MIXI, Inc.
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
Japanese public technology company (TSE:2121) best known for the mixi social network and Monster Strike mobile game, now expanding its Romi conversational AI robot into a third-party integration platform via the RomiCore SDK. MIXI, Inc. was founded in 1999. The company is led by Koki Kimura (木村弘毅). Based in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 500+.
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
- Team size
- 500+
Value proposition
Diversifying from social networking and mobile gaming into AI companion robotics, offering a proprietary deep-learning conversational AI (Romi) and a new developer SDK (RomiCore) that lets enterprises, municipalities, and research institutions integrate Romi with IoT, healthcare, and public-sector systems.
Products and solutions
mixi (social network), Monster Strike (mobile game franchise, incl. STRIKE WORLD India launch Apr 2026), Romi (conversational AI companion robot; Lacatan model), RomiCore SDK (beta, released Aug 20 2026; third-party IoT/healthcare/municipal integration), FamilyAlbum / みてね (30M+ users worldwide), Sports business (FC Tokyo, TIPSTAR betting, Chiba Jets)
Unique value
Self-developed autonomous conversational AI trained on hundreds of millions of Japanese conversation data points, predating ChatGPT-era generative AI, now packaged as an open developer platform (RomiCore SDK).
Target customer
Consumers (Romi robot owners, mixi/Monster Strike users) and, via RomiCore SDK, enterprises, local governments/municipalities, and research institutions.
Industries served
Social/Communication, Gaming & Entertainment, Robotics/Companion AI, Healthcare (elderly-care deployments), Government/Public Sector (via SDK), Sports
Technology advantage
Long-running proprietary conversational AI stack (deep-learning based, pre-dates mainstream generative AI); diversified cash flow from gaming/social/sports businesses funds robotics R&D; multi-year real-world deployment data from elderly-care facility use cases since 2021; newly created dedicated CAIO role for group-wide AI strategy.
How they differentiate
Long-standing proprietary conversational AI predating the ChatGPT wave, backed by a financially diversified public company (gaming/social/sports revenue funds robotics R&D), now pivoting from closed consumer device to an open SDK/platform model for third-party integration.
Main competitors
GROOVE X (LOVOT companion robot), Yukai Engineering (BOCCO emo, Qoobo)
Key partnerships
Ikedacho Social Welfare Council (elderly-care facility deployment of Romi since June 2021), actively recruiting business/development partners for RomiCore SDK (beta, launched Aug 2026), FC Tokyo (sports sponsorship/campaigns).
Notable customers
Ikedacho Social Welfare Council (池田町社会福祉協議会) — Romi deployed in elderly-care / preventive-care facility since June 2021
Major milestones
Founded 1999 (as eMercury), renamed MIXI, Inc. Feb 2006, IPO on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market Sept 2006, launched Monster Strike 2013, launched Romi companion robot 2020, Romi deployed in elderly-care facility since June 2021, exhibited Romi Lacatan at IFA 2025, established Chief AI Officer (CAIO) role Aug 2026, released RomiCore SDK beta August 2026 enabling IoT/healthcare/municipal integrations.
Growth metrics
Market cap ~$1.08B-1.7B USD (2026); FamilyAlbum surpassed 30M users worldwide (May 2026); Monster Strike STRIKE WORLD launched in India (Apr 2026); RomiCore SDK beta launched Aug 2026; capital of ¥9.698 billion as of March 31, 2026.
Market positioning
Established, publicly-listed Japanese company using its core gaming/social/sports cash flows to build a new AI companion-robotics growth vertical, positioning Romi/RomiCore as infrastructure for healthcare and municipal use cases rather than just a consumer toy.
Geographic focus
Primarily Japan; international exposure via IFA 2025 (Germany, Romi Lacatan) and Monster Strike expansion into India.
About Koki Kimura (木村弘毅)
Joined mixi (now MIXI) in 2008 after working at an electrical equipment company and a mobile content company; led Monster Strike as game producer; became Representative Director/President June 2018; Senior Corporate Officer April 2022; named CEO April 2023 while remaining President.
Latest news about MIXI, Inc.
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Official website: https://mixi.co.jp/en/
