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EVERSTEEL

Category: AI in Climate / Energy

An AI-powered DX platform, 'Tetsu-Navi' (Iron-Navi), that automates the inspection, grading, and impurity detection of steel scrap for the steel and recycling industries. EVERSTEEL was founded in 2021. The company is led by Keijiro Tajima. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 11-30. Total funding raised: $4.4M. Latest round: Expansion Round. Key investors include Mitsui & Co., DCM Ventures, Coreline Ventures, University of Tokyo IPC, Incubate Fund.

Founded
2021
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Team size
11-30
Total funding
$4.4M

Value proposition

Enhances operational safety by detecting hazardous materials, improves recycling quality through precise AI grading, and supports decarbonization by optimizing furnace efficiency through better scrap management.

Products and solutions

Tetsu-Navi Kenshu AI: Automated vision-based grading and impurity/explosive detection system., Tetsu-Navi Analytics: Data analysis tool for scrap delivery and quality trends., Tetsu-Navi Management: A cloud-based DX platform for centralizing scrap yard operational data.

Unique value

Developed specialized computer vision algorithms capable of accurately identifying and grading 'unstructured' objects (irregular scrap metal) in harsh, real-time industrial environments where standard AI models often fail.

Target customer

Steel manufacturers (primarily Electric Arc Furnace operators), scrap recycling companies, and metal wholesalers.

Industries served

Steel Manufacturing, Metal Recycling, Climate Tech / Decarbonization, Industrial Automation (DX)

Technology advantage

Leverages proprietary datasets developed in collaboration with industry leaders like Tokyo Steel, combining deep material science expertise from the University of Tokyo with advanced computer vision to digitize high-skill manual inspection processes.

How they differentiate

Proprietary vision AI specifically trained for 'unstructured' and irregular heavy industrial objects (steel scrap), capable of high-precision grading and hazardous impurity/explosive detection in harsh outdoor environments where standard computer vision models fail.

Main competitors

Recycleye, Greyparrot, SICON, Metal One (DeepScrap project)

Key partnerships

Mitsui & Co. (Strategic investor and business development partner), Tokyo Steel (Development partner for initial AI training and verification), Kyoei Steel (Implementation partner for commercial mill operations), Asahi Industries (Implementation and operational verification partner), Yamato Kogyo (Testing and verification partner)

Notable customers

Tokyo Steel, Kyoei Steel, JFE Bars & Shapes (JFE条鋼), Topy Industries, Asahi Industries, Yamato Kogyo, Mukoyama Factory (向山工場)

Major milestones

Founded in March 2021 as a University of Tokyo spin-off., Completed full system integration with Tokyo Steel's Utsunomiya Plant in January 2023., Secured 200M JPY Seed Round from DCM Ventures in September 2023., CEO Keijiro Tajima recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024) and Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 (2023)., Announced nationwide rollout to all JFE Bars & Shapes manufacturing sites in October 2024., Raised 460M JPY Expansion Round led by Mitsui & Co. in January 2025.

Growth metrics

Commercialized with major Japanese steel mills; cumulative funding reached approx. 660M JPY following its 2025 expansion round.

Market positioning

Pioneer and market leader in AI-driven steel scrap automated inspection in Japan; strategically positioned as a key DX partner for the global steel industry's decarbonization efforts.

Geographic focus

Primarily Japan, with rapid global expansion plans through strategic partnerships with Mitsui & Co.

Patents and IP

Specific patent numbers are not publicly highlighted in general briefs, but the company holds proprietary IP related to AI-based steel scrap analysis and was born from specialized research at the University of Tokyo and ETH Zurich.

About Keijiro Tajima

Keijiro Tajima is the CEO and Co-founder of EVERSTEEL. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Tokyo. During his research at the University of Tokyo and ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), he specialized in computer vision for steel scrap analysis. He was selected for the prestigious 'Mitou Advanced' program by IPA Japan and was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024) and Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 (2023).

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