Z-Works

About Z-Works

Z-Works Inc., a Japanese company established in April 2015, operates in the IoT healthcare sector with a focus on elder care. Founded by Tatsuya Takahashi and Makoto Ogawa, the firm is addressing the societal challenges of a rapidly aging population by developing solutions that alleviate the strain on caregivers and enhance the safety of seniors. The company's business model centers on providing IoT solutions, sensor devices, and AI systems tailored for the medical and nursing care industries.

The company's flagship product is "LiveConnect," a smart health care application. This system utilizes a variety of sensors—such as motion detectors, door sensors, and non-contact heartbeat and respiration monitors—installed within a living space to track an individual's activity and vital signs in real-time. The collected data is analyzed on the company's AWS-powered cloud platform, "Z-Works Life Engine," which then alerts care staff or family members via smartphones to potential issues like falls, wandering, or abnormal health readings. This allows for proactive intervention, reduces the need for constant physical patrols, and respects the privacy of the elderly by using icons and text notifications rather than video surveillance. The system is designed for easy installation without requiring Wi-Fi or major electrical work.

Z-Works targets care facilities, assisted living communities, and home care providers. Revenue is generated through the sale and implementation of its IoT solutions. Since its inception, the company has achieved several milestones, including winning the Tech in Asia Tour Tokyo preliminary in 2016 and securing a Series A funding round of $3.6 million in June 2017, with investors like Spiral Ventures and Canon. Z-Works has also actively participated in numerous accelerator programs with major corporations such as Tokyo Electric Power Company and Nomura Holdings, fostering strategic partnerships to fuel its growth and product development.