Noel

What Noel does

株式会社 Noel is a Japanese AI development company headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, founded in August 2019. The firm designs on-device, "standalone" AI systems in which neural-network inference runs on a proprietary AI baseboard mounted directly to the customer's hardware, eliminating any requirement for an internet connection or cloud backend. Its product portfolio centers on computer-vision and motion-analysis solutions — most notably NoelPasta (AI people-flow analysis), NoelSpec (AI workstation hardware), Pasta-Emotion (emotion analysis), and AI tracking signage — alongside newer enterprise software such as the June 2026 SES management system "Noel Filo." A separately branded entertainment unit, NoelEntertainment, operates VTuber talent such as Noe Ruppasta.

The company's commercial model combines one-time system licensing (standalone AI systems, workstations, modules like NoelPenne, NoelPandas, and tracking signage), professional-services revenue from AI導入コンサルティング (AI implementation consulting), and limited recurring revenue from entertainment subscriptions. Customers span manufacturing (JTEKT, Sammy), healthcare and medical devices (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Sysmex, Nihon Kohden, Abbott Japan), IT services (CTC Chubu Telecommunication, AGEST, Ridgelinez, Applied, Unitcom, and others), and academia (Nara Women's University, Tohoku University CYRIC, Kobe RIKEN). Distribution is domestic-only via direct enterprise sales across Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka, supplemented by trade-show appearances (JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023, Messenagoya 2025), a national PR pipeline via PRTIMES and regional newspapers, and a regular president-led commentary slot on MID-FM761 radio.

Noel is privately held, founder-controlled (Representative Director Tomoyasu Takehara; Director Chizuko Ohashi), with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or funding rounds in the source data. The company holds a 2026 Business Continuity Plan certification from the Chubu Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and an Aichi Women's Brilliance Company certification. As of September 2024 it reported 31 staff including contractors.

Name

Noel

Legal name

株式会社 Noel

Website

https://noel-ltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Noel is a Japanese AI company that builds on-device, standalone AI vision systems for Japanese enterprises in manufacturing, healthcare, and IT services, and operates an entertainment/VTuber sub-brand. Its products include NoelPasta people-flow analytics, NoelSpec AI workstations, and the Noel Filo SES management system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Software Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ), Responsible AI, Security & Privacy Platforms (Safety, Guardrails, PII) (HDAEANAG)

Keywords

• AI system development
• Image analysis AI
• People flow analytics
• AI consulting services
• Standalone AI hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Nagoya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI System Development and Sales: Custom AI system development including stand-alone AI systems, AI workstations, people flow analysis systems, and SES management systems. Revenue generated from product sales and system implementation.
2. AI導入コンサルティング: AI introduction consulting services to help enterprises adopt and integrate AI solutions.
3. 医療関連システム: Medical-related systems development and sales, including AI motion sensing applications for healthcare.
4. NoelEntertainment: Entertainment business operation including VTuber management (e.g., 乃江瑠パスタ), providing AI-based entertainment services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

株式会社 Noel develops and sells custom standalone AI systems (including the AI baseboard-mounted NoelPasta people flow analysis system, NoelSpec AI workstation, and Noel Filo SES management system) that operate without internet connectivity, eliminating cloud dependency and security risks. The company also provides AI implementation consulting, AI motion sensing technology for healthcare applications, and operates the NoelEntertainment division for VTuber and entertainment AI services.

Product overview

株式会社Noel is an AI development company offering a portfolio of standalone AI systems and software products. The core offering is a standalone AI system that operates independently on hardware boards without internet connectivity, distinguishing it from cloud-based alternatives. The main products include NoelPasta (AI people flow analysis system), NoelSpec (AI workstation), and Noel Filo (SES management system). The NoelEntertainment division operates entertainment-focused AI and VTuber services. All products can be customized with original training data, and Noel provides AI implementation consulting services alongside hardware sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NoelEntertainment: Entertainment division of Noel focused on entertainment and Vtuber operations including talents such as 乃江瑠パスタ (Noe Ruppasta).
• Noel Filo
• NoelPasta
• NoelSpec
• NoelPandas
• NoelPen

Products and services

• Noel Filo SES (System Engineering Service) management system for managing and optimizing engineering service operations, targeted at IT services and system integrators.
• NoelPasta (AI People Flow Analysis System) AI-powered people flow analysis and human tracking system using computer vision to analyze and visualize pedestrian movement patterns, deployed at events, facilities, and industrial sites.
• NoelSpec (AI Workstation) AI workstation product line developed and sold by Noel for AI computing and processing needs.
• Standalone AI System (スタンドアローン型AIシステム) Standalone AI system embedded on proprietary AI baseboard mounted directly on the device, operating independently without internet connectivity, eliminating cloud dependency, virus risks, and information leakage risks while reducing data volume, initial cost, and running costs.
• NoelPandas (Reagent Management System) Reagent management system for laboratory and testing operations, featured in Chubu Economic Newspaper in 2020.
• AI Tracking Signage AI-powered digital signage that tracks and analyzes viewer engagement and demographics.
• NoelEntertainment Entertainment-focused division operating VTubers and developing entertainment AI, including VTuber talent such as Noe Ruppasta (乃江瑠パスタ) who appeared at Japan Mobility Show 2023.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 国立循環器病研究センター (National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Joint development of AI motion sensing technology algorithm to detect gait characteristics in elderly patients with dementia, aimed at social implementation. Collaboration with Ridgelinez also involved.
• Ridgelinez株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration on AI motion sensing technology development for healthcare applications alongside National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.
• アプライド株式会社minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on NoelPenne and other AI product distribution through Applied's BTO (Built to Order) PC business channels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Preferred Networks: Japan's leading deep learning company with edge AI and industrial AI offerings across manufacturing and healthcare. Comparable for its Japanese enterprise focus on deep learning, computer vision, and edge/inference AI capabilities, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Ridge-i: Japanese AI consulting and development firm offering custom AI solutions including computer vision and image analysis. Comparable as a similar-sized Japanese AI company focused on bespoke AI implementations and image analytics, and notably also co-develops with NCVC (Ridgelinez is a close associate through their common parent).
• LeapMind: Japanese edge AI company specializing in low-power on-device deep learning inference. Directly comparable to Noel's standalone/edge AI value proposition, both targeting the deployment of AI without cloud connectivity for cost, privacy, and latency reasons.
• ABEJA: Japanese AI startup offering enterprise AI platform solutions including retail analytics, digital transformation, and AI implementation services. Comparable to Noel as a Japanese enterprise AI company of similar scale and stage serving multiple verticals with custom AI implementations.
• AI inside: Japanese AI platform company offering AI-OCR, large language models, and AI workflow automation to enterprises. Comparable as a Japanese enterprise AI vendor with both proprietary platform products and custom AI deployment capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Fujitsu Limited: Major Japanese IT services and platform incumbent with significant AI offerings including manufacturing AI and digital annealing. Competes with Noel in Japanese enterprise AI deployments, particularly in manufacturing and public sector.
• NEC Corporation: Major Japanese enterprise technology incumbent offering extensive AI solutions including computer vision, facial recognition, and analytics. Competes with Noel for Japanese enterprise AI budgets at the high end with broader portfolios and deeper R&D budgets.
• Cognex Corporation: Global leader in industrial machine vision and image-based identification systems. Comparable for its computer vision applications in manufacturing quality inspection and factory automation - a core use case Noel addresses with its standalone AI for factories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NoelPasta

Compliance2 records

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 Noel