Datawise
Category: AI in Analytics & BI
AI-powered people-flow (人流) analytics platform using GPS location big data, serving retail, real estate, and local government decision-making in Japan. Datawise was founded in 2019. The company is led by 今田隆秀 (Taka Imada). Based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 11-50. Latest round: Undisclosed. Key investors include PKSHA Algorithm Fund.
- Founded
- 2019
- Headquarters
- Minato, Tokyo, Japan
- Team size
- 11-50
Value proposition
Japan's largest high-resolution GPS big data (1B+ records/day, 90%+ background acquisition rate, 10-second intervals) combined with proprietary AI algorithms to deliver accurate people-flow estimation, visitor attribute analysis, and trade area intelligence for businesses and local governments.
Products and solutions
Datawise Area Marketer (domestic version), Datawise Area Marketer (inbound/foreign visitor version), Datawise GPS AI (proprietary AI algorithm for location intelligence), Open Integrated People-Flow Data Platform (under development)
Unique value
"See people flow like weather forecasts" — democratizing high-precision location intelligence through an intuitive SaaS platform powered by NTT Docomo's d-point member GPS data (87M+ members) and proprietary Datawise GPS AI.
Target customer
Retail chains (drugstores, supermarkets, restaurants); Real estate developers; Local governments/municipalities; Tourism boards; Financial institutions; Commercial facility operators
Industries served
Retail & Distribution, Food & Beverage, Real Estate & Property Development, Finance, Local Government / Smart City, Tourism
Technology advantage
Proprietary "Datawise GPS AI" algorithm for high-accuracy people-flow estimation; exclusive access to NTT Docomo d-point member GPS data (87M+ members, 1B+ daily records); 10-type attribute data linkage (income, household composition, occupation, etc.); next-gen high-resolution GPS in v2.0; floor-level detection capability; open platform strategy integrating POS and other heterogeneous data
How they differentiate
Unlike competitors, Datawise leverages NTT Docomo's exclusive d-point member GPS data (87M+ members) with 10-second acquisition intervals and 90%+ background rate — Japan's largest and highest-resolution dataset. Their proprietary Datawise GPS AI delivers superior estimation accuracy, and the platform uniquely links GPS data with 10 types of survey-based attribute data (income, family structure, etc.). The upcoming open integrated platform will combine location data with POS and other business data.
Main competitors
Agoop (マチレポ/MachiRepo), HULIX (ひとなび), Spectrum (スペクティ)
Key partnerships
NTT Docomo (exclusive GPS data partnership, group company), PKSHA Algorithm Fund (strategic investor, AI technology collaboration), GeoTechnologies (co-hosted webinars), Plug and Play Japan (2020 accelerator program), JR East Cross Station (customer/partner), Maebashi City (customer/partner)
Notable customers
Godai Co., Ltd. (drugstore chain), JR East Cross Station (ecute/GRANSTA station retail), Maebashi City (local government), Kitahiroshima City (Hokkaido Ballpark F Village), Sapporo City
Major milestones
2019-01: Company founded, 2019-03: Datawise Area Marketer launched, 2020: Selected for Plug and Play Japan accelerator (Brand & Retail), 2021-03: Datawise Area Marketer official service start, 2025-2026: Inbound version with trend analysis, real-time data features, 2026-05: Datawise Area Marketer 2.0 major update (next-gen high-res GPS), 2026-07: Funding from PKSHA Algorithm Fund for open integrated people-flow data platform
Growth metrics
~10 employees (as of June 2026); 1B+ GPS records/day; 90%+ background acquisition rate; 87M+ NTT Docomo d-point members as data source
Market positioning
Leading AI-powered people-flow analytics platform in Japan, positioned as an NTT Docomo group company with exclusive access to Docomo's GPS big data. Competing in the Japanese location intelligence SaaS market against other Docomo-data-based services and independent analytics providers.
Geographic focus
Japan (domestic market), with inbound tourism analytics for international visitors to Japan
Patents and IP
Proprietary "Datawise GPS AI" algorithm (trade secret/未公開); multiple patents listed on STARTUP DB (details behind paywall)
About 今田隆秀 (Taka Imada)
Ex-Microsoft (Marketing); Harvard MBA; McKinsey (Consulting); Amazon (Product); Yahoo! Japan (Finance/Strategic Alliance)
Official website: https://www.datawise.co.jp/