APC

What APC does

APC (株式会社APC) is a privately held Japanese systems integrator and AI/IoT product company founded in July 2002 in Oita City, Oita Prefecture, operating from approximately 85 employees across headquarters in Oita, development centers in Oita and Fukuoka, a Tokyo office, and a newly opened Hiroshima Support Center (April 2026). The company operates three interlocking business lines: factory automation (FA) system development for manufacturing clients, engineering services for Lam Research semiconductor manufacturing equipment (Etch and CVD) at Japanese fabrication facilities, and proprietary AI/IoT product commercialization. The firm serves Japanese manufacturers (Nippon Steel, Fuji Electric), semiconductor device makers (Lam Research partnership, Shin-Etsu Semiconductor), educational institutions (Oita University, Tokai University, Oita Prefectural Information Science High School), airport operators (JAL Infotec for Haneda aircraft recognition trials), and local government programs.

APC's technology stack centers on a proprietary IoT framework called Chimera, which underpins computer vision and spatial information processing across multiple product lines. The commercial product portfolio includes the AI Minerva education suite (Novice, Expert, Expert LLM) covering AI literacy through advanced LLM/agent engineering; Chimera AI Evangelist for low-code AI proof-of-concept; Aichan, a remote work support and recording system compliant with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism guidelines; Pasha, an AI-powered background-removal photo service; an aircraft recognition system combining LiDAR and 360° cameras for airport restricted areas; and consulting offerings for visual-inspection automation (Mokushi no AI) and skill quantification (Takumi no AI). Core AI modalities span image recognition, text/generative AI, and multimodal sensor fusion, with applied work in computer vision, process automation, and AI agent education.

APC's business model mixes professional services and recurring software revenue. Semiconductor equipment field service and FA system development are project-based professional services contracts, while AI Minerva products, Chimera AI Evangelist, and Aichan are sold via subscription or perpetual license (annual billing). The firm also operates a worker dispatch business (License No. 44-300021) with 48 dispatch workers across 5 destination firms at a 52.4% average margin in fiscal 2024, generating ¥32,198 average daily dispatch fees. Go-to-market is direct B2B sales for enterprise clients supplemented by a Toshiba Tec reseller channel, event-driven demand generation (NexTech Week, regional DX exhibitions), academic and government networks for education products, and content marketing through the AI Minerva note.com channel. The firm is self-funded with ¥30M in capital and no disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

APC

Legal name

株式会社APC

Website

https://oita-apc.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

APC (株式会社APC) is a Japanese systems integrator and AI/IoT product company founded in 2002, serving manufacturers, semiconductor fabs (via Lam Research), and educational institutions with factory automation software, semiconductor equipment engineering services, and proprietary AI education and computer vision products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial AI & IoT Solutions

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

Keywords

• Factory automation systems
• Semiconductor equipment services
• AI education programs
• Computer vision solutions
• IoT consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oita-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. System Development / Custom Software Development: FA (Factory Automation) systems, computer vision solutions, embedded software, and custom application development for manufacturing clients. Revenue generated through project-based contracts.
2. Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Services: Engineering services for Lam Research semiconductor equipment including installation, calibration, troubleshooting, maintenance, parts sales, and operational support at client fabrication facilities in Japan.
3. AI Products and Licensing: Proprietary AI products including AIミネルバ education programs (subscription/per-seat licensing), Chimera AI Evangelist tools, Pa写 service, and related software licenses.
4. AI Consulting Services: On-site AI consulting services including 現場のAI (workplace AI automation) and 匠のAI (technical skill digitization). These consulting engagements are project-based professional services.
5. Staffing / Dispatch Services: General worker dispatch services (派44-300021) and fee-based employment placement services (有料職業紹介) for manufacturing and technical roles. Subject to labor dispatch margin disclosure requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

APC develops and sells proprietary AI/IoT software products (AI Minerva education suite, Chimera IoT framework, Chimera AI Evangelist, Aichan remote work system, Pasha photo composition) and provides system development services for factory automation. The company also delivers engineering services for Lam Research semiconductor manufacturing equipment in Japan, covering installation, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and parts supply at client fabrication facilities.

Product overview

APC provides a comprehensive AI/IoT and systems development portfolio. The core offerings include AI education products (AIミネルバ Novice, Expert, Expert LLM) forming a progression from beginner to advanced AI engineering skills; computer vision solutions (目視の自動化, 匠のAI, 航空機認識システム) applying AI for automation and inspection; remote work support tools (アイちゃん, Pa写); and the Chimera IoT framework as the underlying technology platform. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment services support Lam Research equipment in Japan. Products span education technology, industrial AI, tourism DX, and enterprise systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• アイちゃん（aichan）: 遠隔作業支援・録画システム。スマートフォンとウェアラブルカメラを繋げて「撮る」「見る」「録画する」「話す」を実現するリモートツール。
• 温泉ハンター
• Dハンター
• Pa写（パシャ）
• AIミネルバ（AI Minerva）
• Chimera（キメラ）
• 航空機認識システム

Products and services

• AI Minerva Novice (AI ミネルバ Novice) AI education course package for beginners covering AI overview, machine learning, neural networks, deep learning, image recognition AI creation, and prompt engineering. Targets students, businesses, and individuals seeking AI literacy.
• AI Minerva Expert (AI ミネルバ Expert) AI programming learning material for data scientists and AI engineers. Covers Python coding, CNN-based AI model development, and transfer learning using pre-trained models across a 10-chapter curriculum.
• AI Minerva Expert LLM (AI ミネルバ Expert LLM) Advanced programming course covering autonomous AI agent development including Transformer implementation, RAG, Agentic RAG, and MCP (Model Context Protocol). Targets next-generation AI engineers.
• Aichan (アイちゃん) Remote Work Support System Remote work support and recording system connecting smartphone with wearable camera for hands-free video streaming, recording, and communication between field workers and remote supervisors. Professional version includes whiteboard function and on-premises deployment for high-security environments.
• Pasha (Pa写) AI-powered photo compositing service that automatically removes backgrounds from photos and composites subjects into new background images without requiring chroma key.
• Onsen Hunter (温泉ハンター) Hot spring themed application for tourism DX providing location information services related to hot springs.
• D Hunter (Dハンター) Location information-based product leveraging spatial data for tourism or location-based services.
• Chimera AI Evangelist Easy AI proof-of-concept tool enabling collect-teach-try workflow for image recognition AI on smartphones or PCs. Supports Image Classification and Object Detection with pre-trained models.
• Aircraft Recognition System (航空機認識システム) Aircraft recognition system for airport restricted areas using LiDAR and 360-degree cameras with AI models to detect aircraft position, velocity, acceleration, and enable autonomous vehicle decision-making. Includes simulation tools for weather and camera placement.
• Visual Inspection Automation (目視の自動化 ~現場のAI~) Visual inspection automation solution replacing human visual monitoring with optical cameras and LiDAR for spatial/environmental and object recognition, data management, and automation in manufacturing.
• Skill Quantification (技の数値化 ~匠のAI~) Skill quantification solution that digitizes expert tacit knowledge using sensors and data analysis to enable smooth skills transfer by converting intuitive expert techniques into numerical data.
• Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Services (半導体製造装置関連サービス) Engineering services, parts repair, and maintenance for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Strategic partner for Lam Research (Etch and CVD equipment) in Japan covering new installation, modification, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Contracted System Development (受託開発) System development services including material handling system development, instrumentation control system development, and commissioned development for factory automation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aircraft recognition rate of 96.7% in daytime conditions with 15% average distance measurement error at 100m range
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 大分大学 教育学部 (Oita University, Faculty of Education)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Collaboration with Professor Hagiine Naotaka on the 'Next-Generation AI Education Instructor Training Project.' University education students serve as instructors for AI Minerva Novice classes at high schools, creating a practical teacher training model.
• 株式会社ティー・シージャパン (T.C. Japan)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Trial sponsor for AI Minerva Novice's sponsor program (Sponsor tier: 協賛企業). T.C. Japan provided company profile and AI utilization case study presentations to high school students as part of career education sessions.
• 、一般社団法人日本ディープラーニング協会 (JDLA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024APC is the only supporting member (賛助会員) of JDLA in Oita Prefecture. APC exhibited AI Minerva Expert at JDLA's booth at NexTech Week 2024 AI EXPO, serving as AI education consultation staff at JDLA booths.
• 東海大学 (Tokai University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative remote AI education demonstration using the AI Minerva Novice curriculum for humanities students at Tokai University's Shizuoka Campus. Also partners on Yu-Navi bathing navigation system joint patent.
• 大分県立情報科学高等学校coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Primary educational partner for AI Minerva curriculum implementation. The school serves as a model institution for AI education, having implemented AI Minerva Novice across multiple departments. Jointly participates in the instructor training project with Oita University.
• おおいたAIテクノロジーセンター (AI Center / Hyper Network Society Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Ongoing strategic partnership for AI promotion in Oita Prefecture. The AI Center acts as a facilitator between APC's AI solutions (including Chimera AI Evangelist) and local enterprises/educational institutions. APC participates as a member of the center's management committee.
• 大分県・公益財団法人ハイパーネットワーク社会研究所・株式会社NTTPCコミュニケーションズ (GPU Platform Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Three-party agreement for providing GPU computing platform free of charge to Oita Prefecture businesses for AI development. NTTPC provides the GPU platform infrastructure; Hyper Network Society Research Institute manages the initiative; APC and other local companies utilize the platform.
• 株式会社JAL InfoteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Collaboration for developing an aircraft recognition system to enable autonomous vehicle operation in airport restricted areas. JAL Infotec provides airport operational expertise and domain knowledge while APC provides AI and sensor technology integration.
• Lam Research合同会社 (Lam Research)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Strategic partnership in Japan for Etch and CVD semiconductor manufacturing equipment. APC serves as a domestic engineering partner handling new installation, modification, troubleshooting, and maintenance for Lam Research equipment at Japanese fabs.
• 東芝テック株式会社 (Toshiba Tec)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2013Sales agency partnership established in October 2013 for distributing APC products and solutions through Toshiba Tec's established enterprise sales channels in Japan.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Tokyo Electron (TEL): Major Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment OEM with global field service operations. Comparable to APC's semiconductor equipment services business as an incumbent player that also performs installation, maintenance, and field engineering at Japanese fabs.

Emerging players

• Sakana AI: Tokyo-based foundation model research company with growing enterprise AI and government offerings in Japan. Comparable as a Japan-based AI-native emerging player pursuing education, government, and enterprise channels that partially intersect with APC's AI Minerva and consulting lines.
• Preferred Networks: Leading Japanese deep-learning company focused on computer vision, edge AI, and industrial AI applications including manufacturing. Comparable as a Japan-based AI specialist targeting similar factory/industrial use cases, though with substantially more funding and broader platform ambitions.
• Leapy Inc. Japanese AI education/edtech provider focused on AI and programming training for working professionals and students. Comparable to APC's AI Minerva (Novice/Expert/Expert_LLM) curriculum line in product scope and Japanese education market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Hitachi (Hitachi Industrial & Social Solutions): Global conglomerate with deep industrial AI, OT/IT convergence, and Lumada data platform offerings targeted at manufacturing and infrastructure. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same factory-AI and systems-integration space APC serves.
• Fujitsu: Major Japanese IT services and AI/IoT platform provider with extensive manufacturing and semiconductor vertical offerings. Overlaps with APC across factory automation, AI consulting, and edge computing, but operates at vastly larger scale as a generalist incumbent.
• NEC Corporation: Japanese IT services and AI/biometrics powerhouse with manufacturing AI, public-sector digital transformation, and EdTech offerings. Overlaps with APC across AI consulting, government/education channels, and computer vision solutions.
• Toshiba (Toshiba Digital Solutions): Japanese conglomerate with industrial AI, IoT, and digital transformation solutions that overlaps with APC's FA and AI consulting business. Toshiba Tec is also APC's distribution partner, making Toshiba both a peer and channel counterparty.
• Yokogawa Electric: Industrial automation and control systems provider serving process manufacturing, semiconductors, and energy customers in Japan and globally. Comparable to APC's FA development and semiconductor field-service activities, though at much larger scale and with broader instrumentation portfolio.

Direct peers

• ALBERT (Asahi Group, ex-ALBERT): Japanese data science and AI solutions consultancy serving enterprise clients with analytics, machine learning, and AI implementation services. Closest comparable in business model to APC's AI consulting arm (現場のAI, 匠のAI) given similar services mix and Japanese mid-market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intent/tweet?text=%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%EF%BD%81%EF%BD%90%EF%BD%83

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 APC