyond Okinawa.
Direct peers
- Life is Tech: Major Japanese provider of youth programming and STEM education (camp-style programs, online courses, teacher training). Closest direct peer to PLAZMA's DigiLab / Maker Lab / AI Maker Lab education services, operating on a larger national scale.
- Farmnote: Japan-headquartered livestock and farm management IoT platform. Most direct comparator to PLAZMA's agricultural monitoring business — same target customers (Japanese farms), similar IoT-driven remote management value proposition, and overlapping use cases in poultry and pig operations.
- Switch Education: Japanese STEM education company (sister to Switch Science) focused on micro:bit-based learning. Already a PLAZMA channel partner, and directly comparable in target audience (children and teachers) and product (micro:bit programming curriculum).
- AgriNote: Japan-focused farm record-keeping and IoT field management app widely used by Japanese producers. Comparable to PLAZMA in transitioning agriculture from manual to digital record-keeping, though AgriNote is purely software while PLAZMA bundles proprietary LPWA sensor hardware.
Others
- SORACOM: Japanese cellular IoT connectivity platform that underpins many LPWA and MQTT-style deployments in Japan. Functions as an enabling infrastructure layer that PLAZMA's MQTTs private network competes against or could integrate with for low-power agricultural monitoring.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PLAZMA social profiles
Digital presencePLAZMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PLAZMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
PLAZMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PLAZMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PLAZMA
What does PLAZMA do?
PLAZMA provides custom IoT system development for environmental monitoring and STEM education services. The IoT solutions combine LPWA sensor nodes (measuring temperature, humidity, CO2, and odor compounds), MQTTs-based wide-area communication networks, image analysis with motion detection, and a cloud monitoring platform — deployed for parking lot utilization, poultry houses, pig barns, and greenhouse cultivation. The education line sells Google Chromebooks and implements G Suite for Education in Okinawa schools, paired with teacher training and the DigiLab Okinawa, Maker Lab, and AI Maker Lab workshop programs.
Is PLAZMA a public or private company?
PLAZMA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PLAZMA founded?
PLAZMA was founded in 2016.
Where is PLAZMA based?
PLAZMA is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does PLAZMA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. IoT System Development is the primary driver. The others are education Support and Technology Sales and training and Workshop Services.
Who are PLAZMA's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Progate and Terra Smile. OPTiM is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Life is Tech, Farmnote, Switch Education and AgriNote. SORACOM is listed as an others.
Does PLAZMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for PLAZMA.
What industry is PLAZMA in?
PLAZMA's product category is Environmental Monitoring IoT Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAHAJ, Irrigation Monitoring & Sensors (Flow/Pressure Meters, Soil Moisture, Water Quality Sensors), with a secondary code of EDAJAMAL, Learning Device Ecosystems & 1:1 Program Solutions (Devices, MDM, Charging). Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 7370.