KiAI
Category: AI Agents
Ibaraki University spin-out building Trst, an AI agent that finds and approaches overseas distributors and buyers for Japanese SME manufacturers. KiAI was founded in 2023. The company is led by Kazumasa Oba (大場 一雅). Based in Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. Team size: 1-10. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Sparkle (lead, Sparkle No.1 fund), ANOBAKA (ANOBAKA GAI No.1 fund).
- Founded
- 2023
- Headquarters
- Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan
- Team size
- 1-10
Value proposition
Gives SME manufacturers an AI overseas sales representative that finds overseas distributors, trading companies and buyers with evidence, sends outreach emails and follows up. Reports are delivered biweekly, with no added sales headcount.
Products and solutions
Trst (AI overseas sales agent, beta from 2026-04, full release 2026-11-11, from JPY 100,000/month excl. tax), KiAI emerging-market intelligence service (launched 2024-04, discontinued 2026-05-15)
Unique value
Combines AI signal detection and scored outreach (deep listing, deep signaling, score-linked approach) with the on-the-ground network of IACE Travel for verification and visits.
Target customer
Japanese small and medium-sized manufacturers seeking overseas sales channels
Industries served
Manufacturing (SMEs), overseas expansion support, previously emerging-market business intelligence for trading houses, government agencies and government-affiliated financial institutions
Technology advantage
Manufacturing-specific context understanding for detecting purchase-intent signals. Joint NLP research with Ibaraki University. Official data agreements with emerging-market governments from the earlier KiAI product.
How they differentiate
AI agent that runs autonomously and continuously, from partner discovery through outreach and reporting, combined with a physical local network via IACE Travel. Positioned as 'AI x local connections' at a lower monthly price than traditional outsourced overseas sales agencies.
Main competitors
Link Global (overseas sales outsourcing), Glosperity (AI overseas business launch package), Glohai (overseas sales and channel development)
Key partnerships
IACE Travel (TSE: 343A, business alliance Jan 2026, MoU signed 2026-03-31), Ibaraki University (joint research since Nov 2023), Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (strategic partnership, Jul 2025), JETRO programs (StartX, 500 Global), SMRJ FASTAR, MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) grants
Notable customers
Previously large trading houses, government agencies and government-affiliated financial institutions (unnamed), Trst beta customers are unnamed manufacturers
Major milestones
2023-09 founded as DEVELOPTONIA, 2024-03 certified Ibaraki University venture, 2024-04 launched KiAI service, 2025-05 seed round and rename to KiAI, 2026-03 MIC ICT Startup League 'Encouragement Award', 2026-04 launched Trst, 2026-05 KiAI service discontinued, 2026-07 AI for Good Global Summit 2026 and Yomiuri feature, 2026-11-11 Trst full release
Growth metrics
Trst beta results: prospect lists 18-44x larger than the customer's own estimate; reply rate up to 5.3%; some customers needed about 4 hours/month of internal work versus an estimated 80. About 10 employees; paid-in capital JPY 35.8M.
Market positioning
Regional, field-oriented AI startup helping Japanese SME manufacturers close the overseas-expansion gap
Geographic focus
Japan (customers), with outreach targeting overseas markets including Vietnam and emerging economies
About Kazumasa Oba (大場 一雅)
15 years as an economist at the World Bank Group (IFC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, OECD, the Japanese Embassy in the US, the ILO and Mizuho Securities; Master's in humanities and social sciences (mathematical logic), Université Paris 1. Built an AI-based economic indicator forecasting model at SMBC.
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Official website: https://kiai.bz