Anaut Inc.
Category: AI in Healthcare
Japanese surgical vision AI startup developing EUREKA, a real-time AI system that analyzes endoscopic and robotic surgery video to visualize anatomical structures and support surgeons' visual recognition during operations. Anaut Inc. was founded in 2020. The company is led by Nao Kobayashi (小林直). Based in Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 51-100. Latest round: Series B. Key investors include Japan Growth Capital Investment Corporation (Nomura SPARX); Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); Decarbonization Support Organization (JICN); Vision Incubate; Beyond Next Ventures; ANRI; KSP.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Team size
- 51-100
Value proposition
Real-time AI-powered surgical visual support that identifies and highlights critical anatomical structures (connective tissues, nerves, organs) during endoscopic and robotic surgery, reducing cognitive errors and improving surgical safety.
Products and solutions
EUREKA α (外科手術視覚支援プログラム) — PMDA-approved AI medical device for real-time surgical visual support; Surgical Vision EUREKA — education/research AI system; Eureka Inside — AI integration platform for next-gen medical devices
Unique value
Japan's first regulatory-approved (PMDA) AI medical device for real-time intraoperative visual recognition support; developed by practicing surgeons for surgeons; deep learning trained on extensive surgical video data.
Target customer
Hospitals and surgical centers performing endoscopic and robotic surgeries; surgeons; medical device manufacturers (via Eureka Inside)
Industries served
Healthcare; Surgical Medicine; Medical Devices
Technology advantage
Deep learning-based real-time image recognition for surgical video; PMDA Class II medical device approval (Japan's first in category); proprietary training data from 30+ advanced medical institutions; surgeon-founded domain expertise; NEDO grant for next-gen surgical AI integration
How they differentiate
First-in-Japan PMDA regulatory approval for intraoperative AI visual recognition software; founded and led by practicing surgeons who understand clinical needs firsthand; real-time deep learning analysis of surgical video; strong government and institutional backing (JBIC, NEDO, Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
Main competitors
Caresyntax (US/Germany); Cydar Medical (UK); ClearPoint Neuro (US); Proximie (UK/US)
Key partnerships
30+ advanced medical institutions in Japan and abroad for joint research; NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) grant for next-gen surgical AI; Incubit (AI research collaboration since 2018); Tokyo Metropolitan Government (advanced medical device acceleration program)
Notable customers
20+ hospitals in Japan (including Keio University Hospital where clinical trials conducted); expanding to 40+ facilities
Major milestones
2020-07: Company founded; 2020-12: Seed funding from Beyond Next Ventures; 2024-04: PMDA approval for EUREKA α (Japan's first surgical visual support AI); 2025: Established US subsidiary (Anaut America Inc.); 2026-01: Additional PMDA approval for pancreas/nerve visualization; 2026-03/05: Series B funding with JBIC and Nomura SPARX; 2026: Developing surgery-specific generative AI with NEDO
Growth metrics
20+ hospital deployments in Japan; 30+ joint research institutions; US subsidiary established; European expansion planned
Market positioning
Pioneer in Japan's surgical AI market with first regulatory approval; expanding globally with US subsidiary (Anaut America Inc.) and planned European operations; competing with international digital surgery platforms
Geographic focus
Japan (established); US (expanding via Anaut America Inc.); Europe (planned expansion)
Patents and IP
PMDA manufacturing and sales approval for EUREKA α (approval #30600BZX00061000, April 2024); additional approval for pancreas/nerve visualization (January 2026)
About Nao Kobayashi (小林直)
Ex-surgeon at Toranomon Hospital (Tokyo, 8.5 years); Yokohama City University School of Medicine graduate (2009). Began AI surgical research in 2018 before founding Anaut in 2020.
Official website: https://anaut-surg.com/