KAKEHASHI

About KAKEHASHI

KAKEHASHI Inc. is a health-tech startup founded in Tokyo, Japan, on March 30, 2016, with a mission to redefine Japan's healthcare experience. The company was co-founded by Yutaka Nakao, who serves as President, and Takashi Nakagawa, the CEO. Nakao, who comes from a family of medical professionals and previously worked as a medical representative at Takeda Pharmaceutical, was inspired to address service infrastructure gaps and information disparities he observed in the medical field. Nakagawa, a graduate of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law, brought experience from McKinsey & Company, where he specialized in operational optimization and M&A for the manufacturing and high-tech industries.

KAKEHASHI's core business is the development and provision of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for pharmacies, a market in Japan that has been traditionally paper-based and is now undergoing significant digitalization. The company's flagship product is "Musubi," a cloud-based electronic medication history (EMR) and patient guidance tool launched in 2017. Musubi automates tasks like writing medication records and provides personalized medication advice, helping to streamline pharmacy operations, improve patient care, and strengthen the pharmacist-patient relationship. The platform is utilized by over 14,000 pharmacies nationwide, representing more than 20% of the market in Japan.

The company's product suite has expanded to include "Musubi Insight," a management dashboard for pharmacy owners; "Pocket Musubi," a patient follow-up application; and "Musubi AI Stock Management," which uses machine learning for demand forecasting and inventory optimization. KAKEHASHI operates on a subscription-based business model, providing its tools to clients ranging from small independent pharmacies to large drugstore chains. The firm aims to build a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem, optimizing the drug distribution supply chain through collaboration with wholesalers and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

KAKEHASHI has secured significant funding to fuel its growth, with a cumulative total of approximately $196 million over several rounds. A major Series D round in June 2025, led by Goldman Sachs, raised approximately $97 million (JPY 14 billion), which included a mix of equity, secondary share sales, and venture debt. This capital is earmarked for M&A activities, investment in new technologies, and talent acquisition. The company has already made strategic acquisitions, including Noah Medical System in 2025. Its list of investors includes prominent names like Goldman Sachs, DNX Ventures, Globis Capital Partners, and ITOCHU.