SCIEN

What SCIEN does

SCIEN Inc. (株式会社SCIEN) is a Tokyo-based AI services and product company founded in February 2024 by Sora Tabata, originating from the Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo. The company operates a Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) model in which SCIEN engineers embed on-site at client facilities to observe operations, linguistically formalize tacit knowledge, and build production-ready AI systems — a workflow it brands as "SCIENCE-Ready," emphasizing verifiability, explainability, and extensibility rather than AI-readiness alone. Its technical architecture spans a three-layer IPO framework (Perception via VLM/grounding, Ontology via graph structures, Orchestration via agents and Evals), with edge-optimized deployment capability for closed-network manufacturing environments.

The company's commercial portfolio combines four service lines — Custom AI & Software Development, New Business Development with AI, Advanced Technology R&D, and AI/DX Consulting & Advisory — with two proprietary products: EnCite, a manufacturing AI suite comprising Inspection AI, Format AI, and Scheduler AI that converts drawings, forms, and production plans into reusable AI rules; and Buddy Talk, an AI avatar conversation system for disability employment support. The revenue model is predominantly project-based professional services billed via multi-year contracts, with the EnCite product positioned toward subscription/recurring revenue at undisclosed pricing. SCIEN sells through direct enterprise sales, partner referrals (Tsunaguwa for Onomichi, Shinwa and Rintec for Ehime), and inbound inquiries generated by exhibitions (DX総合EXPO, NexTech Week, Retailing Tech Japan), technical content marketing, and the credibility signaling of Tokyo University Matsuo Lab affiliation, AWS Activate, NVIDIA Inception, and JDLA regular membership.

The customer base spans manufacturing (Shinwa, Takayoshi Industrial, Higashiyama Sangyo), enterprise IT (4COLORS, NextStep Solutions), welfare (Challenged Person), construction equipment leasing, broadcasting/media, healthcare, education, and entertainment (NHK, for which SCIEN provided scientific verification of a drama production). The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications, has been granted a joint patent with 4COLORS on ROI-visible DX proposal technology, and is funded by Deep30 Investment Business Limited Partnership through a third-party capital increase completed in May 2025. As of mid-2026, SCIEN employs approximately 40 staff including contractors across two Tokyo offices in Bunkyo-ku.

Name

SCIEN

Legal name

株式会社SCIEN

Website

https://scieninc.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SCIEN Inc. is a Tokyo University Matsuo Lab-originated AI services and product company that builds custom AI systems for Japanese enterprises — primarily in manufacturing, media, healthcare, and welfare — via on-site engineering, combining bespoke development with its proprietary EnCite manufacturing AI suite and Buddy Talk welfare product.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom AI Development and Manufacturing AI Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

AI Observability, Monitoring & Evaluation Platforms (Drift, Quality, Safety) (HDAEANAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Video Analytics & AI Security Solutions Integration (LPR, Facial, Behavior) (BPAKAGAK)

Keywords

• Custom AI development
• Manufacturing AI solutions
• AI consulting services
• Computer vision inspection
• DX transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom AI & Software Development (オーダーメイドAI・システム受託開発): End-to-end custom AI and software development from data collection through implementation and operations. SCIEN engineers embed on-site to observe, linguistically formalize, and implement AI/software solutions for specific client business problems. Covers image recognition, document processing, and enterprise application development. Revenue recognized on a project contract basis.
2. AI/DX Consulting & Advisory: Technical advisory, AI training workshops, scientific review, strategy formulation, and PMO support services. Flexible engagement models from spot consulting to monthly advisory retainers.
3. Advanced Technology R&D: Academic-level R&D services including literature surveys, algorithm development, and prototype validation for clients with challenges unsolvable by existing methods or tools. Covers autonomous driving, next-gen image recognition, and 3D generation.
4. New Business Development with AI: Support for creating new businesses by combining client domain knowledge with SCIEN's AI technology, including business model construction, core technology development, and IP strategy.
5. Proprietary Product (EnCite): Vertical AI product suite for manufacturing, currently marketed as a product. Pricing and revenue model for the product is not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCIEN is a Tokyo University Matsuo Lab-originated AI startup that provides end-to-end custom AI and software development, advanced R&D, new business development support, and DX consulting to Japanese enterprises, primarily in manufacturing. The company supplements its services with a proprietary manufacturing AI product suite called EnCite (Inspection AI, Format AI, Scheduler AI) that converts on-site tacit knowledge into reusable AI rules, and a Buddy Talk AI avatar system for disability employment support.

Product overview

SCIEN offers a portfolio of AI-powered solutions centered on its proprietary EnCite manufacturing AI product suite, complemented by four service lines: Custom AI & Software Development, New Business Development with AI, Advanced Technology R&D, and AI/DX Consulting & Advisory. EnCite transforms tacit knowledge from manufacturing operations into reusable AI rules through inspection AI, format AI, and scheduler AI modules. The service offerings provide end-to-end support from research through implementation, covering everything from bespoke AI system development to academic-level R&D and organizational DX consulting. Key products include EnCite for manufacturing quality control and Buddy Talk for disability employment support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EnCite（エンサイト）: 製造業向けAIプロダクトスイート。検図AI・フォーマットAI・スケジューラーAIにより設計から調達、生産計画までを支援。
• Buddy Talk

Products and services

• Custom AI & Software Development (オーダーメイドAI・システム受託開発) End-to-end AI and software development service that observes on-site operations, verbalizes requirements, specifies systems, and implements AI/software. Redesigns unstructured data and provides continuous support from PoC through implementation, including secure on-premise and closed-network deployments. Targeted at enterprise clients needing bespoke AI solutions across image recognition, document processing, and enterprise application development.
• New Business Development with AI (AI活用型 新規事業開発支援) Service that combines client domain knowledge with SCIEN's cutting-edge AI technology to create new businesses. Supports business model construction, core technology development, and IP strategy as a partner. Targeted at IT and enterprise clients seeking to incorporate advanced AI into new or existing products.
• Advanced Technology R&D (先端技術研究開発) R&D service for challenges unsolvable by existing technologies, from academic literature survey to new algorithm development. Provides academic-level research capabilities in autonomous driving, next-generation image recognition, 3D generation, and other cutting-edge fields. Targeted at enterprises with R&D challenges that existing tools and methods cannot solve.
• AI/DX Consulting & Advisory (AI/DXコンサルティング・アドバイザリー) Multifaceted DX promotion support from advisory technical services to AI training and scientific supervision. Flexible support from spot technical consultations and project management to strategy formulation for management. Targeted at enterprises pursuing digital transformation with technical advisory needs.
• EnCite (エンサイト) AI product suite for manufacturing that transforms manual work and decision criteria from drawings, forms, and production plans into reusable AI rules. Includes Inspection AI (検図AI), Format AI (フォーマットAI), and Scheduler AI (スケジューラーAI) supporting design through procurement and production planning. Field operators confirm and modify AI-suggested decisions to accumulate high-precision field knowledge as organizational rules. Targeted at Japanese manufacturing enterprises.
• Buddy Talk AI avatar conversation system for disability employment support. Provides daily dialogue support for individuals with social anxiety or selective mutism through an approachable avatar interface, converting daily dialogue into structured reports for caregivers with baseline data accumulation for early detection of resignation precursors. Accessibility features include choice-based responses, readable captions, and simple Japanese. Targeted at welfare facilities and employment support organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nonwoven fabric defect detection AI achieves approximately 90% AI-to-human agreement rate on quality classification decisions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration2 records

AI capability13 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 日本ディープランニング協会 (JDLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026SCIEN admitted as regular member of JDLA in June 2026. Professor Yutaka Matsuo serves as SCIEN's technical advisor. JDLA is the central organization promoting deep learning social implementation in Japan.
• シンワ株式会社majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 May 2026Implementation partner in Triangle Ehime 2.0 continuation project. シンワ is a nonwoven fabric manufacturer where SCIEN has deployed AI quality control systems, and is the primary site for the quality management automation project in Ehime's paper industry.
• リンテック株式会社majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 May 2026Implementation partner in Triangle Ehime 2.0 continuation project. Together with シンワ, working with SCIEN on automating quality management in Ehime's paper industry using specialized AI models.
• 東京大学松尾研究室 / 松尾 豊 教授coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Professor Yutaka Matsuo (Tokyo University) joined as technical advisor in January 2026. Professor Matsuo is a leading AI researcher in Japan and director of the Matsuo Lab. SCIEN is certified as a Matsuo Lab-originated startup.
• 協同組合つないぐ和 (合同会社つなぐ和)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Comprehensive partnership for DX/AI promotion in the Onomichi region. SCIEN and Tsunaguwa combine AI technology with regional network expertise to provide customized solutions for regional businesses, including seminars, workshops, and success story sharing.
• 株式会社NextStep SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 April 2025Exhibited together at 経営支援EXPO 2025 and 製造業ワールド, presenting 'Core systems × AI Solutions' as a joint theme. NextStep Solutions is a core systems company with which SCIEN collaborates on combined AI and enterprise software offerings.
• 古川 涉一 / 株式会社ビットランドminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Shoichi Furukawa (Representative Director, Bitland) joined as technical advisor in March 2026. Furukawa previously served as CTO of デジタルレシピ, building AI products including Catchy and Slideflow.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS Activate program participant since March 2024, providing SCIEN with cloud credits, technical support, and training resources for scalable AI solution development.
• NVIDIA (NVIDIA Inception Program)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner company in NVIDIA's Inception Program since April 2024, providing access to cutting-edge GPU and AI technologies, technical support, and marketing resources.
• 東京大学松尾研究所coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCIEN originated from the Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo. Maintains ongoing collaboration with Matsuo Institute for AI research, including joint seminars and regional initiatives such as Triangle Ehime.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCIEN_PR

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SCIEN