CaTe

About CaTe

CaTe Inc. operates within the digital therapeutics (DTx) market, focusing on a significant unmet need in Japan's healthcare system. Established in March 2020, the company was founded by Dr. Kazuhiro Terashima, a practicing cardiologist. His experience as a physician, witnessing firsthand the challenges and low participation rates—a mere 7%—in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, became the driving force behind the company's inception. Dr. Terashima observed that the scarcity of specialized facilities, particularly outside urban centers, and the significant travel burden on patients led to high hospital readmission rates and escalating healthcare costs, a critical issue he aimed to solve.

The company's core business is the research and development of a remote cardiac rehabilitation system, which functions as a prescribed medical device application. This system is designed for patients recovering from conditions like heart failure and myocardial infarction. It utilizes a combination of a smartphone application and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smartwatches, to deliver a comprehensive, at-home rehabilitation program. The service provides patients with personalized exercise therapy, shares vital data like pulse and blood pressure with healthcare providers, and includes features for lifestyle and diet management. AI-powered notifications and chat functions are integrated to encourage patient behavioral change and adherence.

CaTe's business model targets medical institutions and is built on collaboration with clinical partners. The firm is actively working with entities like Fujita Health University and Nagoya University on clinical trials to validate the efficacy and safety of its system. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2022 when the company obtained a Type II Medical Device Marketing and Manufacturing License from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The ultimate goal is to achieve regulatory approval and insurance reimbursement for its digital therapy, making it an accessible, standard treatment option. The company has secured substantial financial backing to fuel its R&D and commercialization efforts, including a Series A funding round that brought its total raised capital to significant figures, supported by investors like JAFCO, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and Coral Capital.